What does it take to be an Idol? If reigning American Idol Kris Allen’s advice is anything to go by, the secret is pretty simple. “I think playing an instrument helps.”

Sound advice as he handled quite a few instruments during his performances on the show including the acoustic and electric guitar, keyboard and the piano.

“But if you can’t do that, obviously eyeliner helps — but not for me,” he laughs, in an apparent reference to his Idol runner-up Adam Lambert.

His deadpan sense of humour is refreshing. In an interview some time before his showcase at the Gardens Hotel last week, Kris did seem rather aloof, but it’s forgivable seeing the strenuous schedule he has been put through since being crowned in the world’s most popular talent show.

In the 15-minute session, he only warmed up almost at the end of the conversation. In fact, this writer had been warned moments before meeting Allen.

Colleagues from other media who had faced him, came out disappointed, what with his monosyllabic answers.

And then there were warnings to steer away from questions related to Lambert. Which was hard, considering that while the flashy glam rocker may have played second fiddle to Allen at the finale, he has kept up with the champion like a shadow ever since, in terms of success.

It was too tempting to see if the Jackson, Arkansas all-American boy would flinch at the mention of Lambert’s name just one more time.

And so, we asked if the gay Lambert being ‘outed’ in some implicating photographs helped 2010 his win in Idol.

“I knew,” he said in reference to Lambert’s sexual preference. But did middle America’s ‘discovery’ of Lambert’s penchant for boas and such help him?

“I mean… people… I guess…,” he trails off, taking time to organise his thoughts.

“How could you have not known?” he says with a wry smile, shrugging.

Still, whether it helped or not, it wasn’t smooth sailing for Allen. He didn’t get much attention throughout the competition, and it was only much later in the Top 11 when Simon Cowell praised him for his interpretation of To Make You Feel My Love noting that the shy lad actually had a shot at the Idol title.

Plus, not to mention, no married individual had seriously posed enough threat to ever take the Idol title prior to Allen’s win.

“Everyone knew I wasn’t single. It was hard… I had hoped that people watching the show would vote on talent, but I know it’s not completely what people consider when they’re voting.

“They’re thinking, can I hang out with this guy? And whether he’s likeable.”

However, Allen admits that his clean boy-next-door image, coupled with his loving husband role helped, as did his religious background.

“I think I’m a relatable guy. I’m a little bit weird to some people… but I think it does play a part.”

Perhaps, Allen’s reluctance to go more in depth during interviews is also partly due to the media’s tendency to focus on fluff and trivial matters.

After countless interviews, one of the most asked questions is how much has his life changed post Idol. Even in the Press conference prior to the interview, Allen was asked those exact words by a member of the Malaysian Press.

“I can only answer that I’m in Malaysia,” he says, shrugging off the obvious.

Allen may come off misunderstood to some, appearing bored at mundane queries but the folksy rocker is a serious artiste who appears to be coming into his own.

While others may jump for joy at an offer to release an album within months of winning Idol, Allen realised that there was much to do.

“Making an album, there are things that I would want.” And while he says he feels “pretty good at how the album turned out,” it was clear that it has not met his own personal expectations.

So much so, that even the ‘coronation tune’, No Boundaries, co-written by Idol judge Kara DioGuardi, did not make it into his debut — breaking away from Idol tradition.

“Well, I just felt there were better stuff to put on the album.

“The studio version is on iTunes, if people wanted they could get it there but I feel that it has run its course.”

While staying away from reading album reviews, Allen is aware that he has yet to find his sound.

The critics have been quick to point out his albums lacks maturity and direction as opposed to Lambert’s debut.

And that doesn’t even include the updated comparisons on the sales of their respective albums. The comparisons don’t irk him, especially when he avoids reading reviews, but Allen finds the whole scenario amusing.

“It’s not disturbing, but it’s funny that people would even try comparing him to me.

“It doesn’t make sense at all because he does his thing and I do my thing and it has worked for both of us.”

As for lack of direction — he admits that writing and producing is hard.

“And to come off the show and go straight into that kind of thing…” he said.

“For the second album, I want to write all the songs and I definitely want to spend more time in production. Ask anybody how you can make an album in four short months.

“I want to spend months and months sitting down by myself and write songs and really perfect a lot of stuff.”

Allen hints at a shift in his music, and it should come as no surprise if he pulls a Kelly (former Idol Kelly Clarkson), who changed her sound after her debut upon being given more creative freedom.

So how different will Kris Allen be in the future?

“I don’t know how different. For me maybe a little bit more raw, emotionally heavy.”

Still, despite the pop machinery at work, Allen is thankful for it all. He says he is clueless as to what he would have done without Idol, not having industry connections and having exhausted his avenues playing small bars.

“I’m just glad it all worked out. The first person I worked with was with David Hodges and he had worked with a lot of big names like Kelly Clarkson and Daughtry and come off after being part of Evanescence.

