When Wyatt Pike dropped out of American Idol season 19 at the Top 16 last year, he never delved into why he abruptly left. But now, after the singer-songwriter dropped a new song “Deep Blue,” a collaboration with friend and longtime collaborator, Peter Hanaman and Season 18 alum Francisco Martin, he’s ready to talk.
Reality television “is not my thing…it became too much”
In an interview with Park City NPR radio station KPCW, Wyatt shares that American Idol was a fantastic experience that opened doors, increased his fan base, and allowed him to move to Los Angeles.
However, “regarding my departure,” Wyatt told KPCW, “the bottom line is that reality, competitive music on TV is not my thing. It became too much–the stress and the behind-the-scenes pressure and things that had to happen.”
He said that he wants to “create a lasting image of himself through his work instead of the world’s snapshot view seen during the Idol stint.”
Wyatt will share his American Idol story through song
Wyatt wants to share more of his American Idol story later, but through his music. Right now, he is focused on releasing more songs with Hanaman.
“So, we’re already working on a couple more songs, specifically first up another single for a couple of weeks from now,” Wyatt said. “Hopefully, we got to crank that one out. It’s definitely a production crunch time I’m trying to get an EP done before the summer. Should be probably five, four, or five more songs with Peter this time around and then I don’t see any reason that we don’t keep working together.”
Wyatt met Hanaman in Jazz Band at Park City, Utah, High School and sailed with the Park City Sailing team.
The singer said Hanaman was the perfect collaborator as he came off the show. “…obviously there’s an understanding of who I am on the show, but that maybe doesn’t completely represent who I want to be and who I want to become. Peter has done a lot of music that has been far poppier and very well produced and it was a little bit outside my comfort zone too.”
The song title, “Deep Blue” hints at a sad song. But on the contrary, the new single is bittersweet, but jangly and upbeat.
Since leaving American Idol last spring, Wyatt has played concert dates solo and with fellow alums like Cassandra Coleman, Casey Bishop, Louis Knight and Julia Gargano.
“I had to leave the @AmercianIdol competition for personal reasons,” Wyatt said after leaving the show, “but am so thankful I get to play music for the rest of my life.”
