Clay Interviewed by ChannelNewsAsia

Clay was interviewed by ChannelNewsAsia recently. It's a great interview! Thanks to There Was A Man for the text -

He’s had four Top 5 albums on the Billboard charts, but Clay Aiken still can’t shake off his days as the geek on American Idol.

“I think to some extent in the United States, you don’t really shed that Idol tag,” he said over the phone from Los Angeles.

“It’s such a huge show that you can’t escape it.

“But I got here being myself on American Idol, and I try my best on continuing to be here based on being myself,” he added.

“If you want to be good at what you do, you can’t slack off. You have to continue to try to do better. Anybody who assumes I’m here only because of Idol is wrong.”

Aiken’s latest album, On My Way Here, confirms that sentiment. Most of the songs, he said, are about “becoming and discovering yourself”, and learning life lessons rather than lessons “from a book in school”.

It’s something that the Raleigh, North Carolina, native has first-hand experience of.

“I never wanted to be a singer,” he admitted. “I wanted to be a teacher. So all this kind of happened as a blessing — to be able to take my hobby and turn it into my job. All the experiences, luck and blessings have come because we’ve been open to a lot of things.”

Still, he’s quick to point out that fame does have its drawbacks.

“Like I was out the other day with my friends just wanting to get some dinner, and we had paparazzi following us the whole time — that’s a pain in the butt,” he said, sighing. “It’s part of the job. I think you just have to learn to deal with it.”

“It” includes rumours that the 29-year-old singer has had plastic surgery and is actually gay but afraid to admit it.

“That’s what’s so great about America,” he said, laughing. “One of our valuable amendments to the Constitution — freedom of the press — is also one of the crappiest. You can write anything you want. You don’t need to have any proof or any truth to what you write.”

Lucky for Aiken, besides the surgery and gay rumours, he’s not exactly exciting tabloid fodder.

“I stole a car one time. At 15, you can drive as long as a parent is with you but one day, they were out, so I took the car out for drive by myself. That’s probably the most rebellious thing I’ve done.”

Yup, Clay Aiken stole his parent’s car when he was 15. Doesn’t exactly scream magazine sales.

“Nobody’s ever the same person everyday, but for the most part, I think I’m pretty nice and easy to get along with. But my manager will probably say that’s crap.”

Still, he does have a snippy side. “Last night, I was watching one of the way-too-many music awards shows we have and the live performances were almost unbearable to listen to. I think people just don’t realise how bad they are. It was really awful. People were off-key, and it was a ... mess.”

Has Aiken turned into a Simon Cowell? “No, but it was really hard to listen to. I was telling my friend: ‘Oh my god, if I were ever that bad, please promise to tell me.’ I hope I’m never that bad.”

Clay Tells AOL He's An Entertainer

Clay spoke briefly with AOL's PopEater blog during his recent AOL Sessions mini-concert.

Clay Aiken Says He Isn't a Musician

Posted May 27th 2008 5:00PM by Christina Lang
Filed under: Sessions

"I don't really consider myself a musician so much as I consider myself just an entertainer," says the man who finished second on 'American Idol,' sold millions of records and now stars in the hit Broadway musical 'Spamalot,' when he stopped by the AOL Studios for his Sessions taping. Clay Aiken knows his place in the entertainment pantheon and he's just fine with it, thank you very much.

Besides (not) being a musician, Aiken has also taken an active role with several charities. Uniting the "Claymates" in an effort to support autistic children, Aiken and his good friend Diane Bubel formed the Bubel/Aiken Foundation to support mainstreaming autistic children into the classrooms, play groups and other normal day-to-day activities for children.

The benevolent Aiken took time out from his busy schedule to perform five tracks and talk with AOL Music about his first studio album in two years and more.

Clay Talks About Broadway, Post-Idol Career with Steppin' Out Magazine

An interview with Clay is the cover story for this week's Steppin' Out Magazine. The interview covers a number of topics in his post-Idol career as well as some of his thoughts on starring in Broadway. Read the entire interview below. Click on the thumbnails to enlarge.

And while we're on the topic of interviews, here are two more:

• First up ... interview with the Kansas City Star's American Idol blog:

  What did you know about Monty Python before you took this role?
  
