Theo Tams opens with a bang on rockin' debut album
This is not quite the Theo Tams we know and love from Canadian Idol.
And that's exactly the way he wants it.
The Idol winner's debut album "Give It All Away" opens with a bang -- the funk-infused lead-off track "I'm Gonna Say" features smooth seductive vocals from a formerly shy balladeer who sounds all grown up.
"We wanted to do something that capitalized on what I did on Idol, which was big vocals and a lot of piano but other than that we took some big risks on this record. That's what I think makes it cool is that as soon as you put this disc in you're like, 'This is Theo's CD?'" the 23-year-old from Coaldale, Alta., says with a laugh.
"I think there are some huge surprises but at the same time I think it's easy for people who voted for me on Idol to like these songs as well."
With a new creative and release structure in place, the May release of "Give It All Away" marks the first time a Canadian Idol winner has been able to take this much time to make their debut album.
"We would not have been able to come up with a record that's able to stand up I think if we rushed it," he says.
But it could be a double-edged sword, adds Theo, because expectations have been raised even higher. But he says it was worth it in order to put out something he was completely happy with.
"I hope that people like it, but at the end of the day I'm just so happy I can stand behind it -- that's the most important thing."
Theo co-wrote seven songs on the album, which is more than any other Idol winner's debut. Although there are a few of his signature ballads on the album, Theo wanted to include plenty of upbeat, rockin' songs as well.
"I knew that ballads come naturally to me and that's, obviously what I did most of on the show, and I think that's why. I really wanted to come out and be like I'm not just this solemn little 'piano ballad boy' type guy."
With songs about love, saying good-bye and his time on Idol, Theo says he definitely drew from personal experiences when writing the lyrics.
The first single "Lazy Lovers," a co-write with Hawksley Workman, was inspired by Theo's time spent at an orphanage in India. Working with the much-acclaimed and very eccentric Canadian singer-songwriter was an experience in itself.
"I was so nervous sitting down with him. 'Lazy Lovers' came from one of the first co-writes I did and I just remember walking into that room and he was like 'Hi, I'm Hawksley' and I was like 'I know,'" gushes Theo, who also co-wrote "I Ain't Cryin'" with Workman.
"He's very clever, such a clever songwriter, so it was very, very fast and very natural and organic, both songs."
Theo also collaborated with Canadian artists like Dahmnait Doyle and Andy Stochansky and had one of his musical idols, Sarah Slean, co-write a song for him with Greg Johnston.
Slean had never co-written a song for anyone before but was inspired to do so after seeing Theo perform a cover of her tune "Sweet Ones" on Canadian Idol last summer.
"Apparently she said that it was the first time that someone kind of did it right, the way the song was meant to be, and it was just so cool that she offered really to co-write a song," says Theo.
The result is "Let Go," which has become one of Theo's favourite songs on the album.
"It's the closest to my heart. That song is just kind of my anthem now. I like how she talks about how she has freedom and to me that's what Idol was. It was this chance for me to really just present myself, and my weaknesses, sweaty guy and all," he laughs, in reference to his very first Idol audition that had him meeting the judges with giant pit stains. "And really, for one of the first times in my life just step out (and) be myself."
Theo still looks back on his Idol time fondly and even acknowledges vocal coach Debra Byrd and pianist Mark Lalama in the liner notes for their support and encouragement.
"It's so corny to say they changed my life but they did. They both just have this unbelievably unique way of bringing out the best in you, not only as a performer and as a singer, but just as a person," says Theo.
He says Byrd was the one who got him to come out of his shell and Lalama was the one who made him realize he didn't have to close his eyes and look down while playing the piano.
"Those two things changed the way this record was made, it changed the way the tour's going to be. I just owe so much of my career and my opportunities to them and I always will," says Theo.
With plenty of gigs planned for this summer and a full tour in the works for the fall, things won't be slowing down for Theo anytime soon.
Even with the advantage of not having another Canadian Idol winner taking over his crown this fall, Theo says he was very sad to hear the show would not be returning in 2009.
"It was not about someone coming in September and stealing my title. I would've loved to have been there and loved to have congratulated that person because that show changed my life and it gave me everything I wanted to do," says Theo.
