Andrew Garcia gave a brief interview with the press today. He was in an upbeat mood, and grateful that he got as far as he did. He feels, like most of this year’s crew, that the judges are being extra harsh this year. He calls Lee Dewyze his “buddy for life, ” and Mike Lynche a “warrior” who deserved to be saved. Check out Andrew’s interview, below.
Plus, some FOX affiliate interviews–with FOX Boston and FOX Philly, at the bottom of the page.
What was the best piece of advice that he got from Adam Lambert, “He said to let go, and just have fun, and put my twist on it. And I was just, like, ‘I know where he is coming from’, because he puts his twist on everything he does and he’s amazing at it, so that kind of inspired me.”
On singing Paula Abdul’s “Straight Up” during the Hollywood round “I was looking through the lyrics…and I thought, She’s not on the show no more, and I could do my little twist on it and see what happens and it really took off, it was crazy.”
Did he feel he’d left some of the early fan base down who picked him to go really far and maybe win the competition? “I don’t feel like I let my fans down at all. They know …they are so amazing. They get me, and that’s all that matters. I know I didn’t let them down. “
How did he feel about Simon and Adam Lambert calling him “boring”. While his fellow Idols insisted he was not boring, Why didn’t that come across on stage? “On stage, I was focused more on performing, They’re talking about personality, they don’t really hang out with me, so they can’t really talk about my personality if they aren’t trying to hang out with me. If they hung out with me, they’d love me, guaranteed.”
On his “bromance” with Lee DeWyze Do they have a song?, “We just jam a lot, we don’t really have a song, we’re hoping to write on tour. We find ourselves doing the same thing at the same time. It’s just really weird, almost like ‘What the heck?’”
Did he and Lee get to say goodbye last night? “Yes, that’s my buddy right there, that’s my brother for life.“
How will Lee do without him there, and will he go to the show to cheer him on? “I don’t know how hard it will be, because usually we are like each other’s family, we come to each other when we’re having rough times. He always knows I’m out here, he can call me. I will for sure got to a show and cheer him on. He’s my brother for life.”
Does he think it’s easier or harder being judged by this season’s panel? “It’s harder. They’re being really hard this year. I don’t know why, but, they’re being really hard on the judging. “
Does he wish Paula was there this season? “I do, because I wondered what she would think about my song [Straight Up]”
When he sang after his elimination, was he happy not to have the pressure of the judges possibly saving him? “At that point, I was just happy where I was at, and how far I had gotten. They couldn’t have done a better save. Mike Lynche, that guy is a warrior and I love that guy.”
About switching up songs and making them original, Is that what he wants to do going forward as an artist? “Going forward as an artist I have my own music. I love doing whatever I can to do my originals. I do take songs and put my own twist on it. I take pop music, pop R&B and make it acoustic and put my twist on it, and I love doing it.”
Which of his post Hollywood performances turned out the most like he planned, “I have to say, “Chasing Pavements” by Adele and [Forever] Chris Brown…because it was just me acoustic. I get to do my thing with acoustic. I love just taking pop songs, or even R&B songs and putting my twist on it.”
Was he surprised by the positive reaction to Chris Brown’s “Forever”? “I kinda knew it was going to be a good night, just because I’m a guy that does current music and puts my acoustic twist on it. And I saw that song and I was ‘Man, I got to do something with that song.’ It’s current, and it’s my field too. I’m an R&B/pop kind of guy. I put my twist on it and I felt it 100% and I was just like, ‘I know the fans and supporters and people are going to love it.’ And then I went up there, confident, and it showed, and they loved it.”
What did he think when he saw Ryan dancing during Tim’s song? Strange caffeinated behavior? “I was like, ‘Ryan has lost his mind’, but I love the guy. He works a lot, He has the right to get a little coffee in him…”
How does he see his future? “I see me making an album, getting ready for the tour, and promoting the best I can, and having fun.”
Is he writing songs? “Yes, I’m already trying to start to write some songs.”
Will he propose to his girlfriend? (He and Laura Saltman had a bet…that if Andrew won, he’d propose), “I’m going to still propose to her, I don’t know when. I am for sure going to marry her.”
What are his influences? “I have a lot. It’s from rock to R&B to hip-hop…everything.
What was he doing before Idol? “My life before I got on Idol was just taking care of my son…and on the weekends, go play shows and that was my income, going out and playing shows for like $400 bucks a gig….just me going out acoustic.”
Maybe the judges were expecting him to inject his personality into his performances? “I actually did, and they still bashed me. But you know what? You can’t always win everybody over, so I’m thankful for all the fans and the supporters that I have and my fellow contestants.”
Was it bittersweet being eliminated? “I didn’t expect to go far, and to go as far as I did was amazing. To be on the Top 9 is just incredible. I’m so blessed and thankful that I even got that far.”
Were his parents emotional about his elimination? “They saw me, and saw that I wasn’t sad or bitter…I was happy. I was thankful for all the opportunities that I had and they felt that off of me and that’s why it really didn’t affect them. They were happy with me.”
How has the show changed his life? “I always felt the need for me doing music, and having fun with it, pursuing it. Idol has changed my views, because it showed me there’s so much more to music…how amazing the industry is…I’m so glad to work with amazing people and have such an amazing experience on American Idol.”
Interview, FOX 25
FOX Philly