  Nothing. I thought “Spamalot” was about unwanted e-mails. The first time I saw the musical, I was like, “Uh, really?” I mean, it’s not like “Wicked” or anything like that. It’s completely different. The second time I saw it I laughed so hard …
  
  Why Sir Robin?
  
  It’s the character they suggested, probably because there are so many similarities. He’s afraid of everything. He’s a bit of a chicken.
  
  Talk about what you wanted to accomplish when you went into the studio to record the new album.
  
  We’ve wanted to do an album of original material because it has been five years now since the last one. That was the goal: to do songs that could become ours. A majority of the process came down to finding songs that fit me more than songs that pushed me to be something. On the last album we spent a lot of time trying to put square pegs in round holes.
  
  [...]
  
  Is a tour in the works?
  
  I finish “Spamalot” on May 4, right before the album comes out. But I haven’t had two days off in a row since October. It would be impossible to put out the album and then tour next month. So I’ll take some time off. Who knows, maybe through the end of the year. I’ll probably tour for UNICEF this summer, but I’m looking forward to sitting down and sitting still and not doing things like getting my haircut while I’m doing an interview.”, which is what I’m doing right now.
  
  [...]

• Second one is from Artist Direct -

  So, how is Spamalot going for you? You must be so busy right now.
  
  Almost over. I'm busier now with album stuff, but I've got seven more shows.
  
  Are you going to miss it when you're done?
  
  I'm sure I will to some extent; it's been a lot of fun. It's been a great experience. I'm glad I did it. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.
  
  [...]
  
  Your first single, "On My Way Here," was written by Ryan from OneRepublic. How did you find that song? What made it stand out to not only be the lead single but the name of the album? Is it at all because of the success of OneRepublic?
  
  Well, we found this song the same way we found all the other ones. We found it through a publisher and it had some great lyrics and a great message to it, and it was something immediately that I saw on the album.
  
  Did that set the tone for the other songs that you chose for the record?
  
  Absolutely. When I think about the theme for the whole album, this song pops out, and the experiences and all that. We decided that we wanted all the songs on the album to take up that same tone. All the songs are kind of about someone growing up and going through experiences and finding out who they are.
  
  You've said that the album is kind of a road map of the past five years of your life, chronicling how you got to where you are now. Is it a very personal record in that respect, or can other people going through their own "coming of age" relate?
  
  It's both. It's a coming of age [album]—coming to what an adult is record—and as much as it is now, I'm doing the same myself. There are parts of the songs that are very personal.
  
  [...]
  
  The album has a lot of variety: jazz to your standard pop and some rock. Are you trying to show off your versatility and range? How does Clay Aiken find a song that is going to suit you well?
  
  We don't. We find a song we think is good. And then it's just kind of gut instincts, really. I think we found songs this time we thought were great songs, and then we'd sing through them one time—and then, you know what? That would be good for someone else; it doesn't fit right for me. It's got to be right, and it's got to be believable.
  
  [...]

On My Way Here Digest - May 12, 2008

Pause & Play featured "On My Way Here" as its release of the week.

A common criticism of "American Idol" finalists is that when they get into the recording studio, their talent is overshadowed by poor material selection and overproduction. There's not a hint of that on Aiken's first album of original material since 2003. Just listen to the title track and you'll be asking too, "Why didn't he win Season 2?!" Check out: "On My Way Here," "Ashes," "Everything I Need," "Something About Us." Hear here.

• Clay's done yet another radio interview. This one is with The New 103.7 FM in Dallas. The interview is up at their website. The CB's skyedancer46 posted:

  Well I dont know if anyone else posted about it, but they talked to him about Spamalot, his hair, and of course the CD. They dont play Clay except sometimes at Christmas. I was surprised to hear them talk to him about the CD and they told Clay that his fans had been calling in and requesting his songs... He asked them if they played them and the DJ said "Anything for you Clay". Well I never heard any of the songs played at all today but I could have missed it.
  

• WRCH-FM in Connecticut also has a great Clay interview you can stream from their website.
  
• Clay will be on FOX Los Angeles' Good Day Live on Wednesday morning to promote OMWH.
• LALate has covered OMWH with great detail in the past month. Check out their website for more updates about Clay.
  