“I got a little intimidated with the Grammys and all he had in his home.”

Hodges has also written and/or produced for artistes such as Amie Miriello, David Archuleta, Anastacia, Celine Dion, Backstreet Boys as well as Dashboard Confessional amongst many others.

And he’s also in the writing credits for Lambert’s upcoming album, of course.

As for his album, Allen says that the inclusion of the cover of Heartless is the last time he includes reworked tunes.

Despite his many enjoyable interpretations of big tunes in the show, there is almost no chance of any of them making it to future studio albums.

“Can’t imagine that I would (include reworked tunes). All the songs I did on the show, I really loved, definitely suited a live show. But I really can’t imagine I would record them cause it’s already been done.”

Meanwhile, Allen’s continuing his tour around the world for his fans, discovering and ‘enjoying’ new things like the ‘balut’ (a fertilised duck or chicken egg with a near developed embryo inside that is boiled and eaten with the shell).

Or maybe not. “I’d rather just eat a hard boiled egg,” he smirks.

• KRIS Allen in Kuala Lumpur was brought to you by Fox International Channels, which runs Star World, the broadcaster of American Idol in the region as well as distributor Sony Music Malaysia. A big thanks to both parties for their hospitality.

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American Idol winner Kris Allen is every bit as affable in person as he is on screen, writes PETRINA JO FERNANDEZ. HE’S got the looks, the moves and, most importantly, the voice that sent millions into a frenzy and won him the American Idol title last year. In hindsight, Kris Allen was one of the less noticeable contestants at the gruelling group auditions at American Idol’s Hollywood Week.

While runner-up Adam Lambert stole the spotlight from day one, Kris was the underdog few really noticed — until they heard this soft-spoken lad’s vocals.

He won the final with his coronation song No Boundaries, written by Idol judge Kara DioGuardi. Kris paid a visit to Malaysia last week to put on a showcase — the first American Idol winner to perform here. At an interview at The Gardens’ G.Six Club at Mid Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur, Kris displayed none of that superstar demeanour.

Dressed casually in a sky blue buttoned-down shirt and faded jeans, the reigning Season Eight winner is far more adorable in person than onscreen.

His preppy style has made him quite a favourite with women, and more than a few young hearts were broken when they discovered that the brown-eyed heartthrob is happily married. Are you often hounded by fans, someone asks.

“Oh, it’s not that bad in Los Angeles — probably because I don’t get out all that much,” he laughed, sinking into his armchair.

“It does happen every once in a while, when I go to an airport or a mall, but it’s not too bad.

I guess you just have to adapt.” And the Arkansas-born hunk seems to be adapting well to this drastic change.

The approachable star welcomed his eager fans with a disarming smile, and signed countless autographs and posed for endless pictures. “It’s terrific to have fans who support you,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to putting on a good show.” He need not have worried — it would have been a tough feat not to enjoy his performance.

The 25-year-old was a pro, switching easily from pop rock hits to folk-inspired tunes without batting an eyelid. Kris’ first self-titled post-Idol album displays his versatility with songs such as the chart-topper Live Like We’re Dying (produced by The Script’s Andrew Frampton, Steve Kipner, Danny O’Donoghue and Mark Sheehan), his rendition of Kanye West’s Heartless, and a song he wrote pre-Idol, Red Guitar.

Below is a question-and-answer with Kris:

Question: You were the guy next door one moment, and a star the next. What was that like?

Kris: It was really weird. A year and a half ago I was sitting in my small apartment, not really doing anything. And look at me now, I’m touring the world, I’m in Malaysia! It’s surreal.

Q: Are you watching the current season of American Idol?

K: I managed to catch one episode. I felt sorry for those people (laughs). Part of me wanted to run onstage and pull them off, tell them not to do it, that it’s a rough road ahead. Another part was glad they were going for it.

Q: There is talk that Simon Cowell will soon be leaving American Idol. Any idea who would make a good replacement?

K: I don’t know… maybe me? (Laughs) I’d make a good judge, but they’d have to pay me his salary. Naw, seriously, I’m sure whoever they find will be terrific. He’s an impossible person to replace; he’s such a vital part of the show. But the show must go on.

Q: What sort of judge do you think you would make?

K: I’d be truthful, but nice. Like Randy, only with less “dawgs”.

Q: You’ve been frequently compared with Adam Lambert, both musically and in terms of success since American Idol. Any comments?

K: I think it’s funny that people would even try to compare me with Lambert. We’re just such different people — it doesn’t make sense at all. We both do our own thing.

Q: Your debut self-titled album had to be completed in four months. Would you have done it that way if you had a choice?

K: Making an album in four months is crazy. It was hard, but it’s a great thing to have achieved. I’ll want to take my time with my second album though — I want to write all the songs myself, and spend more time in the studio perfecting them. I want to try a different sound too, add a bit more rock to it.

