(MK SCOTT) EXCLUSIVE: After nearly 4 years, MK catches up with Season 8 Idol, Kris Allen on Tour!

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by MK Scott

About 3 years ago, I posted an Interview I did back in July 2009 with then (Season 8) American Idol winner, Kris Allen, you know the guy who beat Adam Lambert? When we met in our last interview Allen was a cocky 24 year old (He looked 18 in person) kid on cloud nine and was about to go on a journey. Allen's music has been tested and succeeded as his Debut album in November 2009 started at #11 in its first week. Since then, Allen is getting raves for his music. On an episode of Glee, Mathew Morrison, sang a Kris Allen song, "Still Got Tonight"  that he recorded for his own Album. His friendship with Adam Lambert is still important to him and has showed him as a Gay ally, in fact, Allen even played a Star-studded Benefit for the Trevor Project in December 2011.

By this passed January, Allen (now 27) had to grow up fast as he announced his wife, Katy O'Connell, was expecting their first child and recovering from a Head On-collision that resulted in broken wrist that needed surgery. Days later he embarked on his Out Alive tour with his Right arm in a Brace. On Sunday, February 17th, I arrived at the Tractor Tavern in the Seattle Neighborhood of Ballard and spotted a more rugged and wiser Allen enter with his Pregnant wife, Katy (displaying her Baby Bump). It took him awhile before he recognized me from almost 4 years ago.

But first check Out Kris' most recent song about Anti-Bullying, Vision of Love: 



MK: Okay,  Kris. Tell, me how does it feel to be back in Seattle?

KRIS: You know, I like Seattle a lot. I love it up here in the Pacific Northwest. It’s beautiful. This is like the first area that I came to other than L.A. that I was like, this is, this is where it’s at. Like you know, there’s just some cool places, you know, and good food, and good people, and just a lot of cool stuff like that. So I really enjoyed it.

MK: What have you been doing in the last four years? Give me like small little highlights.

KRIS: Oh, gosh. Man. A lot. I’ve obviously been doing a lot. You know, a lot of time on the road, a lot of time making records. A lot of time, you know, just trying to be a real person. (Laugh) You know, but and also more than anything I would say a lot of times just figuring things out about the music industry. I feel like I’ve learned a ton over the past couple of years that I did not know at first. And good things, like eating good things, and healthful things. And it’s been a lot of fun. It’s just been really cool to kind of immerse myself into music, not only just in the music, but into the industry as well. And try to become like a big part of it.

MK: How has American Idol helped in that?

KRIS: I mean the biggest thing is that it’s given me an opportunity. It’s given me the opportunity to make music for people who aren’t fans, to making music for a living, which is that’s all I wanted to do. So this is exactly what I wanted.

MK:  I heard you and Adam are still talking?

KRIS: Yeah, I mean, we talk every once in a while. You know, he’s really busy, and I’m really busy, so we don’t see each other very often. But, you know, I think he’s doing great and when I got in an accident he sent me a little note.

MK: Yeah. Are you okay?

KRIS: I’m good. I’m good. I’m good. I’m getting better. I broke my wrist. I got the cast, it’s not a cast, it’s a brace now.

MK: And you can still play the piano?

KRIS: No, I can’t play piano or guitar just yet.

MK: For how long?

KRIS: It’s gotten to the where I can kind of play guitar right now, not enough to play a show. I don’t know, it might be another month or so before I’m really playing guitar.

MK: Cool. At least you get to continue performing

KRIS: Oh, yeah, the wreck happened on the 1st. Our first show is on the 8th. And so, I mean, we, the guys came together, Dave’s taking care of all the music stuff, which is great, and I’m able to just perform. It’s fun.

a Lambert/Allen Song?

MK: I also heard this just recently that you being accepting and tolerant of Adam has really helped in regards to people being very tolerant of homosexuals.

KRIS: Okay, I mean, yeah, and people are asking like, how did you get involved? It’s when you become friends with Adam, like you guys are so different. I’m like, okay, I’m any different than a lot of people I know. I think it’s just simple, where we’re people and you should love each other. That’s life man, that’s how you should be.

MK: And I heard that you played for the Trevor project.

KRIS: Yeah, that was a really interesting thing to do. I’ve never heard about it and we got asked to do it and I was like, yeah, sure. And I am always looking for, you know, to make sure that it was okay, and a really big deal and it doesn’t make any sense for people to get bullied for who they are. You know? So I know it’s a real big deal right now. So just coming from where I come from I think it was it was something I was happy to stand up for.

MK: Great. And have you, would you like to still plan to work with Adam in the future?

KRIS: Maybe so. Again, we’re different and it makes for good, musically we’re on two different sides of the spectrum probably. So maybe it can work and we can write a song together. I don’t know if we could sing together. But maybe we can end up writing something together sometime.

MK: Four years ago you said that your highlight for American Idol was when you performed for Queen.

KRIS: Of course, they were the biggest band to come on the show. It was really fun, and a great time.

MK: And of course they were wanting to get Adam to perform.

KRIS: Yeah, yeah. He’s a great singer.

MK: I also heard that one of your songs was on GLEE

KRIS: Oh, yeah.

MK:  It is also on Mathew Morrison's album.

KRIS: I heard the song and he did a great job with it. I’m really glad that he picked it up. And then afterwards me and him met up and we had lunch. A cool guy.

MK: Wonderful. Will you be mentoring or performing this season?

KRIS: I don’t know. You know, a lot of that stuff happens really quickly. You know, if I’m going to be on the show possibly. You know I could go at least once a year or so.

MK: Well, sure. Because I have seen you several times performing on there.

KRIS: Yeah, I really enjoy throwing on a show, it’s always good to go out and see old friends and check out the new contestants.

MK: And the new judges.  Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj.

KRIS: Yeah, I know the lineup, I just haven’t seen them, so I don’t really have much to say about it. I don’t know them at all, so I’ve heard a lot of things.

MK poses with Allen in 2013          MKS

MK: And so what do you want to be doing in the next five years?

KRIS: Making music that reaches a really broad fan base in that actually it really, really means something. And I try to do that now, and you always want to go for bigger and better. We’re playing [0:07:46] every night, and the next time I come in we’ll be playing somewhere else bigger and better. This place is really cool though. And we’re really excited. This is a smaller venue, a smaller setup. Been a lot of fun, real intimate and especially with everything that happened. So it’s been really cool to come play a place like this. It’s totally different. So, yeah, I love what I do, I love making music, and as long as I’m doing this, it’s really fun.

MK:  Thanks all the questions I have. Thank you so much. And we will hopefully catch you again.

KRIS: Anytime.

For more Tour info, check Kris' Facebook Page. 

In addition, Allen is taking a page out of fellow Idol Kelly Clarkson's playbook, announcing that he will be taking fan requests in each city for covers of popular songs. We are going to do something special for the #outalivetour," tweeted ALLEN. "The deal is whoever is coming to the show that night and wants to hear a certain song (mine or a cover) tweet the name of that song that day. I will choose one each day and me and the band will learn that song that day. Don’t worry we will remind you each tour date of the request song. So have your song ready.”