• For those of you who haven't ordered the QVC version of OMWH, here is your 44 second peek at the bonus song, "When I Need You":
  

Tidbits 5/11

• The Associated Press released a new video interview with Clay. This appears to have been conducted during Clay's satellite TV tour last week.
  
  
• Clay's interview with Mo Rocca, which was posted to AOL yesterday, aired on LX.TV's program called 1stLook last night. The station is only available in the New York area.
• FOX Birmingham has their Clay interview up... watch it here.
  
  
  
• Cinematical - it would've been nice if they published this a little earlier, since Clay's run on Spamalot has wrapped up!

  (Side note: Spamalot currently has Clay Aiken playing Sir Robin, with the unfortunate byproduct that the audiences are packed with Claymates -- i.e., giddy teenage girls and sexually frustrated middle-aged women -- who scream and cheer at literally everything he does, extra-loud if it involves moving his body in any way. This would be sad if it weren't so annoying.)

• Associated Press wire - advance story about Today in history: May 21 -

  Five years ago: Christie Whitman resigned as Environmental Protection Agency administrator. The most devastating earthquake to hit Algeria in two decades killed at least 2,200 people. Ruben Studdard edged Clay Aiken to win the second "American Idol" competition on Fox.

• Clay will be appearing on Good Day Live LA "next week". GDL airs on the Los Angeles affiliate of FOX every morning from 7 to 9 AM.
  

Sunny 101.5 FM Interviews Clay

South Bend, IN's Sunny 101.5 FM interviewed Clay today. The exclusive interview is available as a MP3 download at the Sunny 101.5 FM website.

AOL's Mo Rocca Chats with Clay at Benihana Restaurant

AOL News' Mo Rocca had a 5 minute sit down interview with Clay at the Benihana Japanese restaurant in New York City. In the interview, Clay talked about why he loves the restaurant, shares his thoughts on the new album, and picks up a few lessons about "edamame", which he finds out are soybeans, not peas.

Don't miss this interview! It's one of the best ones we've come arcoss in a while!



Thanks to the heads up from Anew and Afresh and the ConCLAYve.

Clay Visits The View

Video clip courtesy ConnieTalk.

Clay visited The View today to promote On My Way Here. He sat down for a brief interview, where he talked about the new album, the BAF, Mother's day and his fans, before performing the lead single, "On My Way Here".

Download the cap at ClackUnlimited.

Fans Interview Clay on Portland's K103 FM

GrowlClay919 was one of 3 Clay fans who got the opportunity to interview Clay on Portland, OR's K103 FM today. The interview is available on K103 FM's website.

ABC NightLine Interview Tonight; CBS Interview Now Online

Clay will be on ABC's NightLine tonight at 11:35 PM EDT for an interview about the new album, "On My Way Here". ABCNews.com today ran a great article titled "Aiken Ditches Cover Songs":

Long before he starred in Broadway's "Spamalot," Clay Aiken was a performer. Some might say he always knew his audience.

[...]

Today Aiken, 29, still knows how to please a crowd and remains the most successful of the male "American Idol" contestants. His first three albums played it safe, with few original songs and lots of crowd-pleasing covers. Critics complained Aiken wasn't revealing enough, and after belting out Brian Adams and Mr. Mister, Aiken himself has admitted that it was tough for him to make a statement via repackaged music.

[...]

But unlike his previous albums that conform to a particular genre, Aiken considers his newest album, "On My Way Here," which arrived in stores this week, to be an eclectic mix that reflects his personal style. Aiken only wrote one song on the record, "Lover All Alone," but selected the remaining songs to represent experiences he's had in the past five years.

[...]

In 2003 Aiken did, however, come very close to winning "American Idol," the most well-known singing contest in the nation. As one of the two finalists left standing, Aiken lost while Ruben Studdard walked away with the coveted recording contract.

Since then, Studdard was dropped by his label after a disappointing performance on the music charts, while Aiken's albums went platinum. After receiving several prestigious honors from Billboard and the American Music Awards, Aiken has sold more albums and had more No. 1 songs than any other "American Idol" alum except for Kelly Clarkson.

CBS News also posted a report/interview about OMWH. Watch the interview at CBS Video.

Clay Aiken's Life Lessons

Clay Aiken's new album "On My Way Here" has been released and is his first collection of original songs since his debut album went double platinum in 2003. Karen Brown reports.

