one day in new york city...

Well a couple years ago when I went to New York with the fam, we walked past a huge bookstore called Borders and saw a sign saying "HSM book signing" so I immediatly went inside. There were chairs set up facing a table with 2 chairs and microphones. It was a question and answer thingy with Kaycee Stroh (character: Martha Cox) and Chris Warren Jr (character: Zeke). So I got to ask them a bunch of questions and got autographs and stuff :)





They were super nice :)

MONTANA TUCKER INTERVIEW

I had the chance to interview up and coming artist Montana Tucker over the phone a few months ago. Montana Tucker was the winner of a Myspace contest for a song in Step Up 2. Her song "Aint No Stressin" was a hit and now this singer/dancer/entertainer is doing much more than the average 10th grader. She took the time to let me know a bit about herself and about how she plans on making it in this crazy industry.



Q: How did you get discovered in the entertainment business?
A: When I was about 8 or 9, I really really wanted to start modeling and my mom was hesitant about letting me get into the industry with all the things going on and finally she gave in and let me start modeling. When I would be on the shoots, they would say “Hey, do you know how to dance or anything?” And I never took any dance lessons before and I don’t know if you remember Darren Hanson (he had Darren’s dance grooves, and he did Britney Spears and Nsync and all those people), he choreographed for them. I went to one of his workshops and that was my first time dancing and he came up to us and was like “hey you really need to move to LA or New York. You’d be working every day” And so we actually knew a lot of talented kids in Florida so my mom owned a hip hop company, she opened it up and brought the choreographers from LA and New York in to teach us in Florida. From then on, I started doing a lot of big black tie events and opening for a lot of different people with my dance group. We won the world hip hop championship. I started back up dancing for Ashanti and Remy Ra and a bunch of different people. And when I would be doing that, I would say “hey I want to be that star, I want to be singing.” So I started taking lessons with Betty Wright, I don’t know if you know who that is, but she was on Making the Band 3 with Danity Kane as their vocal coach. She also does Beyonce and Gloria Estefan and John Legend. She’s amazing and I started with her and my singing career really just took off from there. And then I started opening for Lil Wayne, Ciara and Omarion and then I won the whole, I don’t know if you saw on Myspace, the Step Up 2 contest. It was so exciting. My song got on the soundtrack and movie and then just from there, everything has been taking off.

Q: What was it like recording your song for Step Up 2?
A: You know what, it was like seriously just amazing. and also to go the movies and hear your song in the movie and its on a soundtrack with Missy Elliot and T-pain and all these people are on the same soundtrack as me.



Q: Which artist would you like to collaborate with the most?
A: You know what I did, I don’t know if you saw, but I did the Chris Brown Super Sweet 18. We were supposed to, on the whole show and everything, we were supposed to do a whole duet together, me and Chris but then he decided he didn’t want to perform at his party, he just wanted to go. So I ended up still performing at the party but something separate. So I think it’d be really cool to do a song with him since we both like you know, dance and everything. I think it’d be really cool.


Q: How long have you been training at the Millennium dance complex?
A: I’ve been going there back at like… I mean I’m really from Florida so whenever we would come out to la for trips and stuff I would always go to Millennium but now that we have a place here in California, I go there as much as I can to take Shane Sparks’ class because he’s my choreographer. He’s there every Monday and Wednesday so whenever I can, I try to go over there and take his class.

Q: Which artists have you danced for?
A: I’ve back up danced for Ashanti and Remy Ma. And I was only 13 when I was dancing for them and all the other dancers were twenty-something.

Q: Who are your favourite choreographers?
A: Definitely Shane. I love Shane. I’ve worked with a lot of choreographers and every choreographer you know, is kind of different in their own way. And its just, Shane, I don’t know, I just think I like him all around as a person in general and as a choreographer. I mean his stuff is so crazy. Like a lot of choreographers in LA, some of them have the same style, you know, they have that same style, but Shane really has the style that no one else has and I really really like it.

Q: What is it like to become so famous so quickly?
A: It’s really exciting and like you just sometimes realize “is this really happening?” because it’s really really exciting and amazing. You just have to keep your head straight and don’t let it get to you and just keep focusing on what you have to do. But yeah, definitely keep working hard.

