Interview with Stevie Scott, 2/27/06

[hepcat]

Last week I attended a media interview with Stevie Scott, the California native who brought classical voice training and pop star good looks to her auditions. The voters may not have known what to make of her performance, which included a lot of falsetto, soft, ethereal singing and not a lot of pop umph. In this interview, Stevie reflects on her song choice, and explains why she chose to show her softer side.

Q: Stevie, looking back on your performance, do you wish you had taken more of a risk?

Stevie: Unfortunately, I was really sick the first time we filmed the first show. It was a bummer, especially being on national television; but I did the best that I could under the circumstances and I’m happy with knowing that.

Q: Are there any regrets on your song choice?

Stevie: Obviously the judges said that a different song would have been better and maybe that would have kept me in the competition longer, so that’s unfortunate in that; but I’m happy to at least have come this far.

Q: It was pretty rough to be brought back like you were after you were deemed safe and then sent home. What was that whole process like for you?

Stevie: That whole thing last night was very difficult. We were all just on pins and needles, and we were pretty sure the top row was safe, so being in the front row was a little harder. But I kind of had an idea that I might be going home, just because I wasn’t extremely happy with my performance before.

Q: Did you try to perform it a little bit more powerfully last night? That’s what it looked like.

Stevie: Yes; as I said before, I was sick the first time we performed and so I just had a lot more power to my voice. And a lot of the pressure was taken off, just a weight lifted off of my shoulders because you don’t have to worry about who’s voting for you anymore because no one is; they’re just listening to you, your farewell performance, so it was a lot easier.

Q: Stevie, I just want to clarify, because I was thinking that the way you did the song on Tuesday night was a choice, that you were being kind of like, ethereal about it – I think one of the judges even said that. Was that not a choice, and you’re saying you were sounding that way because you were sick, or were you trying to have that kind of vibe?

Stevie: My voice does have that kind of softer side. I have a lot of versatility, and unfortunately I won’t get to stay on the show to show my different sides; but you have to work with what you have, and at that time I just didn’t have a lot of power to my throat. So I went with what I thought would work best under the circumstance, and the softer sound was what was going to work out.

Q: Would you pose for Maxim?

Stevie: No, I do modeling and I really enjoy it and I’d love to do more, but no, that’s probably not up my alley, thanks.

Q: Stevie, what are your plans now? What are you going to do? Continue with singing? Try acting? Modeling?

Stevie: Yes, all of those; I love the entertainment industry. It’s a tough one, but it’s great, and I won’t give up. I might be interested in recording an opera album or maybe a gospel, R&B kind of thing. I’d love to do some more modeling, some more acting, whether it’s on the screen or on the stage. I love all aspects of that, so I’m looking forward to any open doors.

Q: Where have you modeled and acted before?

Stevie: Mostly in my hometown of Sacramento, just local stuff there, and I really enjoy it. I’ve been doing theater since I was about 10 years old. I did professional theater by 15, and it’s a lot of fun. I really enjoy it.

Q: Because of your situation with Idol, it does give you a platform to do things. Opera, obviously it takes a lot of training to be successful with it, but do you think you might take the opportunity to kind of like say maybe introduce kids your age to opera? Because I mean, it does have in some ways more prestige for some people than being a pop star.

Stevie: Oh, yes, sure. I think culture is a beautiful thing and I think opera brings a lot of culture from our history. I really enjoy it, and I think it’s something that, if presented correctly, I think people my age would enjoy it too.

Q: Stevie, obviously being on the show is a lot different from watching it at home, so what was the most surprising thing about what it’s like to be on American Idol?

Stevie: I haven’t actually watched the show much in previous seasons. My family and I, you watch like the funny ones, the really bad singers. So this was really exciting actually being a part of it this time around and seeing the difference of how much work and time goes into filming what turns out to be only 30 seconds on the TV. So that’s been very interesting, and just seeing everyone come together, all the different characters and qualities of voices that made up the top 24.

Q: I was actually at the taping last night, and I thought you sounded really good, especially in the group performance. But what was going through your mind when you were on the stage and you were possibly thinking you might have been voted off right before you were done? What was going through your mind?

Stevie: I had an idea that it was me. You kind of get that premonition, and just going off of what my performance was on Tuesday; obviously I did the best that I could being sick, but I didn’t think it would be enough. It’s very disappointing, and then at the same time your next thought is, oh, my gosh, I have to go sing my song now, like all choked up. But I was glad to get to sing the last time, and it was much easier than before. So as disappointing as it was last night, today’s a new day and new opportunities, and I’m looking forward to what lies ahead.

