INTERVIEW: Elliott Yamin (July 2007)
Elliott Yamin: Yep!
Okay, if you could be any cookie, what kind of cookie would you be, and why?
Elliott Yamin: You know the ice cream sandwich cookie? That's what I would be! Just because I used to eat those all of the time, and I would always get that when the ice-cream truck would come. So, that's the kind of cookie I would be. That's my favorite kind of cookie.
That's the first time we ever got an ice cream cookie! We usually get chocolate chip!
So, you just got off your first ever solo tour, do you have any plans for the summer?
Elliott Yamin: My plans this summer is to stay as busy as possible. I'm back in the studio recording my Christmas album that is being made exclusively for Target. I'm doing a lot of work with the JDRF, here and there (that's the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). We're planning our second leg of the tour, which we will be going out on in October. Um, let's see... I've got a five-show tour going on in the Philippines in September, and hopefully we will be able to perform for the troops in the Middle East, too. I got a lot of stuff going on, man! It's been very busy, but it's been an amazing opportunity. And of course, today we are talking about the Capitol concert. On July Fourth I will be performing on PBS; many other great performers will be there, and Tony Danza is hosting the event...
Hayden Panettiere from Heroes will also be there...
Elliott Yamin: That's right! I'm going to be doing a song from my record, and of course a Patriotic song, and there's going to be fireworks, of course, and thousands upon thousands of people up there in our nations Capitol.
Do you have any Fourth of July traditions?
Elliott Yamin: Not lately. Honestly, I'm a fireworks junkie, so growing up as a kid I was always amazed and in awe of the fireworks. My Fourth of July traditions don't usually apply to me anymore, because I no longer live in Richmond, VA where I am from; I make my home now in Los Angeles. Traditionally over the past four or five years, I've been going to my buddy Brandon's house. He has a big Fourth of July cook out and he leaves right behind the diamond where the Richmond Braves play in Richmond. And they always have a game on the Fourth of July, and they have this huge fireworks that goes right over his backyard so, a lot of people always come out... Great food, great people, and I've kinda missed out on that for a couple of years. So, I'm going to miss it again this year... I'm sorry Brandon!
You should invite him to the US Capitol!
Elliott Yamin: Yeah! That would be great seeing him out there. It's really close to my hometown. So, hopefully I can see some of my friends that weekend.
This tour wasn't your first tour. In fact, you toured last summer with the American Idol cast. How different was it touring solo this time around?
Elliott Yamin: It wasn't too much different. The only difference with the Idol tour was that we were performing to sold out arenas, and this tour was more of an intimate setting. On this tour, we were playing big clubs, and small theaters; we were just playing for a smaller crowd, which wasn't good or bad, it was just a different environment. I had a blast, man! To go out there and sing my own music, and to have fans come out in the crowd and know all of the lyrics to my songs was just amazing. I'm really missing that stage, and can't wait to get back out there!
Do you have any memorable moments, either from last years tour, or this year's?
Elliott Yamin: Yeah, when I was in Vancouver there was a girl that jumped up on stage and started dancing during my performance of my single. That was kind of crazy, but it was really funny.
Did she get kicked off the stage?
Elliott Yamin: Yeah, she got kicked off, but it was really funny, actually.
You should've just danced with her!
Elliott Yamin: *laughs* To say the least, that was a fun time. I think they are telling us to wrap up.
No problem! Thank you so much Elliott, and have a happy and safe Fourth of July!
Elliott Yamin: Thank you, my pleasure, thanks for having me.