Q: How do you keep yourself grounded in such a crazy business?
A: My parents are very very very strict. And they you know, they don’t let me…they really keep my grounded. They make sure… I’m still in a school, actually start Monday. I’ll be going to some school out here. I used to go to a private preparatory school in Florida. and I’d be going out to California so much and my mom makes sure I get my As and Bs and I’m in all honours classes so it was really hard because I had to basically do it by myself when I was out here. So now I’m going to a school out here that’s geared.. all the kids that go here are actors or models or dancers or singers and so I’m still doing all my honours classes and AP classes this year in tenth grade but still they’re really really easy with like if I have to leave, because I’m going to touring soon, so they’re really good about that stuff. And if you have to be on set, like when I’m going to be doing the Jump Off, they’re going to be really good with that. So I’m really excited for that

Q: So who are you touring with?
A: Well there’s a couple tours. There’s one high school tour that I’m possibly going to be doing and then I don’t know if you know what “Rock Your Fashion” is but its like all different fashion lines mixed with music and there’s a bunch of different artists on there. There’s three artists. I can’t really say the names yet until the press release comes out but I’m really excited to be doing it with them. And I’m going to be doing international tours as well and I’m going to be a on the campaigns and stuff for rock for fashion as their junior so I’m really excited about that. And also I don’t know if you knew, but I’m going to be doing a new movie called Jump Off. Its’ with Cedric the Entertainer, Wayne Brady, D Woods from Danity Kane and Drew Seeley from the High School Musical tours. And we start filming that at the end of September. It’s a musical so I get to sing dance and act and my song Turn It Up with Flo Rida’s going to be in that as well and on the soundtrack so I’m really very excited for that.

Q: Who is your biggest inspiration?
A: I think I definitely look after, how they model their careers, Jennifer Lopez and Beyonce because I think they’re very, you know, especially Beyonce, you never really hear any bad things about her ever. And you know they’ve really kept themselves grounded and there’s a lot of artists that come out with just one song and then they’re done. They, both of them, have had acting careers, singing careers, dancing careers. They both have their own clothing lines. Like all that, I really want to get into and pursue and keep doing this for the rest of my life so I really really model after them.

Q: As a triple threat, which do you prefer: dancing, singing, modeling or acting?
A: You know what, everybody always asks me that and I really can’t choose like I just love them all. I think dancing is, I don’t know because I’ve been dancing the longest, but I just love them all. I just love performing and being on stage. That’s singing and dancing and I get to act too, so it’s kind of like, I like them all.

Q: What advice do you have for other teens out there who want to become successful in the entertainment industry?
A: You know what, just believe in yourself and your dreams really can come true and just focus on what you have to do. Keep your head straight and if someone tells you that you cant do something, don’t listen to them and just follow yours dreams and reach for the stars.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
A: I see myself, well I hope to see myself just keep, I guess building and doing movies and hopefully by then have a fashion line and clothing line because I think there’s not really a clothing line out there, I mean there is ones for teens and kids, but they are literally for younger ages and you can either do that or you can do the older lines. a lot of kids want to wear their older lines, but they don’t really have a teenager that’s like that edgy style and I think that’s kind of my style so I think it’d be really cool to come out with a teen line that’s more edgy. So I hope to do that.

Q: Do you have any upcoming projects on the way?
A: Well definitely my song with Flo-Rida, Turn It Up, is going to be released on Itunes and everywhere on September 23, so make sure everyone goes out and gets that. And then like I said, I’m starting to film the Jump Off, so that should be coming out sometime next February / March around there and like I said that’s with Cedric the Entertainer, Wayne Brady, Drew Seeley and D Woods. And I have a leading role in that, singing dancing and acting. So other than that, and also Rock Your Fashion

check out her song "Turn It Up" ft Flo-Rida!


Here is my article that was published in YOUTHINK


Read it @
http://www.youthink.ca/yt/music/interviews/montana-tucker-takes-step-dance-floor

-Christina :)

INTERVIEW WITH AJ MCLEAN FROM THE BACKSTREET BOYS

This interview took place over the phone and he seemed just as genuine and friendly as if he were right beside me. He gave such long answers but it was really interesting to hear what this backstreet boy had to say while he was on the Unbreakable Tour.



