Inside Idol: Interview with Jared Cotter

Posted by Carly in Entertainment, Featured, Interviews, Music News, Videos | 2 comments

Jared Cotter

You know the intro music, you know the host, you know the judges and now you know the winner of season 8, Chris Allen! But do you know the former American Idol top 24 finalist, Jared Cotter? I recently got the chance to ask this season six contestant a few questions last week, before the American Idol finale, on what he’s been up to since grueling days of Idol, his take on this season’s winner, life behind the American Idol cameras and his future plans and goals.

Since your American Idol experience ended, what have you been doing?
Immediately after American Idol, I was asked to join the Fuse Network as a host for some of their television shows. I’ve interviewed everyone from Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher to Queen Latifah and Bow Wow. Clips from these interviews and others can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWAzuQhfbUU. I’m always working on my first love, music, my own project as well as writing for other artists. Most recently I’ve been writing for Jay Sean, a UK pop star, who’s first US release is coming out on Cash Money/Universal. I’m really excited about it! Lil Wayne is on the first single that I co-wrote called “Down”. We just shot the video in London and Miami. It’s hot! I’m also starting to record for my album as well…. Oh! And I was Cosmopolitan Magazine’s 2009 NJ Bachelor of The Year, that was fun!

How did your time on American Idol help you be where you are at today?
American Idol gives singers amazing exposure. It’s such a hugely successful show and millions of people got to see me perform. I’ve gotten so many offers after being on that show, for example Fox TV’s Good Day NY has me on weekly as their Idol Chatter correspondent to talk about the current season of Idol. I’m very grateful.

What was one important thing you learned about yourself during your time competing?
I learned that I can get really nervous! (Haha) But I also learned how to take criticism better and channel my nervousness into positive energy. I had to learn fast, you know how Simon dishes it out!

If you could do it all over again, what is the one thing you’d do differently?
I honestly don’t think I’d do anything differently because I like where I am now in my career and I’m really excited about the next chapter. But if I HAD to pick one thing then I probably wouldn’t have performed Stevie Wonder‘s “If You Really Love Me”. (Haha) His shoes are way too big to fill. I would have done something a little more current.

What are your plans for the future, either immediate or long term?
I’m always working hard and setting goals for myself to continue developing my craft. I just want to keep getting better and be ready as new opportunities present themselves. Great things keep coming!

Were you surprised when Kris Allen was announced the new American Idol?
Yes, I really thought Adam was going to win, the public loves him. But I was rooting for Kris all the way! He’s a real artist and musician and I think he will do really well on the charts. Adam has a great voice but to me he is better suited for Broadway or Vegas. Regardless of who won and who didn’t, I think they will both be very successful.

As viewers, we only get to really see the performances on stage, but what goes on when the camera are off?
It’s honestly not that glamorous! There is a lot of pressure that you feel and there are a lot of rehearsals and tons of preparation. There are also a lot of interviews that go on constantly. Blake Lewis is a good friend of mine and when he was at this stage just two seasons ago he told me it was very hard to have alone time.

What advice do you have for people who want to try out for American Idol or want to go into the music/entertainment industry?
I would say that if you want to try out for AI then do it! What do you have to lose? If you want to be in the music industry just know that there are a lot of low points and it’s the ones that persevere through those low points that make it. Never give up!

Jared Cotter

After asking him questions about American Idol, his career and advice he’d give to others, I wanted to ask him some questions that he probably hadn’t answered a million times. After all, what says “Now I really know that person” like a time traveling Delorean question?

If you could have dinner with anyone – dead or alive – who would it be and why?
I don’t think it would be anyone famous. I’d want to just see and talk with my Grandfather again. I hope that he is proud of what I’ve done and what I am doing. I’d ask him questions that I wish I would have asked before he passed away.

Your undercover superhero identity would be….
I think a singer/songwriter/TV personality is a great superhero cover. Shhh… Don’t tell anybody.

If you had access to a time-traveling Delorean, what year would you go to and where would you go?
I’d go back in time and bet on some races like they did in Back to the Future III! I’d make sure I’d bring the winners book with me! And get the winning lottery numbers. lol

What are your top 3 favorite songs on your iPod at the moment?
Jay Sean featuring Lil Wayne– Down
The Script – The Man Who Can’t Be Moved
Q-Tip – Dance On Glass

If you could record a song with any living musician, who would it be?
Stevie Wonder

Jared Cotter has shown that he has used his experience on American Idol not only kick off his career, but more importantly he’s used it as an educational tool, learning from the professional critiques, discovering his strengths and weakness and realizing the hardships of the industry.

Jared proves that making the most out of this remarkable opportunity and seizing the exposure that comes along with the American Idol experience has been an invaluable to both his career and future.