Clay Interviewed by "Extra" About OMWH, American Idol

Clay was interviewed by "Extra" about On My Way Here. He tells them that he no longer watches American Idol, saying the show has lost its innocence. The CB's dogloverlikeclay summarizes:

Heads up for anyone who gets Extra (it usually is on the same channel as Access Hollywood). They just did a great piece on Clay (unlike that debacle last week that AH did). They showed some past AI pics of him and then showed him now looking mighty fine. They asked him about AI which he gave his standard "same as high school" answer. Then they showed the OMWH cd cover and him singing in the studio. It was all positive and did I mention how fine he looked??

Download the video cap at SendSpace

At Extra's website, Simon Cowell chimed in on Clay's comments about no longer watching AI -

From "Idol" present to "Idol" past -- Simon takes a slap at second season runner-up Clay, who dissed the show in a new interview -- and caused one hairy situation! Seeing Aiken's new blond hairdo, Cowell quipped, "So that was Nancy Grace, where's Clay? It's just that hair. I can't listen to him."

Gather.com's Interview with Clay

We were promised a while ago that Gather.com would interview Clay. We got the heads up that the interview is now up on Gather.com, based on questions submitted by fans. The interview is focused around Clay's work with the BAF and UNICEF:

[...]

Gather: Karen M. asked "As for UNICEF I would be interested to know of the locations that you have visited; which is the first one that you would you like to return to for a follow-up visit? Why?"

Clay: I've been to Indonesia, went there after the tsunami, I've been to Uganda in the same year to see the effects of the war and that was one of the most devastating things I've ever seen in my life. I went to Afghanistan last year for what UNICEF was doing there, and spent this past Christmas in Mexico.

[...]

Gather: Jean A. asked, "You have recently mentioned that you may be going on a UNICEF trip this summer...can you talk anymore about that? Your trips to Banda Aceh, Uganda, Afghanistan, and Mexico brought so much awareness about the plights of others around the world. I'm looking forward to your next trip!"

Clay: We usually don't talk about trips before I take them for security reasons. While we don't say where we're going, but of course when we talked about Mexico, its ok, but typically they like to send me places where they are scared that they could lose me so we don't usually don't talk about where I'm going before I go for those reasons.

[...]

Gather: Sandy P. asked, "Do you get to go to any of the camps and participate with the kids. I hope so, I know how much you love and care about them. I hope you get to enjoy their joy at times."

Clay: I have done that a few years ago and we tried doing them last summer but I was on tour. We want to try to do some more of that this summer. I miss that part of my life. At the same time it can tend to be a distraction and that's not what I want to cause. It's not beneficial to disrupt the routine, but participating and interacting is something I love to do.


[...]

Gather: Debra B. asked, "Hey there Clay--just wondering what book are you reading right now? And do you have a favorite book from your childhood that you would love to read to your own children someday?

Keep up the good work! You have an awesome voice and a good heart. =)"

Clay: I'm actually not reading anything right now, but recently bought my favorite book from when I was a kid which is The Magic Hat of Mortimer Wintergreen by Myron Levoy.

Clay Interviewed by Local TV Affiliates

Clay went around the nation today, without ever leaving the comforts of a New York studio. He conducted numerous interviews with local TV stations across the country via a satellite hook-up from New York.

The CB's video-capping guru, gerwhisp, has posted SendSpace links where you can download these interviews:

• FOX Chicago
• FOX 5
• FOX Milwaukee
• FOX Orlando
• FOX Alabama
• FOX 9
• Cleveland - Good Company
• WRAL Raleigh
• KUSI News
• FOX 13
  

Tidbits 5/5

• Atlanta area Claymates: Clay will be on Good Day Atlanta on FOX Atlanta tomorrow morning between 7 and 9 AM as part of his "OMWH Satellite Tour" to local TV stations nationwide.
  
• Hartford Courant - AI7 heads towards an all-male finale -

  A 3-1 male advantage has happened twice previously in the show's history, most recently when Katharine McPhee stood against Chris Daughtry, Elliott Yamin and eventual winner Taylor Hicks. Earlier, Kimberly Locke was the last woman in a final four that also featured Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken and Josha Gracin.

• Playbill - Robert Petkoff replaces Clay at Spamalot -

  Robert Petkoff, who played Perchik in the most recent Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof, will join the Broadway cast of Monty Python's Spamalot May 6 at the Shubert Theatre.
  
