I attended press hour yesterday before the Boston concert Tuesday night. Unfortunately, time was tight, and I only got a few minutes with each Idol. First up, Allison Iraheta.
Allison was just what I expected, ebullient and youthful, but wise beyond her years. I got the sense that she knows what’s she wants on the debut album she’s recording with Jive right now, and is even willing to fight for what she wants.
So if you’re thinking that Allison’s youth would make her a pushover–think again.
As far as the release of her debut album is concerned, Allison says they don’t have an exact date right now. “Around November-ish, ” she speculates, “I don’t even now myself, but definitely around that time.”
While Allison has been recording on tour–the last time she hit the studio was on her day off in New York last week–she says the label has not picked a first single. “It’s been weird, ” says Allison, “We’ve cut a lot of songs, but we haven’t really thought about the first single yet.” She adds, “It’s not something to worry about, there are definitely some good things in there.”
Her favorite collaborator so far is Kevin Rudolf (“Let it Rock”). “The stuff that he does is pretty damn awesome, ” enthuses Allison, “He transmits great energy overall. It’s really good to work with him.”
Like any newly-signed recording artist, Allison is looking forward to going on her first tour. I asked her who she would like to open for and she said, “That’s a hard one. I wouldn’t mind opening up for Pink, any time.” She added, “That would be be pretty gnarly.”
About the bra throwing during her duet, “Slow Ride” with Adam Lambert, she says, “I think it’s pretty damn hilarious, I love it, and he loves it.” But she adds, “There gets to a point where you have to be careful what you throw on stage. People are standing on stage and giving you a show? You just might want to respect a little.”
She admits that her first album will have more of a pop/rock feel than her own taste in music, which runs along the alternative lines of bands like Weezer, Kings of Leon and Franz Ferdinand. But she promises the record “will definitely have the sound that I want and the feel that I want, I’m going to make sure of that, definitely.”
What is she listening to on her Ipod right now? “Date With a Night” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Very cool.