Q: What was it like recording your new album “Unbreakable?”
A: It was actually in my opinion; probably one of the most fun to make because it was just us and we kind of locked ourselves in the studio for about 5 to 6 weeks in Nashville and just wrote, recorded and just played video games. It was almost just like being in a fraternity. It was us living, breathing, sleeping music for about a good solid 6 weeks.

Q: So what are your hopes and expectations for this album?
A: I think our expectations when we made this record was to kind of start a new bridge in our career to try to get people prepared for the next level of the backstreet boys, which we’re already talking about making the next record right now possibly going in in the fall and really kind of moving quicker on this for our sakes and for our fans sakes to not make them wait so long. And we’re really inspired right now, I mean, everyone’s just got a lot of really good positive energy going on. The shows have been going great; the reception of the new music has been really really well received. So we’re just excited about it. I mean when we made this record, we kind of had an idea of what direction we were going to go and which made the recording process a lot quicker. It wasn’t just kind of fiddling around looking for songs and you know all that kind of stuff. I was just we pretty much knew we were going to put some more dance records on this album so we can bring it to the live stage. and you know with the last record, “Never Gone,” that record didn’t really lend itself to a lot of choreography and a lot of antics onstage because it was more of a pop rock record but that was the direction I think we needed to go to just to kind of explore it and kind of prove to ourselves that we could do it. and then with the “Unbreakable” CD we definitely got back more to our roots. but we’re even going to go more into our R&B roots and pop roots on this brand new record.

Q: Are there any songs on the new album that you have a stronger connection to?
A: Personally, I love the song unmistakable. Besides that I do love helpless when she smiles. I think that is a classic Backstreet Boys love song. And I also live treat me right but I’m a little biased because I wrote it with my buddy JC. That was an interesting process and then even being in the studio with him, with his experience with NSYNC he definitely knew the whole arrangement process of harmonies and then others we do as well. so it was really a fun experience to be in the studio with him he’s a really talented kid, extremely talented.

Q: What is the significance of the title “Unbreakable”? Does it tie into an overall theme or message throughout the album?
A: When we were trying to think of the album title, we were fumbling over ourselves for about 2 3 weeks trying to think of something cool, trendy, and something original, a lot of our album titles with the exception of the first one, which was just self titled, really kind of set the bar and the theme for the album and where we were in our career and personal lives. “Millennium” was going into the year 2000, “Never Gone” was just a reminder to people that we never left and “Black and Blue” was kind of a rough time for everybody. Me with my drug and alcohol and going to rehab and a couple of us experienced had deaths in our families and 911 there was just a lot of negativity. So that one kind of felt, I don’t want to say bruised but it just kind of seemed like it fit but unbreakable. when we were sitting having dinner, just the four of us, were trying to think of an album title, Brian was kind of giving us a little bit of a pep talk and he had said the work unbreakable and I kind of paused for a minute and said wait a minute, what do you guys think about that? We really thought about it and when you really break it down. We lost a member, we’ve been through hell and back and we’re still here 15 years later. Been through management changes, record company stuff and lawsuits and all these things and were still here solid as a rock which really shows we truly are unbreakable.

Q: So how would you describe your live show?
A: Live show is about 80% dancing; we have about a good 75% of the hits as well as about 25% of the new record. It’s just non stop great music and great live performance in the entire show from start to finish its packed full of energy. It’s about an hour 45 min show, almost 2 hours. and its just kind of a conglomerate of old, new as well as 4 individual solo songs that we do kind of premiering some of our upcoming solo projects as well and we just try to really be…it’s a lot more intimate show, even though its on a grand scale, its still a much more intimate with the audience type of a show where we really get the audience involved and we even jump in the audience. I mean we definitely get a lot closer with our fans on this particular tour. It’s a really fun tour. its going to be kind of a bummer that its almost over here, we got about 2 maybe 2 and a half weeks left and then its coming to an end, but you know doesn’t mean there wont be more and more tours because there’s just going to be more and more records.