  Petkoff will step into the roles of Sir Robin, Guard 1 and Brother Maynard, according to a show spokesperson. He succeeds former "American Idol" contestant Clay Aiken, who played his final performance May 4.

• Chexxxy's Pearls - LALate is "elated" about OMWH

Billy Bush Interview on Access Hollywood

The Billy Bush interview that came out last week was aired last night on Access Hollywood. You can watch the interview at AccessHollywood.com or download the entire TV version of the interview at ClackUnlimited.

Clay Talks to ABC News Radio

Clay sat down to talk with ABC News Radio about On My Way Here. Clay talks about how OMWH is different from his prior albums, and why he isn't concerned about radio play. Listen to the radio at ABCNews.com.

Interviews Galore: Clay's Interviews with SFGate, Access Atlanta, SheKnows

Here are some more Clay interviews, leading up to the album release day... only 3 days to go!

• SF Gate -
  

  We realize that Clay Aiken is not everyone's favorite "American Idol" runner-up. But the 29-year-old North Carolina native is the only one who sells millions of records, stars in a major Broadway show, gets to sell stuff on QVC, runs a foundation for children with disabilities and inspires fans to make homemade T-shirts that read "Clay shakes my ovaries a thousand different ways." This week, Aiken releases "On My Way Here," his first album of original material since his 2003 double-platinum debut, "Measure of a Man."
  
  Q: You look so different from how you looked five years ago. Have all the makeovers made you better?
  A: I don't think the external stuff has changed me. I'm still about as self-confident as a skunk.
  
  [...]
  
  Q: Does this album feel like your real second album, even though it's you're fourth?
  A: In a way, it kind of does. Obviously, it's the second album that we've done with original stuff. I've always said the first album was fitting a square peg into a round hole. The songs were picked before they even knew it was going to be me. Now we're putting the square peg in the square hole. I'm definitely square, that's for sure. But at least it fits.

• Access Atlanta - "Clay Aiken interview, ratings update, song choice" -

  Those Clay Aiken fans have been waiting for this since I’ve been teasing it. But his first album of originals since 2003, “On My Way Here” comes out Tuesday. (The Claymate crew will be at Manuel’s Tavern, 602 N. HIghland Ave., Atlanta, at 8;30 p.m. Monday for an album release party.)
  
  Clay is definitely the gabby sort. I had a lengthy list of questions to ask him for my 15 minutes, including several from Clay fans I solicited. But I only got in a handful of my own before the publicist said time was up.
  
  [...]
  
  Why has it been so long since you did a full album of originals?
  
  The record label latched on to me doing a Christmas album. It kind of made sense. It worked beautifully for whatever reason. The truth is, we ain’t radio people. Clay Aiken and the radio don’t happen as easily as Kelly Clarkson or Chris Daughtry. They wanted me to do an album with songs they could sell on TV. Radio is like an advertisement for your album. They thought they could sell Clay Aiken songs for commercials. So I did mostly covers. It ended up being a product I liked quite a bit though there was some resistance from the fans. They call me the next Barry Manilow but at least he has his own music. I wanted stuff that was mine whether it gets played on the radio or not. We went at this saying, that’s not a priority. I don’t want to think about doing radio friendly songs.
  
  Look-I’m not top 40. I’m not cool enough to be on there. If you walk into a nightclub and they put on Clay Aiken music, I hope they’ll run out.
  
  [...]
  
  Do you think your first single “On My Way Here” can do well on radio?
  
  The label thinks so. We never tried to find a single. We used to try to do that. We tried and tried. Nothing worked. We do things that are good for me, that sounds believable. If you saw the show the last time, I did a bit of “Sexyback.” It was totally a joke, totally tongue in cheek. If I tried to sing those songs sincerely and put it on the radio, that’d be a caricature. I know that. Give me a cool song. I start singing it, it’s not cool anymore.
  
  What’s different about this vs. your first album?
  
  I used to not care about lyrics. I could have sung about watermelons as long as it’s pretty. This is the first time we looked at lyrics. I wanted every single song to connect with me lyrically. Some of them are songs that don’t necessarily connect with me directly but a majority of people will experience.
  
