Arts & Culture

Katharine McPhee: The Interview

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Katharine McPhee has started 2007 off with a bang. Not only has she released her first album, Katharine McPhee, but it debuted at #2 on the charts, a major honor in pop music.  The much-anticipated record exploded on the Billboard 200, selling more than 115k in its first week!

Katharine McPhee To top off the accolades, her single, “Over It,” is currently storming radio and promises to be a worthy follow-up to her #2 hit, the double-A sided “Over the Rainbow” / “My Destiny,” which just happened to be the second-best selling single of last year. When you’re not hearing her sultry voice on the radio, you’re for sure to catch her on your television screen. Katharine has been heavily promoting the new album, spotting up on everything from a guest appearance on ABC’s hit series Ugly Betty, to spots on talk shows like Live with Regis & Kelly, even CNN’s Larry King Live.

We caught up with this very busy superstar,  and she opened up to us about everything from the new record to her future goals to her love life. Read on for her answers about success, her hopes for the new record, her newfound self-confidence, and acting along side America Ferrera.

Kyra Lausmann: Hello Katharine. How are you doing today?

Katharine McPhee: Good. And you?
KL: Good as well. First of all I want to say congratulations on everything and all your success.
KM: Oh you’re very sweet. Thank you.
KL: First, I have to ask; did you watch the premiere of the new American Idol season last night?
KM: Didn’t get to watch it. Actually the truth of the matter is that I don’t have television yet in my new condo.
KL: When did you move in?
KM: I bought it about two months ago but I haven’t moved in yet.
KL: What are your thoughts on how the new album will be received?
KM: You know, you can never predict anything, but my whole camp is being really positive and we are just excited, you know? It’s been awhile since I’ve been off the show now, and it’s been awhile since the record has been finished. We finished it before Christmas, so, we just decided to push it to the new year and give it a fresh start. Definitely you hope for the best. I have specific goals that I would like to meet, but I just hope for the best and am having fun with it.
KL: It’s your first album. What was the hardest part of the recording process, and what was the most rewarding part?
KM: Everything when its new, its just harder. It’s like the first day of school. Because I had never really spent a lot of time in a recording studio, other than the few times we where in for Idol, it was a lot to learn in a really short amount of time. Getting the levels right in your ears and “I can’t hear myself, can you turn this level up,” and that kind of stuff. And then the hours were just so long. I was forcing myself to stay in the booth for as long as I could because we needed to get it done. I went to Virginia Beach to record for about 10 days and we did about nine songs in 10 days, so you can imagine the hours. Records aren’t usually made that fast! It was definitely worth it because we got the record that we wanted to make and so we are all very happy about that.
KL: You got to co-wrote on a few songs.
KM: I co-wrote on three songs, and it was just a really cool experience to write. I had done some writing of my own just at home, typing on the computer, thoughts and feelings about certain things, but this was the first time I actually, you know with writers, sat down and had music behind it, and then started building the song from there. It was really a great experience.
KL: What’s the difference performing these songs rather than one’s you didn’t write?
KM: It’s definitely different. I think its easier, one, just because you don’t have to worry—especially on Idol—“oh, this person sang it better than me, and maybe I shouldn’t sing it, and maybe this is isn’t the right song to sing.” Nobody has heard it, they’ve only heard your take of it, and so there is really no other comparison. And also it just feels good to be singing your own songs, songs that you’ve created, that you know what the story line is.
KL: What would be your favorite track off the new record?
KM: There are so many that I really like, but I love “Love Story”. That’s one of my favorites. It’s just a fun, young song that you can dance to, and it kind of reminds you of some old school beats. And “Over It”, I really, really love, too. It’s my new single that’s being pushed out to radio right now.
KL: Is that kind of the direction that you wanted to go in for the record?
KM: I just wanted it to be young and fun. I wanted people to see the personality that they didn’t get to see on Idol. Just the real personality of me, like if you were listening to the record, you could just imagine that you could be sitting down and talking to me as your girlfriend, or your friend or your old guy friend, stuff like that.
KL: So we are going to see a whole new side of Katharine with this new record?
KM: I guess so!
KL: I also heard that taped an episode of Ugly Betty? That’s exciting.
