As the 10th season of American Idol moves along towards next month’s finale we thought it would be a great idea to catch up with Crystal Bowersox, the indisputable star of last year’s season. In all the years that American Idol has been on the air there have only been eight women who have broken through to become successful recording artists. There is Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood who are superstars. After that there is Fantasia Barrino, Jennifer Hudson, Katharine McPhee, Kellie Pickler, Jordin Sparks, and now last year’s runner-up Crystal Bowersox. That’s pretty much it. But with that said they sure are an interesting and talented group of women. They all have their own unique musical styles ranging from country and pop to soul and rock and they all have American Idol to thank for where they are career-wise. It’s also safe to say that by the middle of May we’ll be adding the name of Pia Toscano to the club but that’s a story for another day.
Crystal Bowersox has always been a little bit different from the usual contestants that the general public is used to seeing on American Idol. A multi-instrumentalist and a gifted singer/songwriter, with her dreadlocks, blue jeans, and flannel shirt she comes across as the quintessential “indie artist” as opposed to the kind of commercial pop star that Idol looks for.
With Crystal Bowersox we have a young woman who at the age of seventeen left her home town of Toledo Ohio and a strained relationship with her mother and moved to Chicago with dreams of making it in the music business. Two years ago you might have seen her playing for tips at a train station or maybe singing at an open mic in an area club. When Idol held auditions in Chicago in the summer of 2009 Crystal, who now was a twenty-four year old single mom, was encouraged by friends to give it a shot even though she had never seen the show. When she finally got in front of the judges, including guest judge Shania Twain, she sang the Janis Joplin classic “Piece of my Heart” and got her golden ticket to Hollywood. The rest, as they say, is history.
With her American Idol journey now behind her Crystal is truly living the dream. She recently married her longtime friend and fellow musician Brian Walker and her new CD called “Farmer’s Daughter” has gotten excellent reviews. “Farmer’s Daughter” is all original material with the exception being a cover of the Buffalo Springfield classic “For what it’s Worth.” All the songs are very personal and heartfelt, especially the title song which has garnered much attention. Singing about her mother Crystal includes the lyrics “You’d come home with bourbon breath, Jack in the air. And when you broke my bones I told the school I fell down the stairs.” The last time someone from Idol sang about their mother it was Carrie Underwood in the tune “Mama’s Song” where she sings “Mama there’s no way you’ll ever lose me.” Quite the contrast isn’t it?
This phone interview took place on the afternoon of Friday March 4th. Crystal was in her car at the time taking her son to Chuck E. Cheese!
Crystal how is it for you these days dealing with the fame and recognition that American Idol has brought to you?
CB - "Well I've been traveling a lot and usually in airports or on the airplane I'll be recognized and it's fine. I don't feel any different. I understand that there will be people who know who I am, at least publicly and that's fine with me. I say hi and it makes them smile. It's nice to be able to put a smile on someone’s face. It’s very cool.”
What’s it like seeing your new CD on display at record stores?
CB - “Well I haven’t been to a record store in a while and there’s not very many of them left sadly. It’s awesome and I’m definitely blessed to be where I am and have the opportunities that I’ve had and hopefully will continue to have.”
I thought covering the Buffalo Springfield song “For What It’s Worth” was an interesting choice. What was the reason for including that tune?
CB - “The idea was brought up be David Bendeth who was the producer on ‘Farmer’s Daughter.’ He said ‘why not this song?’ and I know the song. I’ve heard it a million times from my parents and their era of music and it’s a timeless classic. It will always ring true no matter what is happening in the world but more so now that ever. It’s important that the youth stand up for themselves and what they believe in and be active and aware and conscience of what is happening around you.”
I know you’ve been asked quite a bit about the title track. Let me just ask you about the feedback you’ve gotten from people.
CB - “I’ve gotten some good and some bad. A lot of people have said that it’s too heavy, it’s too heavy of a topic but that’s exactly why I wanted it to be my first single and it’s also the reason that I’ve gotten messages from fans who said that it affected them and changed their lives in a personal way. They could relate somehow to the content of it and start to heal from it. Airing it out helps you get over it. That’s how it was for me. The song for me is a positive song in that way because I don’t carry that emotion around with me anymore. It’s in the song, it’s out of me. It was definitely cathartic.”
I thought that the video of the song was excellent. What I took from it is that it’s obvious your son will never have those issues.
CB - “Definitely, it’s a conscience choice to end cycles. Maybe your mother or father went through something as a child and they brought it to you and you went through the same thing. It was my decision whether or not I wanted my son to have that kind of life and I chose not to. I want him to have the very best and have the opportunities that he deserves.”
Let’s change the subject. I understand that you recently had a nice experience at the Grand Ole Opry. Can you tell me about that?