  We produced a very diverse sounding album. If some of these songs were sung by someone else, they might end up on Q100… Lyrically, it’s all connected.
  

• SheKnows.com - "Claymates rejoice!" -

  Clay Aiken will be returning to the top spots of the album charts when “On My Way Here” is released May 6. That much is a certainty. The American Idol runner up is ready to get first new material to his fans since his 2003 debut, “Measure of a Man” went twice platinum.
  
  Since that famed singing competition made him a household name, Aiken has transcended pop to not only conquer the charts, but become the king of Christmas touring and an expert in Monty Python’s regal attitudes and had his hair lightened a few shades.
  
  Aiken’s return as pop music performer will have to suffice solely on CD for his fans.
  
  The singer is spending his summer at a North Carolina home he barely knows. This relaxed summer sojourn home is a welcomed one for an artist who has not had a vacation since Ryan Seacrest uttered “You’re ‘American Idol’ is…Ruben Studdard.”
  
  SheKnows: You’ve had a few records out since the closest “American Idol” vote in its seven seasons, how are your expectations for “On My Way Here” different as opposed to your Christmas album, cover record or the debut CD?
  
  Clay Aiken: I do feel bad saying this, but I’ll admit it anyway. I guess there is an excitement when an album comes out, let me say that. Am I as excited as I was the very first time? No, of course not, the first time you do anything is always more exciting. This time, I have been honestly so busy I’ve had almost no time to think about anything. But you know, every time we get something new in – we just got in the album packaging in – it makes it a little more exciting each time. And when I’m talking to people like yourself about it, that I’ve been able to make a product that is more personal than in the past. That is exciting, you know?
  
  [...]
  
  SheKnows: Heading out into the summer season that is famous for touring, you’re releasing an album May 6, millions of fans want to know -- are you hitting the road?
  
  Clay Aiken: We’re not touring actually. I have not had two days off in a row since I don’t know when. I know since September, between the Christmas tour, and then I did a UNICEF trip to Mexico, I came straight from there to New York to do rehearsals for “Spamalot.” I’m in “Spamalot” until May 4 and then I’ll take the fifth off and then from then on we’ll be promoting the new album for a few weeks straight. But after that, I’m going to sit down for a little bit.

FanBolt.com's Talks About OMWH, Spamalot with Clay

FanBolt.com's brilliant, and lengthy interview with Clay is now up! A few weeks ago, FanBlot asked Clay fans to submit questions, and some of these questions were asked during the interview.

When Clay Aiken and his executive producer Jaymes Foster began the search for songs to record for Aiken's first album of original material since his 2003 chart-topping debut Measure of A Man, they both fell in love with a song written by OneRepublic frontman Ryan "Alias" Tedder called "On My Way Here." The message of the lyrics - how the lessons we learn while growing up shape us into who we become as adults - struck such a deep chord with Aiken that it wound up inspiring the theme (and title) of his new collection.

I think the #1 question everyone wants to know is when is the tour?

I don't have an answer for that actually. I have no idea. We were going to take some time off, and we haven't started planning one. I'm sure we will do it, we just don't know when as of now.

Do you have a favorite song on the new album?

No, I couldn't pick one. I mean this is the first album where everything is handpicked by myself and my executive producer, so we have reasons we liked every song. There's an eclectic mix, there's some variety in it without question, and that makes many of them favorites for different reasons.

[...]

You mentioned in one of the earlier interviews, I'm not sure who it was with, but you mentioned using an "out of tune" piano.

Oh did I? Did I mention that? Who did I say that to?

A sound that you liked that Kipper was able to reproduce for you?

Yeah, I can't believe I said that to someone, but okay. It's true, so I guess I must have.

Your fans want to know what song uses that as accompaniment?

Well I'm not going to tell them. Let them figure it out. It is true, it's in at least one, it might actually be in two, but it's in at least one. Let them guess! I can't believe I told that... I do love that sound. We decided to get an upright piano, and do it that way, and when I heard it I was like," HOLY CRAP! That's it!"

So it's in there. Let's see how good their ears are [laughs]!

[...]

I've seen Spamalot, and I'm a huge fan as well. How do you keep a straight face, especially as the drunken guard Prince Herbert scene?