KM: That was such a blast because it was such a cool change of pace to get on the set, and I had a nice little Star Wagon. Everybody was so nice. I don’t think everyone was expecting the show to be as big as it is, so now everyone is A, so excited that they are on a show that is dong so well, but also excited just to be working. To be in that kind of environment is just really refreshing, and it was great for me to be on my first guest star in a place where everyone is really open. America Ferrera was so sweet and supportive.
KL: I know acting is one of your passions. Are there any more future projects you want to do?
KM: I’m really interested in film. It‘s truly what I’m interested in. That’s always been a huge passion of mine. There’s just something so beautiful about the art of filmmaking and its something that I have wanted to do long before Idol came along. That’s actually what I was pursuing before American Idol.
KL: Are you going to be pursing music and film at the same time?
KM: Right now I’m just going to focus on the music. I am really, really just into the record. I’m just excited about promoting it. But I think film will be down the line and hopefully I will be able to get that going, but for right now it’s just all about the music for me.
KL: Are you going to be touring?
KM: Yeah, I hope so. It will just all depend on how the record does and how people respond to the record. But definitely I would love to go on tour. It would be just thrilling for me.
KL: Back to acting. You helped produce “Red Herring” at the New York International Fringe Festival last summer. Tell me about that.
KM: It was a beautiful play that I read and I just really connected to. I think there’s not really a lot of great theater out there anymore. It won two great awards and had a huge feature in the New York Times, and for a little fringe festival play, that’s a big deal for that kind of stuff to happen. I was just happy to be connected to it and happy that I put my backing behind it.
KL: Is that something that you want to more of?
KM: I just love being a businesswoman. There is just something so empowering about it. I’ve had really great female mentors explaining the business to me, and there’s just something fun about going into a meeting and knowing you are going to talk about business. Its like you are playing a role.
KL: You are the new face of Sexy Hair. How did that come about?
KM: They contacted my agency and that’s how it started.
KL: Will there be any cross-promotion with the new album?
KM: They might be doing some cross-promotion, but not a lot. It’s mostly just for Sexy Hair.
KL: Do you have any favorite products?
KM: Yes! I love their lip gloss. It’s more like a lipstick and it has a lip plumper on it as well, so it makes your lips tingle and feel all full. I love their new line, which I’m actually a part of, and its called Strong Sexy. When you do a lot to your hair like I do, it keeps my hair is in such great condition. It makes my hair feel amazing and strong, so I’m really excited about that new campaign coming out soon. Mostly I use Sexy hair for everything.
KL: How does all this success feel?
KM: It is amazing. It’s awesome. I’m so blessed to be in the position that I’m in and I’m just truly excited to put the record out. It’s really humbling to have all that kind of recognition, but I think I’ll feel better once I have actually something to promote and to feel like I actually deserve. I don’t feel like I deserve really any of that, and all the stuff I’ve been getting.
KL: You definitely deserve it. You’ve been working for it your whole life.
KM: Yeah, I’ve been trying.
KL: What keeps you grounded?
KM: There are certain little mottos that I say to myself, just little mentalities and perspectives that I try to keep. In this business, what you do is not who you are, and I just tell myself that a lot. I just try to keep myself in perspective and not get out of reality. Show business is not a reality; it’s just a business like anything else.
KL: What about the McPhee Outreach Program?
KM: I wanted from the very begging to get involved with something to give back. Lollipop Theater Network (which McPhee Outreach supports) does the theater division, and I wanted to bring in the music, because music really changes people. We are in the process of getting that going and I am the first person to be the music side of it. The McPhee Outreach is going to be my own thing where I can get involved with children and stuff like that.
KL: Not to change the subject from such important issues, but you’ve been looking great on the red carpet, wearing a lot of short skirts. Was that a conscious decision to project a new image or just a style thing?
KM: I think that short dresses are really in right now. I love the baby doll look, its just cute and fun.
KL: It kind of reflects the record a little.
KM: Oh yeah. I hope so. I feel more confident in my body. I used to be a little more insecure about my body, and I feel better about it. I could never used to show my legs and so it’s a big deal for me to wear short dresses.
KL: So, girl-to-girl, are you dating anyone?
KM: Yes I am.
KL: Wow. On top of a new record, acting gigs, and promotions. You are one busy girl!
KM: Yes. I’m just trying to keep up!

For more on Katharine, read our article.

www.katharinemcphee.com

About the author

Kyra Lausmann