American Idol’s eighth season was definitely a media-fueled frenzy that featured the battle for the number one spot between glam rock’s Adam Lambert and down to earth Kris Allen, but under all of the media attention lies the brilliant and spunky seventeen year old, Allison Iraheta. Iraheta is no stranger to the limelight; at age fourteen she competed and won the Telemundo reality singing competition, Quinceañera, taking home a grand prize of $50,000, but unfortunately the promised recording contract never materialized. Two years later, she made her mark on the entertainment industry with her consistently strong performances on American Idol, finishing in fourth place and finally signing a recording contract with Jive Records.
Iraheta’s debut album “Just Like You” may be the greatest hidden gem to come out of Season Eight. Debuting at #35 on Billboard’s Top 200, the album carries irresistible sounds produced by several mega-hit producers like Max Martin and Kevin Rudolph. Iraheta’s debut may be one of the best pop albums of 2009 and stands on its own next to Adam Lambert and Kris Allen’s debut releases. 19 Entertainment has successfully created three unique albums for their appropriate markets, and “Just Like You” is exactly the pop/rock album you’d want from Iraheta.
In my interview, Iraheta and I discuss the current season of American Idol and all the changes the franchise is currently going through. We attack some of your fan questions about her album and tour, and touch upon her brilliantly choreographed vocals on the song “Scars,” which is reminiscent of a modern day Janis Joplin.
Allison Iraheta is exactly what I thought she would be; honest, a little rough around the edges, and not afraid to be herself. There’s an element of coolness she possesses because she is very much herself and is not trying to be something she’s not, which is especially refreshing in a town of cookie-cutter pop stars. Let’s hope her next single shows America that there’s “a girl called Allison Iraheta” and she’s here to stay.
| Posted by Josh on February 2, 2010 @ 2:58 PM |  |
Wow! This interview is one of the best we’ve seen. Very funny, insightful, and Allison seemed very comfortable with you. Thank you for this interview and for including us Allison fans in the interview process (allowing us to send you some questions). Truly hope that you get to interview her again! Fantastic, thank you!
Comment by Alliholics — February 3, 2010 @ 2:09 PM
Allison i the best from season 8
I hope that everything works out for her career and that she becomes really big lol
Im a alliholic lol n keep it up Allison
Comment by Moshe #1 FAN — February 3, 2010 @ 2:13 PM
Haha. This interview is awesome! Interesting her talking about the prejudgement on her, how she looks, how she sounds, etc. And great to hear her talk about her album, Idol. So happy she’s gonna perform on Idol, too. I would LOVE for Holiday to be a single. Really, any of the songs could be singles. Thank you! Please interview her again!
Comment by beckysspam — February 3, 2010 @ 2:16 PM
Nice interview! And yay for Holiday Becky! :) and oh! He forgot about Gokey!! He said 3rd place! LOL!
Comment by Brad3688 — February 3, 2010 @ 2:21 PM
Awesome interview Josh! She’s very at ease with you. Great question choices, we actually learnt something new – about her being sick while recording ‘Scars’ and her band covering Usher’s ‘Yeah’ during rehearsals. You should definitely interview her again! Once again, great job!
Comment by Alliholics — February 3, 2010 @ 2:26 PM
I want to hear the cover of “yeah” by Usher! Great job, man!
Comment by Niki — February 3, 2010 @ 2:28 PM
Allison, am I prejudging you when I say that when I look at you I see one of the best female vocalist of my generation!?
Comment by Isolde — February 3, 2010 @ 2:37 PM
Awesome interview! I learned some new things that I didn’t know. I really want to hear that cover of “Yeah”. I bet it sounds awesome! I can’t wait for her tour! Allison is so amazing and looks so pretty! Thanks for this interview, it was great and I hope you get to interview her again in the future.
Comment by EC — February 3, 2010 @ 2:38 PM
Finishing in 3rd place????? WHAT, You forget about Danny too. LOL Course I’m of the opinion that she should have gone much further, but what’s done is done. Anyways, thanks so much for giving us an awesome and entertaining interview with the amazingly talented Allison Iraheta!!!! American Idol please, please have her on to perform on one of the results shows soon!!!!
Comment by runningncally — February 3, 2010 @ 2:47 PM
Got your email Josh! I see you changed it to fourth… but now I look like I’m crazy! haha! And Allison should have been 1st anyway =)
Comment by Brad3688 — February 3, 2010 @ 2:47 PM
Awesome interview!!! =) I love her so much <3.
Comment by Kaylee — February 3, 2010 @ 2:47 PM
Thanks for the heads up! OOPS! Changed to FOURTH PLACE!
Comment by Josh — February 3, 2010 @ 2:50 PM
From Brad – “Nice interview! And yay for Holiday Becky! :)”
LOL. I DO love Holiday. But I’d ALSO be happy with Robot Love, Don’t Waste The Pretty, Scars, D is for Dangerous, Pieces, Still Breathing, Trouble Is, No One Else, Beat Me Up, Don’t Wanna Be Wrong, or You Don’t Know Me to be the single.
Comment by beckysspam — February 3, 2010 @ 2:57 PM
WOW!! Amazing
This was one of the best & funniest interviews with Allison we’ve ever seen :P
Josh, your a great interviewer! Thanks for taking fan questions, that was awesome :)
Comment by TeamIraheta — February 3, 2010 @ 3:00 PM
Allison Iraheta is still a “secret” weapon, but hopefully the discerning public will discover in due time the awesomeness of this album, and she won’t be a secret anymore!