I don't keep a straight face. Well during the drunken guard scene I do, because I don't think it's funny [laughs]. But honestly, it's because it's not that easy to do. It's not an easy thing for me. I have to think about it constantly. That's the one scene of the show where I still have to think about my lines. Normally, the rest of the play I don't even have to pay attention to my lines, but that's the one scene where I still do have to pay attention, so I don't say the wrong thing. But there are plenty of parts throughout the play where I don't keep a straight face.

Down the line, if the opportunity ever arose would you consider acting on television or perhaps in movies?

Yeah, I would love that. I always like to try new things. That was the reason we decided to do Spamalot. Something to kind of push us out of our comfort zone, so if the right opportunity came along then sure, absolutely.

[...]

Your fans miss the "Tug."! So I have to ask since we all love it so much, do you intend to use it again?

Oh Lord, no. That has its mark. If I sing that song again, I'll do it again if I'm in the mood. That was actually an accident that happened, it... it became a phenomenon! So when I do it, I do it for the fans and not naturally. We kind of joke around backstage sometimes when I'm about to sing "Invisible", and I'm like, "Oh crap where am I supposed to do that?" I can never remember where it's supposed to be [laughs], so we do it on purpose now. I think that has its place.

Austin360's Interview with Clay

Clay's been making the rounds doing more interviews than we can count, the past week. Here's another one from Austin360. Make sure you check out the 10-minute audio version of the interview, posted on their website.

From Clay Aiken’s mouth to your ears

By Gary Dinges | Monday, April 28, 2008, 08:27 AM
[...]

“It’s the first time we’ve done new stuff in five years, so I’m excited,” Clay told us. “It’s stuff that’s mine.”

[...]

This CD clearly comes straight from Clay’s heart. Each song has a deeply personal meaning for him, but he’s quick to point out they’ll likely mean something entirely different to his many fans out there. And that’s perfectly fine.

[...]

Anyway, many of you were eager to find out if there will be a tour to accompany the CD’s release. Well, we’ve got some good — and bad — news. You’ll get your tour … but it won’t be any time soon. Following the CD’s debut, and the obligatory media tour, he’s looking forward to taking a breather.

[...]

And what about starring in a movie or TV series someday?

“We try to stay open to every single thing, every opportunity that comes along,” he said.

But …

“I’m not seeking out a movie, no”

Birmingham News: Clay Aiken a "malleable singer"

The buzz around Clay is everywhere. Birmingham News' Mary Colurso interviewed Clay this week. The full interview can be found at Al.com - Birmingham News:

[...]

Most of the credit should go to Aiken's voice, of course -- the way his clean, clear tenor flowed through pop hits such as "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water."

Looks and personality do matter, however.

In the five years since he graduated from reality TV, Aiken has developed his balladeer voice through recordings, concerts and TV appearances. At the same time, he has polished his wholesome-yet-trendy style.

[...]


He's on the phone to spread the word about his new disc, which comes out May 6 on the RCA label. But in a series of brief chats with reporters, which are lined up like dominoes that morning, Aiken is willing to deviate from the script.

[...]

His time in "Spamalot," Aiken says, has been "phenomenal, without question," and has subtly changed his ideas about performing.

"Did I know how to be on stage? Sure. But this gives you a whole different perspective," he says. "It's just been a different experience for me. I'm sure I'll be slightly sentimental in a couple of weeks, when I have to leave. But I won't cry."

Aiken, after all, is likely to step right into a media blitz for "On My Way Here." It's his first album of freshly minted songs since 2003's "Measure of a Man" -- he released a Christmas CD and a covers disc in the meantime -- and Aiken says he selected its 12 tracks carefully.

[...]

For "Measure of a Man," Aiken says, producers tried to "fit a square peg in a round hole." They chose material for a radio niche and asked him to fit his voice and talents to it. That CD went double platinum, but its commercial success didn't bring him real artistic satisfaction.

"If I hear the term 'radio-friendly' one more time, I'm going to scream," Aiken says. "I did that on my first album, to my detriment."

[...]

He and executive producer Jaymes Foster convinced RCA to accept one simple goal, Aiken says: "To find songs I could do beautifully and do well."

No oldies. No dance tunes. No R&B crossover.

"Let's face it," he says. "I'm not right for something like 'SexyBack.' For Justin Timberlake, OK. For Clay Aiken, no."