Q: Are you going to be staying in L.A. or are you going to be coming back to Sacramento?

Stevie: I’m coming back home for a little while, looking forward to seeing all of my family and friends and everyone who’s been so supportive of me during this time. I’ve really appreciated all of the encouragement. So I’ll be taking some trips back down here to L.A., but I’ll be home soon. Thank you.

Q: Do you agree with Ryan’s comment that he made last night that the judges should be more constructive with their criticism?

Stevie: I think that is a good point. I think it’s important as a performer that you can take criticism and use it to better yourself, and there’s no good in just having someone just take you down. I think it’s someone who will build you up, who can make you a better performance, like coal into a diamond, as Brenna says; but I think that’s important to take that pressure and use it for good.

Q: How do you think Josh Groban would stand on Idol, if he were actually on the show?

Stevie: I think he would have done great, personally. At least I know me and my friends my age love him; I think he has a beautiful voice, great quality. I think he could have done really well.

Q: Are you going to vote, and do you want to say maybe who you think might be making it to the end?

Stevie: We all have become such good friends, I’m going to put in a vote for each and every person down there, because they are working so hard; and just having been there, I don’t want to see anyone go.

Q: What does Stevie stand for? Is that your full name, and is it after Stevie Nicks, or what?

Stevie: No, actually, I was named after my dad, Stephen. My full birth name is Stephanie, but my nickname is Stevie.

Q: Was it terrifying, knowing that you had to appear in front of millions and millions of people?

Stevie: It really was really nerve-wracking, just kind of getting onstage and realizing, oh, my goodness, like, I’m about to be on TV, and knowing that my debut – it was your debut performance on Tuesday night for me. It was a little scary, but at the same time, exciting. I’m sure if I would have been able to have my full voice it would have been a little more exciting. But it’s tough, and I commend anyone who can do that, all the contestants that are left on. It takes a lot of courage.

Q: What are your immediate plans? Are you too going to take some more vocal lessons or acting lessons? How are you going to prepare for the next phase of your career?

Stevie: I’m really looking forward to whatever lies ahead. I mean, I always like to stay in shape with my voice, but nothing too serious; just what I always do. So I look forward to either recording – whether it’s opera or gospel; and I will be going to school. I haven’t yet decided; I think I’m going to go down to L.A. for theater or acting or music, one of the three. I’m going to continue on; I hope to get into professional theater soon, maybe just to have something else on the resume. I’d love to get into TV and films, and so I’ll be doing a lot of auditioning in the next couple of months.

Q: When you say you’re going to go to school, are you going for the fall semester and a four-year degree, or just take some classes, or what’s your idea?

Stevie: Yes, I’ve already started my college education, but I just haven’t quite decided. So hopefully soon I’ll figure it out.

Q: Stevie, I just want to know if it’s easier to leave with a group of four. Does that make it easier, that you didn’t leave the show alone?

Stevie: It probably is. It was kind of a bummer to have to be in the very first week and not get to prove yourself a little more, but at the same time it was nice, like when I went back there, Becky and Bobby were both back there and we all kind of sat together and cried a little. But it was more comforting to have other people with you.

Q: Stevie, who did you become closest to on the show, and who are you going to miss the most?

Stevie: Oh, that’s so hard to say. All of us girls were on the same floor in the hotel, and we just had a great time; it was like a sleepover every night, and I just made so many memories, so many friendships, and I won’t ever forget it. I would never trade the experience.

Q: Stevie, have you talked to any of the judges after last night’s show?

Stevie: For the most part, what you see is what they air. When I left the stage, Paula called me over and gave me a little hug; she’s very kind, very sweet. I appreciated that. And Ryan Seacrest, too. They both had a few little encouraging words to say and a hug, so it was nice.

Q: Did you and Mandisa possibly have a connection because you both had Sacramento ties?

Stevie: We kind of did. We were able to talk about that, and we didn’t even realize it until we were doing some press last week. So we had just found out that we were both Sacramento girls. So that was nice, and she’s a sweet girl.

Many thanks to FOX for granting the interview, and we wish Stevie success in her future career.

[Google]

 

[Leo]

I might be interested in recording an opera album or maybe a gospel, R&B kind of thing.

I think she'll be a lot more successful in the former than she could ever be in the pop world. Thanks for the interview, hep.

[razorbacker]

I personally liked Stevie, I just wish she had made a better showing & stuck around longer to show more of her abilities. Thanks for the interview.

[england88533]

i liked her, she should of stayed longer!

[lambikins]

I liked her too. Sad that she chose the song that she did.