American Idol finalist Haley Reinhart was always a true American Sweetheart, but after hitting the nation’s largest televised stage, her sultry Jazz and Blues-inspired voice has made her a household name, media darling, and fan favorite. The Midwestern songbird discusses life on Idol, backstage beefs, and her super bright future with DOPE Magazine.

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(Arionne Alyssa: AA) How was life before American Idol? How much of that life have you been able to retain?

(Haley Reinhart: Haley) It’s a drastic change. I used to live in Chicago with my mom, dad, and sister. I really wasn’t running away from home or anything like that. I love my family and I’m very family-oriented. They’re all musicians, too, so I had a great support system. I was in college studying jazz. I’m a huge people person so I filled up every second of every day with good people. It’s been so different, but it’s finally getting back to normal. I’m able to go home a little bit more. I can keep a balance.

(AA) It’s always nice to meet a fellow Chicagoan. Speaking of going home, you grew up in a musical household and you recently were home for the holidays. Do you and your family have any fun music-related traditions?

(Haley) Yeah, most definitely! My parents play in a band together so for New Year’s since I was just hanging around and chillin,’ I stopped by and said “hi” to the whole neighborhood, and even got up and sang with them. It felt good and I actually really missed seeing them perform. It was nice to just get up there and get back to my roots.

(AA) The first time you auditioned for Idol you didn’t advance, but the next season, season 10, ended up really being your year. What did you do during that year of time between seasons to prepare you for your next audition? You showed tremendous growth in that one year.

(Haley) You know, I think it just all fell into place. It was very natural how it happened. I didn’t actually expect or think that I’d go back to try out because I thought that since it didn’t happen (for me) that time, that I’d just find my own way somehow. I was in college, had my own band on the side, and was doing a lot as an artist. In that one year, I grew a lot. It was really cool that I got that experience under my belt before returning. I found out about the audition the day before and kind of just went out on a whim. I didn’t carry all the stress I had with me the first time and just let loose. I figured that if it was going to happen, to just be myself and it would all fall into place.

(AA) With everyone in the audience and then the millions of people watching at home, American Idol is the epitome of a huge performance. How did it feel to step on that colossal stage for the first time?

(Haley) Awe, man! It’s crazy! I don’t know. I think that every time I stepped on that stage, week-to-week, the competition progressed, and I got into a fighter mode, a survival mode. Even though you’re anticipating it behind stage, every time I stepped on the stage I was just so eager to show everybody what I had to offer and to just feel the interaction between the performer, the audience, and the camera. I loved every part of it, too. All of my nerves just went away and I had a blast every time!

(AA) What was the dynamic like between contestants behind-the-scenes? Did it change as the season progressed?

(Haley) I respect everyone, musically. I loved my season. I watched the show since I was a kid and I thought that each of us had something to bring. We were so diverse so we didn’t really compete with each other. Of course, there’s always some beef behind stage. (Laughs) but for the most part, we had a lot of love and support for each other.

(AA) Is there anyone from your season that you’re still close with?

(Haley) Casey Abrams, especially. He was my partner through it all and we had a great time performing together. I just did a little cameo in his video that he’s putting out so be on the lookout for that.

(AA) If you had to do the entire experience all over again, is there anything that you would do differently?

(Haley) I don’t like to live in regret at all. There’s always going to be turns where you think: “I could’ve gone a little bit this way or that way,” but all-in-all, I think that everyone is supposed to be exactly where they are for a reason so whenever anything brings me to a point of challenge, I just know that it’s going to lead me to the next chapter. I’m very thankful for all of it.

(AA) You made history as the only Idol to ever appear at Lollapalooza, so technically, you’re already legendary. Does all of your post-Idol success feel surreal?

(Haley) Thanks! Yeah, it really does! I’ve gotten to do quite a few things that blow me away when I think back on them and Lollapalooza was definitely one of those. Performing at Carnegie Hall, and at the gala for Muhammad Ali… 2012 was just a great year. I’m excited to see what this year brings.

(AA) You’re preparing for you next album. What can fans expect? Can you give us any sneak peeks?

(Haley) I’m really excited. I think that evolving as an artist is really important. I don’t think that you should pigeon-hole yourself into a category. For me, I want to step into my Blues-ier roots; keep it sultry but have some of that Rock & Roll edge to it. I’m hoping to get my dad to play his Blues guitar licks throughout the whole album. It should be fun!

(AA) Within your career, like with anything else, you’ve already had some successes and some losses. In life, how do you bounce back from a loss in order to prepare for your next victory?

(Haley) I think that everyone grieves differently and that it’s perfectly normal to grieve for a second, but after that second has passed, you have to bounce back and look at all the pros and cons. I always see the positive in everything so even though something may look terrible in the moment, I really see the light at the end of the tunnel and where I should go next. That’s brought me here and I’m really excited to see what happens.

(AA) That is some great advice. So when you’re not working, what’s your favorite place to be?

(Haley) In the sun or around water, so thankfully California has a lot of that going on. I’m pretty blessed. (Laughs!)

(AA) Before you work on a new song, what do you do to relax and to get your creative juices flowing?

(Haley) Oh, man! I don’t know if I can talk about that! (Laughs!) I’m just kidding! I love walking into a room full of new people, new creative minds. I did it really fast last time and I was jumping from one producer and writer to the next. That’s how I’ve been used to working; I plowed through it all. This time, I’m looking forward to just laying back a little more and spending more time with each producer that I have a relationship with.

 

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