Q: What is it like being on tour with Girlicious?
A: They are a hoot. They are 4 of the sweetest young ladies I’ve met in quite some time. We’ve not really had a chance to hang with them because they’ve been very busy, obviously promoting and doing press and such. and last night in Chicago we went out for Howie’s birthday and the girls showed up and that was the first time I really got a chance to really sit and hang with them in a more casual atmosphere and they are just sweethearts. They are extremely talented; they put on a great show, full of tons of energy, great pop songs and they’re just fun, fun girls to be around. I even told them off side, I was like “I hope you guys aren’t… like we’re not seeing you guys during backstage and what not because you’re like scared of us or think we’re gonna do anything weird” but they’re like “No we’ve just been really busy we definitely wanna hang with you guys ya’ll are really really cool and really nice guys. We only got to hang with them last night and like I said, they’re a bunch of sweethearts.

Q: So what has been your favourite part of the Unbreakable Tour so far?
A: There’s been quite a few, we’ve gone to a couple of brand new countries we’ve never been to. We went to Lithuania, Estonia. we went to Russia. As well as I think just kind of coming back home has been a really good time for us. I mean, not that we don’t live the rest of the world, we do, we’ve got fans all over the world but it was just good to finally come back to the mother land for us, to come back to the States or in Canada. we haven’t toured in the states or in Canada for quite some time. I don’t know, there’s been so many. just being on the road and being on stage and every show is like your first show. Every city changes, the fans change, country to country, and city to city. we just go up there and give it 120 % every night?

Q: Do you find that the fans are different from before?
A: Some of them are. I mean we’re definitely seeing a lot more new faces as well as a ton of faces that have been with us from the very beginning. You know, most of the more dedicated fans have been there for the past 15, 13, 14 years. They’re married now, they have kids of their own, and they’re bringing their families to the show. They’re little sisters are in college now, so she’s bringing her college friends. We’re seeing a lot more couples coming to the show, a lot more guys, you know I think guys are probably saying its cool to like the Backstreet Boys now because you know everyone’s older. Whether they wanna admit it or not, you know, the pop music we’ve been fortunate to record and spread around the world is a part of pop culture. It’s been a part of people our age growing up and you know, when you hear songs like I want it that way or all I have to give, it kind of takes you back to where you were when you heard that song, which is really cool. I know where I was when first time I heard it on the radio and you know, it still freaks us out when we’re driving at home and we turn on the radio and hear one of our songs.

Q: How is the Unbreakable tour different from your other tours?
A: It’s a little bit down sized as far as the massive productions of like Millennium and Black and Blue. It’s definitely a step up from Never Gone which was a very stripped down tour. We’ve got a couple gags in the show, we’ve got a couple of cool little gimmicks here and there but we just kind of went back to the basics. we went back to it just being us up there doing our thing. there’s no dancers, it’s just us four up there dancing, singing and just having a whole ton of fun. I mean that’s what it’s always been about. its about the music and about the fans and just taking it back to us.

Q: So what is it like to be on tour without Kevin?
A: Now, we’ve all kind of gotten used to it. I mean even when we first went into the studio to make the record, its when it was the first bit of weirdness just knowing that he’s not coming to work that day, that he’s not coming tomorrow or the day after. once we broke through that uncomfortable feeling, we just kind of got on the train and chugged on through. initially the first couple shows live were a little weird, but now we’ve kind of gotten used to it and this is the new phase of the bsb. like we’ve told people in every interview, the door is still open. we didn’t shut that door on Kevin and we never will and he never shut the door on us as well so if he chooses to want to come back for this next record cycle, the door’s always open. I think it would be great, but he’s really happy right now. he’s a daddy, so he’s doing the dad thing and he’s busy doing theater, producing, and writing and he’s definitely keeping himself busy and I just saw him before we went on this leg of the tour and he seemed really happy and just really really comfortable.

Q: How do you keep yourself grounded in such a crazy business?
A: Well between the 4 of us always keeping each other in check and having a really great family that always keep us in check. we just try to always never forget where we started, where we came from, where we’re going, what we’ve been through, how we’ve got here. and you know, if anyone starts to get a big head, the other guys can take out that imaginary needle and pop it and deflate them for a little bit. I think all of us just kind of came from really good southern homes and really good wholesome upbringing and just always respect each other. and now that we’re older, its definitely a lot easier, I think we’re the tightest we’ve ever been, the bond is stronger. there isn’t that big of an age gap now so everybody just kind of gets along really really well.

