David Cook is deep into a major club tour. The American Idol season 7 winner hasn’t toured this extensively since the release of his post Idol debut.
He was on the west coast this weekend. First, to take part in a brain cancer fund raiser, which had him rapelling the tallest building in San Diego. Last night, he played the famed Troubadour in Los Angeles. He’ll be heading to the east coast this week to play a slew of dates there.
He recently spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about living in Nashville, his next album, American Idol and more.
On the influence living in Nashville has had on his musical sensiblity:
“A common misconception about Nashville is that it’s all country, and I don’t know that country has really influenced what we do,” he said. “For this tour, we are actually playing keyboards live for the first time, which is quite an experiment. But it’s a lot of fun and the new songs kind of represent that. It’s going to get back to basics, really doubling down and enjoying the creative process.”
New covers are coming!
“We’ve been playing up on the East Coast primarily, and we have a show in New Jersey in Freehold where Springsteen is from so we’re toying around with covers.”
On his last album, This Loud Morning and what comes next
“My brother passed away during the first tour and I didn’t really take a break. I think we only missed one show. I stayed busy with work and I used the record to process everything. It was a deeply personal record and one I really do feel like I needed to make. And now that I’m on the other side of it — numbers are numbers but I think what I got out of that record can’t be quantified. With the new stuff now, I’m trying to get back to music being fun again.”
What can we expect on the next album?
“The songs are all very different. They have their own vibe. It’s going to be interesting to see what the end result is as far as a record, but I think each one of these songs stands alone. Aside from the programming and keyboards, I think they’re all still inherently me. I have not put down the guitar. I enjoy it too much.”
What new music has influenced the process?
“The new Nine Inch Nails is incredible. I think I listened to the whole NIN catalog a lot through this process and other bands that seem to create moods from song to song. That’s kind of the angle I’ve been attacking with this new stuff. Every song having its own mood.”
New songs!
“There is an eerie ballad called “I’m Gonna Love You.” There is also the closest thing I’ve ever written to a dance song called “Eyes on You” and a rock song, “Kiss and Tell.””
How is the search for a label going?
“We’re talking to a couple of labels right now. I think finding the right home for this record and finding a partner for these songs is what I’m really excited about.”
David’s thoughts on American Idol. He’s loyal!
“I love the show and I am completely brand loyal. I don’t watch The Voice and I don’t watch The X Factor. I can tell you the judges on both of those shows, but I can’t name hardly any contestants from those shows. I think if you make it about the judges it becomes a dying format very quickly. When Idol was pulling in its biggest numbers it was about the contestants and if you give the American public the opportunity… they are going to gravitate towards someone and they are going to make sure that person has success, and when that person has success, the show has success. I hope they can get some continuity on the judges panel and get back to what was the bread and butter of the show: the contestants.”
Read the full interview at The Hollywood Reporter
