Oxford News

The American Idol 2008 tour will be making its next stop today, July 23, at Cincinnati's US Bank Arena. All 10 finalists are performing some of their most popular songs from this season's show. as well as some new material. Before their July 20th show in Columbus, Idol runner-up David Archuleta, as well as finalists Michael Johns, Kristy Lee Cook, and Chikezie talked about the tour and what's in their future.

What can your fans expect from this year's concert?

Michael Johns (MJ): It's fun! The show didn't represent, necessarily, what all of us can do. I'm really proud to be part of this group. Everyone's improved since the show and have become more confident.

Chikezie (CH): I'll be doing one song from the show and a couple that I didn't do: "Caught Up" by Usher and "So High" by John Legend. It's basically doing something more energetic, more fresh and something more people will recognize.

Kristy Lee Cook (KLC): Everyone's got their own set, so that's very cool. We have definitely grown since being on the show. On the show, we weren't really ourselves. We were all just trying to get through each night. I was never really myself and I was always saying, 'You're going to say a completely different me when I'm out there on that stage,' because nobody's seen this side of me before. That's who I am and I never got to show it on the show.

Once the tour is over, what's next for you?

David Archuleta (DA): I'm trying to write some stuff for the new album (due out at the end of the fall). But, I want it to be the best we can we can get. This album's more pop, more contemporary. I want to find a balance between radio songs and then those good emotional, mature songs.

MJ: I'm actually working on a record right now. The single will definitely be out by the end of the year and the album will be February. It's going to be a rock record. Something you can dance to, workout to (laughs)

KLC: My album's already completed. I'm very excited. They're mixing and mastering and getting all the songs we want on there. The single is coming out next month and the album will be in September.

CH: My contract with the show ends in August, so I can't really sign anything until after then. I'm writing right now and getting a good catalog of songs ready for when the time comes to record.

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4542 or mrossiter@coxohio.com.