Wide Awake
8 Days (Singapore)
October 30, 2006
By Tommy Wee
His irresistible tenor makes women hyperventilate. Which is good news for American crooner Josh Groban, 25, who's releasing his third album, Awake, next week. Here're excerpts from a recent interview.

On what's different about Awake: The most important thing is finding great songs and ways to sing them. On the first album, I was very new, and I was too afraid to take risks. But with this new one, I had a nagging feeling to start creating my own material, so I did some writing and I co-produced three songs. I wanna keep surprising myself and my fans. I can't start screaming death metal in the middle of a song that's primarily romantic, as much as I'd like to -- I'm definitely in the mood sometimes! (Laughs)

On working and promoting his songs in London: Well, I got to know the Tube really well, which was tricky, and I've become addicted to Marks & Spencer. In a city like London, it would be a crime not to go out. There's so much to see culturally: museums and parks...I went to the zoo the other day and I saw the incredible monkey exhibit and their domestic cow. Who knew that a cow was an attraction? I touched a cow. It was great.

On reality singing contests and shows like American Idol: I've got mixed views. It's always good when a show gives people the opportunity to show their talent. I'm all for that. But when it becomes a spectacle, when that fame far surpasses the nature of people who work every day to get their art across in a real grounded way, you become a TV star. But that's the nature of the beast. Even though it seems like it's handed to them, a year from now, these singers have to start from scratch to prove themselves musically. It's not killing the music business, but you're side-stepping some very talented people. There's that poor guy who's really trying to get his record deal, but he didn't wait in line for 20 hours and he gets trumped. I have a problem with that.

On becoming a star and signing with a major label at 17: All of a sudden, I'm on Oprah and people ask why am I not enjoying it more. I was so afraid that it would all just go away. I realise, though, that if you make music that comes from an honest place, the fans will follow and the growth has come. A lot of things can happen between 17 and 25. So basically, I grew up.

Catch Josh Groban on Channel NewsAsia's Primetime Morning as well as on Class 95 (10:30 pm) on Tue., (Oct. 31).


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