CB - “Yeah definitely, Pete Fisher had invited my husband and me to the Grand Ole Opry to just stand in the back of the stage. So we were just there and kind of in awe of everything happening and watching people walk by. It was just nice to be there but then Pete wanted to announce my presence to the audience and I said ‘ok sure.’ And he said ‘Crystal’s in the house’ and I walked out and waved and that was that. And then a little time went by and Vince Gill comes over and asks if I could play a song and started geeking out! I’ve dreamt about that moment, that’s a huge thing. That’s writing a part of my personal history and part of the Opry’s history, it’s so big to me and I was very flattered and flabbergasted that it happened and it felt really good.”
I heard that you sang “Mine all Mine.” That’s a very sweet song.
CB - “I sang ‘Mine All Mine’ which is a song about simplicity. You don’t need a lot of things and you can get by on love if you want to.”
I like the first track “Riding with the Radio.” It’s what you like to call good ol’ rock and roll.
CB - “I don’t know about that. I like to write songs and I like to sing songs and I gave it my best shot. I don’t know if it lives up to all that but if people enjoy it then I will have achieved my goal.”
I recently saw a video of you at a radio station at the Children’s Health Care of Atlanta. Can you tell me about that?
CB - “That was part of the Ryan Seacrest Foundation. In that hospital they built a studio that broadcasts throughout that hospital and a few other local hospitals. The kids can watch it in their room. They can call in and talk to the deejay and it’s just an interactive thing in the hospital for the kids to do. The equipment there was phenomenal. So it’s just a little way to shed a little light on a child’s day who maybe otherwise wouldn’t have had a brighter day and it was great to be a part of that.”
I know that childhood diabetes has been a pet project for you. How can people help?
CB – Go to JDRS.ORG – juvenile diabetes research foundation. You can just do a google search and a lot of stuff comes up as information on where you can volunteer or how you can donate or how to be involved and be active in it. Before I always wanted to donate but couldn’t because I didn’t have the money to and thankfully now I can donate time and money and try to help anyone else who is going through what I go through. It’s a nice thing to be able to contribute.”
Getting back to “Farmer’s Daughter,” tell me about the song “Mason” that you sing with your husband. Is that you son’s name?
CB - “It’s one of his names. We call him Tony. It’s Anthony Levi Mason. Part of the reason that Mason is in his name is because of my husband’s song ‘Mason.’ It’s huge for us. It’s a very sentimental song for our family. We sang it at our wedding right after we said I do. To us it’s an epic love song.”
I also liked the song “Arlene.” What’s the story behind that tune?
CB - “I wrote ‘Arlene’ last summer towards the end of the American Idol’s live tour and Arlene was our tour bus driver. I was just inspired by her. She’s just tough, honest, and thorough with a great work ethic. She was just all about getting stuff done and being strong as a woman. She said that no one had ever written a song for her in thirty years of rock and roll trucking. So I took it upon myself to write a song for her.”
I know you have a couple of shows coming up but are there plans for a major tour – hopefully to New England?
CB - “I believe there’s some stuff coming up but I don’t have a set tour or anything but I’ll be playing shows all summer long. My schedule is filling up fast. So keep your eyes posted and hopefully there will be a show near you. I’ve got a lot of stuff coming up but I just can’t announce anything yet. Just keep your eye on my website. We’re basically adding all the time.”
Have you been doing a lot of writing? I bet that pretty soon you’ll be thinking about your next CD.
CB – “I’ve written about three new songs in the past couple of weeks. You know I am kind of antsy but I want to give this one the love and attention that it deserves but I’m constantly writing and creating. It’s just part of who I am. It is just something that happens all the time. I don’t have any specific other projects going on or anything but I’m getting to play with some amazing musicians and Jon Popper is going to join me at South by Southwest and that’s incredible to me that he would even consider playing with me now. Like he knows who I am, that’s crazy to me. So I’m in a really good place in life and in my career and I just hope I get to do this forever.”
Have you been watching the new season of American Idol and do you have any favorites?
CB - “I haven’t really been watching but someone recommended that I check out Casey Abrams. He’s the only contestant that I’ve actually seen and I thought he was great. I haven’t seen the competition though so it’s not an educated guess but I’m rooting for Casey.”
I assume that we will see you back there on the Idol stage some time soon?
CB - “Um……… You’ll just have to wait and see! Nothing is confirmed so we’ll see what happens.”
Recently Crystal Bowersox teamed up with BB King as representatives for OneTouch which is a type of glucose monitoring system for people with diabetes. Maybe you’ve seen their commercial? If not then undoubtedly you’ll be seeing Crystal soon enough when she makes her triumphant return to the American Idol stage. And if you happen to miss that then maybe you’ll run into her hanging out with her son at a local Chuck E. Cheese.