"I went on that show so I could make a living doing music and that's what I'm doing."
source; CTV.ca
And that's exactly the way he wants it.
The Idol winner's debut album "Give It All Away" opens with a bang -- the funk-infused lead-off track "I'm Gonna Say" features smooth seductive vocals from a formerly shy balladeer who sounds all grown up.
"We wanted to do something that capitalized on what I did on Idol, which was big vocals and a lot of piano but other than that we took some big risks on this record. That's what I think makes it cool is that as soon as you put this disc in you're like, 'This is Theo's CD?'" the 23-year-old from Coaldale, Alta., says with a laugh.
"I think there are some huge surprises but at the same time I think it's easy for people who voted for me on Idol to like these songs as well."
With a new creative and release structure in place, the May release of "Give It All Away" marks the first time a Canadian Idol winner has been able to take this much time to make their debut album.
"We would not have been able to come up with a record that's able to stand up I think if we rushed it," he says.
But it could be a double-edged sword, adds Theo, because expectations have been raised even higher. But he says it was worth it in order to put out something he was completely happy with.
"I hope that people like it, but at the end of the day I'm just so happy I can stand behind it -- that's the most important thing."
Theo co-wrote seven songs on the album, which is more than any other Idol winner's debut. Although there are a few of his signature ballads on the album, Theo wanted to include plenty of upbeat, rockin' songs as well.
"I knew that ballads come naturally to me and that's, obviously what I did most of on the show, and I think that's why. I really wanted to come out and be like I'm not just this solemn little 'piano ballad boy' type guy."
With songs about love, saying good-bye and his time on Idol, Theo says he definitely drew from personal experiences when writing the lyrics.
The first single "Lazy Lovers," a co-write with Hawksley Workman, was inspired by Theo's time spent at an orphanage in India. Working with the much-acclaimed and very eccentric Canadian singer-songwriter was an experience in itself.
"I was so nervous sitting down with him. 'Lazy Lovers' came from one of the first co-writes I did and I just remember walking into that room and he was like 'Hi, I'm Hawksley' and I was like 'I know,'" gushes Theo, who also co-wrote "I Ain't Cryin'" with Workman.
"He's very clever, such a clever songwriter, so it was very, very fast and very natural and organic, both songs."
Theo also collaborated with Canadian artists like Dahmnait Doyle and Andy Stochansky and had one of his musical idols, Sarah Slean, co-write a song for him with Greg Johnston.
Slean had never co-written a song for anyone before but was inspired to do so after seeing Theo perform a cover of her tune "Sweet Ones" on Canadian Idol last summer.
"Apparently she said that it was the first time that someone kind of did it right, the way the song was meant to be, and it was just so cool that she offered really to co-write a song," says Theo.
The result is "Let Go," which has become one of Theo's favourite songs on the album.
"It's the closest to my heart. That song is just kind of my anthem now. I like how she talks about how she has freedom and to me that's what Idol was. It was this chance for me to really just present myself, and my weaknesses, sweaty guy and all," he laughs, in reference to his very first Idol audition that had him meeting the judges with giant pit stains. "And really, for one of the first times in my life just step out (and) be myself."
Theo still looks back on his Idol time fondly and even acknowledges vocal coach Debra Byrd and pianist Mark Lalama in the liner notes for their support and encouragement.
"It's so corny to say they changed my life but they did. They both just have this unbelievably unique way of bringing out the best in you, not only as a performer and as a singer, but just as a person," says Theo.
He says Byrd was the one who got him to come out of his shell and Lalama was the one who made him realize he didn't have to close his eyes and look down while playing the piano.
"Those two things changed the way this record was made, it changed the way the tour's going to be. I just owe so much of my career and my opportunities to them and I always will," says Theo.
With plenty of gigs planned for this summer and a full tour in the works for the fall, things won't be slowing down for Theo anytime soon.
Even with the advantage of not having another Canadian Idol winner taking over his crown this fall, Theo says he was very sad to hear the show would not be returning in 2009.
"It was not about someone coming in September and stealing my title. I would've loved to have been there and loved to have congratulated that person because that show changed my life and it gave me everything I wanted to do," says Theo.
"I went on that show so I could make a living doing music and that's what I'm doing."
source; CTV.ca
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