Thanks to Team Plaid for this article from TV Guide. Blake Lewis discusses his upcoming album. He’s already started recording and he tells TV Guide what his fans can expect, and when. He’s written seven songs and has producer BT on board, and Doug E. Fresh is in talks to beatbox on a track.
Read an excerpt after the jump.
Just one week before the American Idols Live tour kicks off in Sunrise, Florida, Blake Lewis is already hard at work laying down tracks for his upcoming album. “I just recorded my first track last night,” the Idol runner-up told TV Guide in an exclusive interview. “I’ve already written seven songs.”
Lewis, who is in the midst of rehearsals for American Idols Live, began recording in Los Angeles on June 18. Electronic musician BT has signed on to produce and rapper Doug E. Fresh, who performed with Lewis on the Season 6 finale, is in talks to beatbox on a song.
“There’s a couple of emcees I’d like to work with,” he says. “I’m going to have four or five people beatbox between tracks.” Asked to describe the disc’s sound, Lewis says, “I’d classify it as electro-funk-soul-pop if you need to label it. I really love the sounds of the ‘80s so I hope to ring some of that back. I’m really inspired by electronic music.” Fans can expect to hear the new tunes by the end of the year. “It’s on the chopping block because they want it out by Thanksgiving or Christmas,” he reveals.
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who is THEY dammit?
LOL, Star!! That would be good to know.
I am cuious about the reason behind the delayed announcements. The deal must be in place if he’s enlishted BT and started recording already.
I wonder if Clive and Co will sign any of the other top ten this year?
I think it is a given that he is recording under 19R. He is the runner-up. The “Thanksgving or Christmas” mantra confirms it. Only a completely untalented runner-up would not be signed by 19. Wait - no - they probably would be signed as well.
It is probably safe to assume that he has also entered into a management contract with 19, else there would have been something announced or at a minimum leaked by now with respect to his management. He’s moving ahead pretty deliberately to not have ‘formal’ representation.
Hey Doug E “in talks”: don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
Blake has mentioned in interviews that he is being managed by Simon Fuller, so I agree that it is safe to assume that he’s with 19M.
“Blake has mentioned …that he is being managed by Simon Fuller.”
I missed that mention, sorry. That would confirm it.
There is very little that Blake can discuss about his deal right now because of Jordin’s deal not being made public. It almost does sound safe at this point to assume that “they” is 19E. Blake had stated a few weeks ago that he had been in meetings with Simon Fuller and that things seem to be going well. I can’t see why 19E won’t get off their butts and make Jordins’ contract announcemnt official already! It’s been over a month for pete’s sake! Neither Taylor or Kat’s albums were completed when their deal announcements were made official. It almost sounds from the looks of things that Blake will be finished with his album before she’ll be ready to make a stinking announcement!
Sorry, I hope I didn’t come of as snippy (that wasn’t my intent at all..I just dashed it off…and now, my post looks kind of snippy to me). I should have written that Blake has said that he is meeting with Simon Fuller to discuss his career/management, so I assumed that meant he is managing. I don’t actually know for sure. Maybe it was just to discuss if he wanted to be managed by them.
It’s tough to keep up with everything AI, so no need to apologize. It just means you have a life.
Yeah, I’m fairly certain 19 has their hooks in him. It’d just be nice to see an official statement is all. Anyway, whether it’s good or not for Blake to be with 19 remains to be seen, although right now I’d lean more toward “good” since from the sounds of this article, they’re allowing Blake to be true to himself so far. He talked about wanting to work with BT, and now he actually is. It definitely sounds as if things are falling into place for Blake and I can’t wait to hear the finished product!
ps- MJ did link to an interview somewhere on the blog in which Blake says 19 picked up his management option…
I would also like to know who “they” is. For some reason, my gut tells me it’s RCA. I dunno why, it just does.
I do like what he’s planning to do with the album though, if all goes as he plans. I wonder if BT is the producer for the whole album or just working with Blake on a couple of tracks. Hmmmmm.
I’m looking forward so much to Blake’s album. I’ve made myself a Blake cd which will have to do till then.
Having BT as a producer should really make his album polished and tight. I have a gut feeling that his album will be hot property.
If anyone wants to read about BT, here is a link to Wikipedia. He is a musical genius. Blake is in very good hands.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Transeau
too bad, blake’s mom told my radio station here in Seattle that he thought he’d be free of Idol by this fall, after the tour was over. His goal was to finish top 10 and make the tour, not to get a contract! sounds like he’s going to get treated OK though, in terms of his artistic integrity. sure hope so anyway.