Q: So what’s the most important thing you’ve learned from being in this industry for so long?
A: that it really is show business. That it’s not just about the show, that there is a lot of business that goes on behind closed doors. Not a lot of the fans and the general public get to really see. it really is a lot of hard work. it’s not all flashing lights and big bank accounts. it really isn’t, there’s a lot of hard work. you can lose it all in the drop of a hat if you don’t really pay attention to your business. all of us have kind of foruntaly and unfortuntaly had to become businessmen over the past 15 years. I say unfortunately just because for me personally, I would rather not have to focus on that and just go do what I am passionate about and just get up on stage and perform until I cant feel my legs. you know but you do need to be responsible and you do need to be very conscience of what’s going on behind closed doors.

Q: What legacy do you want to leave behind in the music business?
A: I think the kind of legacy we want to leave behind is just kind of respect. we just want to leave behind the respect that we’ve been through so much that and we’re still here and for people to honestly remember us for our music and for hopefully our talent. and just for kind of being a part of a massive generation of pop music and just you know. I think like I said, we are fortunate enough and blessed to be a part of pop culture now. so that’s something I can tell my grandkid’s grandkids. when you look at bands like the rolling stones or aerosmith, they’re able to do that now, they’ve been in it for 30, 40 years and they can tell their grandkid’s grandkids. hey look at what grandpa’s done. look at where we’ve started, and all we’ve been through, where we are and we’re still here. 15 years is a long time and we’ve got another 15 ahead of us as long as the fans wants us and the world wants the Backstreet Boys, we’re gonna be here.

Q: So what advice do you have for teens who want to make it in the music industry?
A: Be patient, be ambitious, get a good lawyer. but seriously, def don’t let anyone tell you that you cant do what you want to do. and I would also tell any upcoming artist to hold on to their artistic integrity as long as they can. Record companies tend to come in and manipulate and come in a make you a puppet. that’s how this industry is, not with every company but some. its just that this industry is very vindicting. it can chew you up and spit you out. we’ve seen what’s happened with a lot of the younger celebrities that have gone in and out of rehab or done this or done that. and it really is hard when you’re that young coming into this world. it’s a whirlwind and it will make your head spin but just keep your feet firmly on the ground. you can keep your head in the clouds and shoot for the stars. just be patient it’s a lot of hard work. don’t lose hope and faith its not gonna happen over night. just keep on trucking through and like I tell anybody, you know the only way around anything is through it.

Q: Where do you guys see yourselves in 5 to 10 years?
A: I’d like to be married, that’d be nice. I’m 30 years old, im not getting any younger. but I think still making records, touring around the world, and hopefully sticking our feet firmly planted in this industry and finally gaining the utmost respect from our peers as well as the media and just letting everyone know that we’re here and we’re not going anywhere.

Here is my article that was published in YOUTHINK magazine:
you can also check it out @ http://www.youthink.ca/yt/music/interviews/backstreet-boys-over-75-million-strong
-Christinaaaa

CANADIAN IDOL WINNER EVA AVILA INTERVIEW

Being a part of YOUTHINK magazine has really given me some great opportunities. One of these opportunities was the chance to sit down and have an interview with the first Canadian Idol winner Eva Avila. It took place on November 3rd, 2008 and we met at a hotel in Coal Harbor and we sat and talked in the restaurant. She was very down to earth and it was weird to think that she is actually only a couple years older than myself!

1. So what inspired the songs on your new album, “Give Me The Music?”
I just wanted to develop my creativity as a writer, so I just kind of explored different musical styles. I always knew that I wanted a new fresh sound for this record so I didn’t really have a specific idea in mind like “I’m going to write a song like this”… just whatever. I just, at the end of the day, when we picked the songs and which ones that were going to go on the record, We just looked at the song that we received from outside publishing companies and the songs that I had written and this one is on the record from…it’s the one that made sense to put on the record with the other songs.