Comment by roquemocan — February 3, 2010 @ 3:09 PM
I hope she performs on Idol and if she does, I’m she sings “Trouble Is” just the way she did on AOL Sessions because BLOWS. MY. MIND!!!! She is incredible.
Comment by Ruben — February 3, 2010 @ 3:26 PM
I meant, I hope she sings…
Comment by Ruben — February 3, 2010 @ 3:27 PM
OMG, What a dollface she is! She looks hot too. Thanks for this interview alon, just too stellar! Hard to believe she was sick while recording Scars. I couldn’t even tell. Just 17 and already so professional and business savvy. She really is that amazing. Also I hope she gets to write more on her second album cause she looks like she has a lot to say and knowing her, it would be all interesting stuff. I can’t wait to see what her second single is gonna be as well. Hopefully that one will solidify her as the next rock sensation. She truly deserves it! What a voice and what a talent. Bravo Allison, keeping making yourself and your fans proud!
Comment by Andrameda — February 3, 2010 @ 3:48 PM
i really believe there is something definitely wrong with the world if allison does not became successful. she is so much more than just the red headed girl from idol. she is a great voice with a great taste in the music she chooses to do.
and thank you josh for this lovely interview !
ps: yes, i would like to hear her covering something like usher just because at first sight it does not look like a track for her but i bet it was cool.
Comment by irina — February 3, 2010 @ 3:56 PM
Great interview Josh, thank you!!! I agree, her album is a really great (my favorite) pop album and every single song could be a single. I have her same problem, I can’t choose a favorite.
You got some good answers out of her. I just love her realness, she’s so genuine and I agree with you Josh, she is so grounded. Interesting about Scars and her being sick when she recorded it. It’s such an amazing track and she sings that with such emotion. I’m hoping for some tour down the line at some point because I’d love to see her in concert and to hear that cover of “Yeah”, that’d be pretty cool, haha.
Also, I know what she means about pre-judgement and sadly, she’s right. People do judge others based on appearances and she was a victim of that during Idol.
Comment by Mari — February 3, 2010 @ 4:11 PM
Great interview. Allison did great as always :) She’s such a sweet and awesome girl.. Love her!
Comment by Diogo — February 3, 2010 @ 4:30 PM
LOVE IT!!! Thanx so much! Love you Allison.
Comment by Ira Heat — February 3, 2010 @ 4:35 PM
Allison has to be the most real and true to herself person in the business. I love every interview with her but this is one of the best. You brought us some new info. I can certainly see why she tried and was still unable to come up with a favorite song from her album. I have the same problem. For me this is the best album to come out of Idol8 so far. You Don’t Know Me is a great track and I hope to see her perform it sometime.
Thank you for interviewing Allison. I loved hearing the story behind recording scars. I’m blown away that she can sing that well even when sick.
Comment by Idol8Fan — February 3, 2010 @ 5:06 PM
thankx for the awesome intvw, josh. allison is amazing and her album just rocks!! it IS the best album of 2009 and the best album in a while, because I haven’t heard a voice like hers in ages. good stuff. :)
Comment by outofthizluna — February 3, 2010 @ 7:39 PM
Woooohhoo, great interview, I love how she keeps it real, down to earth. Thanks for the interview..
Comment by Alex — February 3, 2010 @ 7:39 PM
Thanks so much for the interview! I saw some of your other idol interviews and they were great so I knew this one would be too. Allison is not only incredibly talented but she also seems so down to earth and humble. So refreshing :)
Comment by Lauren — February 3, 2010 @ 10:05 PM
definitely very interesting interview I love Allison she is so talented mature and humble to be only 17
Comment by Antonio — February 3, 2010 @ 11:21 PM
Watching again…how is she so pretty? not to mention funny…. Josh you lucky, lucky…you.
Comment by Ira Heat — February 4, 2010 @ 8:13 AM
This was an excellent and enjoyable interview! I’m so amazed at the composure of the talented, beautiful 17 yr. old we are beginning to know so well-she is warm, funny and so natural as she answers your questions. More and more I am certain that her career is only just beginning and she has as long long way to go!!
Comment by Kathy G. — February 4, 2010 @ 3:07 PM
I love Allison! Thank you for the great interview!
Comment by iwannabeahorse — February 4, 2010 @ 9:54 PM
My 15 and 11 year old nieces just watched the interview and they loved it. They are big Allison fans who find her hilarious and are always amazed at how great she sounds singing live. It’s kind of sad that kids these days aren’t used to singers who can actually sound good live and listening to Allison, who is only a few years older than them is really inspiring to them.
Comment by Mari — February 5, 2010 @ 9:14 PM
great interview !!! i hope allison gets more good interviewers, like you . people need to see how awesome her talnet is !
Comment by mba — February 6, 2010 @ 1:03 AM
She’s funnky , by the waty she’s a success on USA!
Comment by carter — February 10, 2010 @ 5:52 AM
Allison is a nice girl. Love your style, josh!!
Comment by kary — February 12, 2010 @ 5:33 AM
nice. i like it!
Comment by romix — February 12, 2010 @ 6:56 AM
great post as usual!
Comment by Tom Pier — May 4, 2010 @ 1:37 AM