Q: Tell us about your band.

K: These guys are the best band mates in the world. One of them is an old friend of mine, we go way back. We thought of putting together a band, so we had a few try-outs. We’ve just kind of stuck together from there. We’re getting tighter, more cohesive now. I think people come more to hear them play rather than hear me sing (laughs).

Q: Any tips on how to get noticed on American Idol?

K: Play an instrument, if you know how. Otherwise, eyeliner helps (laughs).

Kris blows away Malaysian fans A FAN’S T-shirt proclaiming “Have fallen for Kris Allen” said it all – the Season 8 American Idol winner has a huge fanbase right here in Malaysia. The first Idol winner to perform here, Kris put on an exclusive showcase at The Garden’s Ballroom, The Gardens’ Hotel recently, thanks to Star World. His tour began with an autograph-signing session for 200 lucky fans, who’d lined up as early as 10am for the 6pm meet-and-greet session at Mid Valley’s Concourse area.

Kris then gave an amazing performance later that night, belting out hits such as Alright with Me, Heartless and Live Like We’re Dying to the delight of his fans. Infectious and upbeat, Kris had the crowd clapping and singing along as he gave one inspired number after another, stopping only to take a swig of water every once in a while. The young artiste also performed some tight dance moves when he wasn’t strumming his guitar.

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Just two days after musicians of all genres gathered together for the Hope For Haiti Now telethon (which raised roughly $60 million for Haitian earthquake aid), American Idol Kris Allen has announced that he is journeying to Haiti next week to personally participate in the relief efforts.

During a radio interview on B97 FM in New Orleans before performing the national anthem at Sunday’s NFC Championship game, Kris revealed: “I am actually going to Haiti. Obviously, I wanted to do something to help out. I was actually going to do that telethon thing, but then somebody hooked me up with going [to Haiti] and just helping out in the next couple days.”

Kris in fact has an extensive history of doing missionary work overseas. Long before he was crowned season 8’s American Idol, the former church music director traveled to Burma, Morocco, Mozambique, South Africa, Spain, and Thailand, “just doing kind of philanthropy stuff, just trying to help people out.”

Kris explained during his B97 interview: “This is the stuff that means the most to me, going out and helping people. And obviously, the thing that happened in Haiti was just a tragedy. I feel blessed that I get to go over there and help people out.”

Fast-forward to the 3:34 mark of the B97 interview clip below to hear Kris’s discussion of his upcoming Haiti trip:

If there was ever evidence that Kris Allen is a true American idol–and a real American hero–this is it. Kudos to Kris for making American Idol and America proud, and good luck to him in Haiti.

Audio Interview.

American Idol winner Kris Allen chatted with OK! and shared a story about the last time he sang to his wife and confessed which movie makes him cry — every time!

Last Meal I’d Eat Before I Die
Probably my mom’s chicken spaghetti. And the dessert would be her dump cake. I know, it sounds bad — it’s not really even a cake. You actually use cake batter and throw some nuts on top of it. And there’s fruit in the middle and it has 18 sticks of butter in it. It’s really incredible.

Last Time I Sang To My Wife, Katy
The other night, I was doing country versions of all the songs on the album and she was laughing hysterically. She was telling me that I could never make it in country music.

Last Time I Was Mistaken For Another Celebrity
Driving down the road in L.A., during American Idol, this woman pulls up to me and looks over. I was like, “Maybe she notices me!” And then she said, “David Archuleta!” I don’t think I look like him. Whatever.

Last Time I Saw My Wife, Katy
This morning, when I left the apartment. We are living in L.A. There’s a lot of work to be done in L.A. so we are kind of staying out here right now. We’re not buying a house. I don’t know how smart that would be considering that we don’t know exactly what we’re going to do.

Last Time I was Starstruck
When I was performing at the Miami Dolphins game, I was in Marc Anthony’s suite and he was talking to me, and then he said, “Babe, come over here.” This beautiful creature turns around and it’s Jennifer Lopez. I was trying to play it really cool though.

Last Time I Hung Out with Adam Lambert
Oh man, that’s probably seriously been since the tour. I see him every once in a while here at the office. One day, I was walking down the street, and he was seriously driving down the road. And he yelled at me, we stopped and said hello to each other.

Last Time I Cried
I was in my hotel room in Miami and I started watching Marley & Me again. The first time I watched it, I cried on the plane. Then this time, I was like, “I am going to make it through.” But I didn’t — I cried like a little baby. It’s pretty sad, but it’s a good movie.

Last Romantic Date I Had with Katy
Our idea of romance is a little different from other people’s. Last night, we were tired, but we weren’t ready to go home yet. We drove up to this café that is open 24 hours and just had a small cup of coffee together and just hung out for a while at the coffee shop. We thought that was nice.

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Watch the video here, since I can’t embed.