Anoop Desai is ready to take on the world, and he's confident that his voice and sound can make an impact on American pop music. The "American Idol" season 8 alumni just released his debut EP "All is Fair" on May 4th, but shortly before the album's release, he spoke with Bark + Bite about "American Idol," his new album and comparisons to Jay Sean.
Q: What do you think of this season of "American Idol" so far? Do you see any stars or diamonds in the rough coming from this group?
A: I love Crystal, I think as everyone does, I love Mike Lynche. I think both of those singers can really do something in the market right now. I think that's a really important consideration when you're talking about "Idol." It was a fun experience for me, and it was really an experience where I got to find myself and my niche. So, I know that those guys are going through the same thing right now.
Q: With "Idol" entering its 10th season, do you think the show is still fresh? Do you think it should try something different?
A: I think "Idol'"s strength will always be its contestants. I think as long as there's new talent that sort of goes somewhere the show hasn't been before, I think people will continue to tune in and be engaged by it. Really, it's about people who came from "normal lives" and it's the making of a superstar.
Q: In a recent article about your post-Idol experience you talked about how it was a reality check that after the Idols tour and the show was over, you were left to your own devices to kickstart your career. But in an industry where people like Justin Bieber are launched from YouTube, you're not by yourself. Tell us more about that experience.
A: The show gives you such an amazing platform and honestly these days, the model of the big record industry is broken. It doesn't work for breaking artists, it doesn't work for nurturing talent. In fact a lof of the artists that are making it big right now, they're not seeing a cent off of anything. It's cause they didn't write their songs, they don't own their masters. Record companies are bleeding people dry. The independent approach we're taking is the only way to work toward your own art, to have an investment in your own art, literally and figuratively. And once you've proven yourself, the market becomes a different place. The market becomes somewhere that's very amiable and will do you a lot of favors.
Q: Let's talk about "My Name." "My Name" is a fun upbeat number, but on "Idol" you were more of a midtempo guy. Was that an uncomfortable switch for you?
A: Oh no. Honestly the uncomfortable thing was having to sing ballads all the time. I take pride in the fact that I'm a very versatile singer, not only stylistically but also tempo wise. The fact of the matter is, I have many different faces, so I wanted to show that on this record. I also wanted to show people that I'm not gonna be that sleepy ballad singer. I had to do that on "Idol" cause that's what I was painted as and that's the only thing they'd give me good comments for.
Q: It was a little surprising to hear how "pop" "My Name" was. A lot of "Idol" contestants have released material but much of that material hasn't sounded radio-ready. Not so with "My Name." Did you purposely aim for a mainstream sound?
A: I have enough faith in my music where I know that it's good, I know it's catchy and I know that people are gonna like it. Honestly, all these records are things that I'd wanna hear on the radio. They're records that I wrote for the radio. I'm not writing some obscure style...it's a pop record. It's very easy and accessible.
Q: Any plans for a music video for "My Name" and will you dance in it?
A: *laughs* No, no I won't. There are plans for a video. Things are extremely hectic right now getting ready for the album release, just promoting the single and the album. But I do plan to record that soon. And even though we're releasing another single...You know the single business is a little weird. Because you can have a couple out at the same time. Just because we're releasing another one, does not mean at all that one isn't working. The goal is to keep things fresh. Even as an album release strategy, we're releasing shorter 6-track discs every 6-8 months instead of the typical 12-track cd every two years. We always want there to be a new a track and we always want there to be excitement surrounding the new track and my music.
Q: So that's "My Name," tell us about some of the other songs on the album.
A: "Senses" we definitely tried to channel '80s Michael Jackson for it. The song "Single" is very pop and so is the title track, something you'd hear on the radio right now. "Not Like This," we tried to channel a mixture between the Fugees and the Black Eyed Peas, so there's a lot of different sounds.
Q: Your appearance on "Idol" marked the first time that someone of Indian descent had made it through to the top 24. And with the success of Jay Sean it seems like there's a barrier being broken. Has your ethnicity been a difficulty for you in the industry?
A: To be honest, there were a couple labels that passed initially because they were like, 'You're too much like Jay Sean.' Even though our music is nothing alike, but they see Indian and Indian and that's what they think. It wasn't a challenge, it was more annoying, because it was like, you don't understand anything.
I was actually surprised with how surprised other people were with there being an Asian-American on the show. I've always recognized myself as an American. I grew up here, I grew up in the south, and culturally I'm American. It never once crossed my mind that my ethnicity would limit me in any way. It was actually only questions about, 'Are your parents supporting you?' It's like of course my parents are supporting me, they're my parents. What do you expect? But it's like, 'Oh, I would've thought your parents wanted you to be a doctor.' But that's why my parents moved here, so I wouldn't have to be a doctor.
Q: What are you most looking forward to with the album's release?
A: I'm really looking forward to this being a surprise to people. There is a stigma associated with "Idol." People are like, 'Oh, he did this on the show, I don't know if I'm gonna like it.' What I've found, and it's a great feeling, to prove someone that they were wrong. To go and sing and someone say, 'I didn't think I was gonna like that, but man I love that. I'm definitely gonna buy the album.' So what I'm most looking forward to is just changing minds, making new fans and meeting new people and just singing. And stopping all this talk of "American Idol" and competition and just being my own artist, being successful on my own laurels and not the laurels of a television show. Of course I will always be grateful for the platform that that gave me, but I'm very much looking forward to being my own person.
Check out Anoop's first single, "My Name" below and get his "All is Fair" EP from iTunes or AnoopDesai.com