2. Have you and your sound changed since your first album?
Yes definitely, two years, a lot has happened, and I’ve evolved as an artist and as a person. And the sound of this album is a little more organic because it has real live instruments this time around as opposed to just everything being done by a computer and we had a lot more time to do this one. The first record was recorded in like a month right after idol so this one is more me.

3. Is there an overall theme to this album?
No I just wanted to touch on subjects that were a little more mature and a little more deep and show different sides of my personality and make it more grown up, make it more…like I want people to take me seriously and that I’m not just a contest winner, I’m an artist. And I really want to do this for a living for a while. So it was more about sharing stories and telling stories that people can relate to and be touched by.

4. Do you have a favourite song on this album? Is there one that you feel the most personally connected to?I can’t really pick a favourite. If I had to pick a favourite one it’d have to be either… I like “Masterplan” a lot, “What I want, Not Wht I Need,” “I’m Sorry”. You know, I can’t pick a favourite really. Every one of them makes you feel a certain way or I wish that it brings out something different in everybody. I wish that every person would listen to this album. There’s something in it for everyone one, you know. Like somebody can actually listen to a song and remember a certain thing that they have lived and a certain thing that happened to them. So I just want people to be actually touched and feel a certain emotion with all these stories I’m telling

5. Producer Matt Wallace has worked on some pretty big acts. What was it like working with him?
It was great. He was really fun to work with; he’s nice, professional, very talented. He was very open to my ideas and he wanted me to be happy with the songs. He was nice and receptive and respectful. We were both on the same page about how we wanted the record to sound.




6. How much input did you have in the recording process?
I had a lot of input. I definitely did. I had a big say in it and it’s more me. Like I said, it’s more reflective of me.


7. What was the atmosphere like in the studio? Serious? Laid-back?
It was definitely laid back. It was fun. All the guys were super nice. They really made me feel at home. I had a little booth with candles in my vocal booth and whenever I wanted a snack or a coffee, they’d go get it for me. And we’d be making jokes all day long. It wasn’t really…It never should be like that. I’ve never heard of a band or recording studio that is like “okay this our schedule…8AM star recording and 5PM end recording and then dinner break.” No, you go how you feel and it was fun. It was done in harmony and respect.

8. What are your hopes and expectations for “Give Me the Music”?Hopefully it will be released in the states and perhaps elsewhere as well like just outside of Canada. Right now we’re focusing on one thing at a time, releasing it in Canada. There’ll be a tour in February more or less. I just hope that I get to show different sides of who is Eva and show people I am really working hard at this and I’m here to stay. I’m not just a Canadian Idol competition winner, that I really want to do this for as long as possible and hopefully my music can reach out to people; a new demographic, not just the people who are fans of idol, but people who are actually to become fans of me and my music.

9. How would you describe your live show?
Well the first tour was just basically an intimate approach…2 years later now I mean it’s going be different. We haven’t really started working on the show yet but when we come back from the holidays we are going to start rehearsing like intensely with my band and I have a background singer now which I didn’t have before. I don’t know…we’re going to figure out a very fun concept. I mean if I had a huge budget I’d obviously love to have like 30 dancers and huge lighting effects and a huge set up with staircases and a cable hook to fly over the public. Like obviously I’d love that stuff, but right now basically it’s just about sharing stories with the audience. I don’t know…we’re going to work it out. I mean I want to put on a show that people will have fun at and that’s going to sound different than the record. I mean when you bring songs into live mode, it’s obviously going to sound, look and feel different than people who can just stay at home and listen to the record.

10. What’s your favourite part about being in such a fast-paced industry?My favourite part is that I get to do this for a living and that’s always what I wanted since I was 3. Just to do this and call this my job, my profession, it’s not just a hobby; it’s actually what I do to live, to pay my rent. And it’s very hectic and very exhausting but it’s definitely worth it.

11. How has your life changed since being on Canadian Idol?
Pretty much, like I said, this is my full time job. I live in Toronto now, apart from my family. It’s a little bit difficult but I’m enjoying it I mean I’ve always wanted to do so, so I’m not letting myself complain. My life has completely changed. I have discovered I’m a lot stronger than I thought. I’m a lot stronger in a sense that I’m not afraid to travel and be far from my family and work really really hard 24 hours a day basically because I feel like this is where I’m thriving the most and this is what I’m supposed to be doing.

