Mar 18, 2011
Karen Rodriguez: 'I wanted to show me'
03:50 PM
"My goal was never to make it far in the competition," says the 21-year-old New Yorker, the show's most recently eliminated contestant. "That would be very competitive of me. I never saw American Idol as a competition. I saw it as a gateway, a jump-start to my career."
More important for Karen, who became known on the show for singing in both English and Spanish, was to make a memorable impression on the audience.
"I wanted to show me; I wanted to be real; I wanted to let people know who I was, as far as being a Latin-American artist," she says. "To me, that was my purpose. That's what I think I accomplished."
Karen says she's particularly proud of her studio recording of the Selena hit I Could Fall in Love, which she cut with producer Jim Jonsin. "It sounds nothing like the original," she says. "I love Selena so much, and I've always wanted to be like her. At the same time, I never wanted to be her.
"What Jim Jonsin did to the track to sort of make it uptempo, he made it into what people listen to today. I did some different melodies, and I put my own style, my own voice in it.
"I'm so glad I did that song. It's keeping Selena's memory alive, which is what I wanted to do. She's a big part of who I am and why I decided to be a Latin-American artist."
Unlike the previously eliminated Ashthon Jones, who said last week that she believed her time on Idol had come to an end, Karen says she was surprised when she found out she'd be going home."I felt like I did a good job Wednesday," she says. "Randy even said, 'You're back.' I didn't have the best week the week before. I learned a lesson, though: Some songs sound so much better in the studio than they do live."
Once she got placed in the Bottom Three with Haley Reinhart and Naima Adedapo, she started preparing for the possibility: "I told myself that not matter what happened, I had a bright future ahead of me, and everything was going to be okay."
For the immediate future, Karen plans to take a break.
"I'm totally going to rest up," she says. "It's been really exhausting being in teh show. It totally drains you, because there are so many things you're doing constantly. We're always performing and practicing. So I'm going to take some time to really relax and try to find myself, what type of direction I want to go with my music."
But Karen won't just relax.
"I want to write more; I want to start picking up instruments," she says. "I even want to get better at ProTools. I want to make sure that, when it's time, I can make my own tracks, even if it's for reference. If people ever want to hear what I've been working on, I want to be able to record myself and not have to depend on people. Just working more on myself as a musician ? you get more respect that way.
Karen's been a traveler throughout her life -- born in Miami, raised in New York, attending college at Boston's Berklee College of Music, even studying abroad in Italy for a month at age 16. Now, she may have found a new home in Los Angeles.
"I feel like this is my time right now to be in this city," she says, noting that American Idol, 19 Entertainment and Interscope Records all are based in L.A. "I want to take advantage of all this exposure and see if I can get any further in life, as far as a recording artist."
Karen also spoke with reporters during a conference call Friday. Here's an edited transcript of that call.
A: It meant the world to me. This is what I've been wanting to do for my whole life. I've always had a vision of being a Latin-American artist.
Just to be able to sing a song of that magnitude in both languages on the number-one show in America on a show called American Idol. I've always said America is a big melting pot. There are so many cultures, so much diversity. It could be called American Idol, but it's really not. Everybody in the show brings their own style, and that was just my way of expressing myself and showing America who I really was.
Q: You became close with Jacob on the show. When you're eliminated, is it tougher knowing that you're out of the competition or that you're going to be leaving your friends behind?
A: It's both. Of course, I wanted to stay, I wanted to continue. I live by the words that everything happens for a reason so maybe my time on the show was meant to just be until yesterday.
I'm going to miss everybody, of course Jacob. We would go to each other for advice. He would ask me what songs he should do and how to sing it. I'm going to miss them so much. But I'll see them soon.
Q: You did not grow up with much money, but you had great opportunities, from a music scholarship in kindergarten to going to LaGuardia Arts High School. How tough were your circumstances, and what were the opportunities that New York gave you?
A: Both my parents are Hispanic. They came from different countries to find opportunities in America. It started off pretty rough, it's still rough. Both of my parents can't really work, so they both receive help from the government. Anything my mom had from her checks, she would give to me to make me look beautiful on stage from when I was performing when I was 5, 6 and 7. She always sacrificed everything for me and for my two other siblings.
My voice and talent have been able to take me so many places. Eventually I know I'm going to give my mom everything back that she's put out for us. I also got a scholarship to take classes in Italy, so I lived in Italy for a month when I was 16, then I came to L.A., then I went to Berklee College of Music, all because of music and talent and my voice. American Idol is just one of the next big steps in my life.
Q: What were the benefits of growing up in New York City?
A: I was born in Miami, but living in a city as tough as New York really strengthened me. There are so many opportunities in New York for kids. I was so blessed to get into that school. That school was so amazing -- it's free, which is the main thing, because not a lot of people can afford a music school with that sort of name -- it's the Fame school. I want be that person to encourage other children to try out, know that it's okay to reach out for their dreams, starting at such a young age.