12. What’s it like when people recognize you?
It’s very flattering obviously. I want to make people happy and people come up to me and ask for a picture and autograph. It’s flattering because it’s being admired and recognized and respected for something that I love. It’s just very gratifying you know and heartwarming. It’s definitely flattering.

13. What was your favourite part about being on Canadian Idol?
It was fun. It was like a summer camp kind of. Making a bunch of friends and getting to do all these activities and rehearsing. It’s fun, it’s like a camp. You work really hard and it’s the adrenaline. I love the adrenaline rush of like going on stage and being proud of your performance and then you get great comments from the judges who boost your confidence and you’re all happy. But it’s all very superficial. At the end of the day, people watch you while you’re on the show, but after that, what happens, like you have to be someone after that, not just be like “okay I won the show but then I’m just going to disappear and people are not going to hear anything.” Like that’s why you have to fight and work really hard to keep your spot in the industry.

14. What was the hardest part of being on the show?
What was the most important thing you’ve learned from the show?
That everything happens for a reason because I didn’t want to audition for idol before, I didn’t really think it was for me, that kind of competition but at the last minute I decided to go because I had thought I nothing to lose. So yeah everything happens for a reason and if you’re really ready and really want something and it’s meant to be, then it’s going to happen. And like I said, I learned that I’m a lot stronger emotionally and mentally then I thought. Every day I keep learning something new about myself, about what I want out of my career, about what I want to work on in the future and stuff like that.

15. Who is your musical inspiration and why?
I have a lot. Ever since I was little I really loved anything Motown. Like old Jackson 5, Michael Jackson, Prince, Stevie Wonder. Right now I think my number one idol is Alicia keys. I think she’s absolutely genius and she’s the person I’d want to work with the most right now

16. What advice do you have for teens out there who dream of making it big in the music industry?
Be sure it’s not just a hobby and it’s actually a huge passion because if you’re not ready to be thrown into the crazy music business it can be a train wreck and can be really dangerous for your mental and emotional and physical health. That means if you’re not ready, it’s such a crazy, crazy industry that if you’re not ready you can lose yourself easily. That’s why you have to be grounded and it’s hard to keep your feet on the ground and stay down to earth. That’s why every day I have to remind myself that this is a priviledge I’m having the time of my life and I have to enjoy it because tomorrow it might be gone.

17. Is there anything in particular that keeps you grounded?
My family. People who know me like the back of their hand and I always need to go visit my family back home in Ottawa at least once a month otherwise I go crazy. I’m such a mommy and daddy’s girl it’s crazy

18. Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?
Hopefully the record will be released internationally. Hopefully I get to tour internationally. I’d love to get into acting one day. You know, the little things that might be fun like I’d love to launch my own product line, fragrance, clothing line whatever. I’d have a charity or something, like a foundation. Like right now I just signed up for an amazing program called “At My Best” and I’m kind of a role model for them. It’s basically a program that’s in over 1000 schools in Canada. It’s just basically a class and course that’s incorporated into children’s classes like from kindergarten to 3rd grade just to teach them about, you know, physical health and nutrition and emotional well being; just to help kids make better decisions today because statistics are pretty bad. Obesity rates just keep increasing. I’m basically just there to be motivating and getting kids excited. And the kids looking up to me makes me feel really really special and if I can make a difference, then I’m really happy.



She has such an awesome personality and I think she'll do very well in the future!

Here is a scan of my article that I wrote that was published in the December issue of YOUTHINK






If you can't really read it, you can go to read it on http://www.youthink.ca/
They just updated their whole site, so it might not be working perfectly yet, but when it does, just search for eva avila or something and you'll find it. I'll post the link when the website is working lol



-Christina

Finally caved.

Hey guys!
Well after seeing how much fun people are having with these blogs, I just had to give it a try. So I'll pretty much be using this blog to share my experiences with the world. As many of you know, I'm very interested in the world of journalism/media sooooo for the first few posts, I'll be updating with interviews from the past :)