I've been doing this so long. Some parents think it's too young. But the younger the better, because then they do not have to waste their whole lives thinking about what they want to do. I've known my whole life that I wanted to sing and that eliminated a lot of doubt, so it was a blessing going to that school.
Q: Is there any advice the judges gave you right after you were eliminated?
A: Jennifer has been a fan of mine from the very beginning; she said so herself. She said I was perfect. She said that somebody had to go home, and this is your time. But she was rooting for me. If it had been all on her, she would have saved me, she told me. I know that everything happens for a reason. Steven Tyler and Randy came to me and gave me hugs and kisses and said, "You're amazing, you're going to go so far, this is only the beginning." There were so many emotions, but it was all for good.
Q: What's next for you?
A: I can't wait to go back home and reflect on everything that happened. It's been very crazy these past months. I cant wait to start writing, to start bettering myself as a musician, as an artist, as a singer. I'm going to work really hard to become that artist that's ready, so as soon as the show ends, and if something comes up, I can be ready to be that package. I still have to work on so many things, but I know this time off is going to really help me.
Q: You've said you be interested in doing movies and commercials. Can you elaborate on that?
A: I would love to do movies and commercials. I've done a voice-over for a movie already when I was in high school, and coming into LaGuardia High School, my freshman year, I got the lead as Maria in West Side Story. I got to play the lead in sophomore year; it was my first really big play with 3,000 seats sold-out every night. That made me believe in myself more as an actor.
I'd love to do theater. I've auditioned for In the Heights and West Side Story on Broadway. I got to meet the cast of both. With this opportunity, now that people know who I am, maybe there is a chance for me to go further, for me to do ads. Anything I can get my hands on, I want to take this and milk it as much as I could. That would be one of my dreams.
I admire Jennifer Lopez so much for that, because she has been able to handle that so well, doing music and movies and doing everything she's been doing. I definitely want to be like her for sure.
Q: What advice do you have for people about staying positive in life?
A: I always live by the words that everything happens for a reason. There have been so many instances in my life where I've had to lose some things, and you don't really know why this happening. Sometimes I wonder, "Why didn't I stay another week?" But in a few days or a few months, I will see why.
I don't to only be known as the top 12 contestant on American Idol. I want to be known as Karen Rodriguez, the next Latin sensation, crossover English-American-Hispanic artist. I feel like I've made that name for myself and I'm very excited for what's to come.
Q: What did you learn from the producers? Did they improve your voice?
A: They did. Working with the producers was definitely amazing. It's such a smart strategy that they've incorporated into the show. It teaches us how our lives are going to change, as far as the production side of the recording artist. Eventually, we all want record deals out of this show. Jimmy Iovine putting his input on everything, he's turned some of the most old ballad-type songs into something fresh. And every single producer has their own flavor. Jim Jonsin, who wrote Sweet Dreams for Beyonc�, took my Selena song and totally transformed it. It feels so good to see other people's opinion, people who know what they're doing -- Grammy winners. It's just crazy. They made something so fresh and new.
Q: Have you had a chance to look at your Twitter account and see what your fans say about you?
A: I check my Twitter account every day, I constantly Tweet my fans and post pics up. The contestants actually call me "Miss Twitter Queen," because I'm the one that's most responsive to my fans.
That's a great thing they did this year because fans need to feel that we are human just like they are. I want know what my fans are thinking, what songs they want me to do, I want to know they actually support me, I want them to see that I'm real, that I'm breathing, living. Every single person that has tweeted has said that this is not the end for you, that there are a lot of things coming. That gives me hope because as soon as I release anything, there's going to be millions of people buying it and watching me. That gives me so much confidence.
Q: How would you have incorporated Spanish going forward?
A: I thought I really needed to do it the first time that America really saw me shine, and that was Top 24 when I sang Hero. I've known that song for so long and I've sung it in both languages. It's been one of my dreams to sing it.
I would have loved to sing I Will Always Love You in Spanish and English. The weeks going forward, I wanted to focus on America getting to know what I really could do, because I'm also a R&B singer. I wanted to let America know there was more than what meets the eye. I would have loved to do more up-tempo songs, some salsa, merengue, maybe. That would have been great.
Q: Was there a standout experience from the show that you'll always remember?
A: The fact that I got to record I Could Fall in Love and it's selling on iTunes, to be able to look up my name and something comes up. I Could Fall in Love was sung by my idol Selena. She's the reason I began singing, I was 5, 6 years old, and she really inspired me. Her life was taken away so fast, and she never got to see her songs progress. To be able to perform it on live television and have people tell me, "I love your version; you're making Selena proud." That's what I wanted to achieve: I wanted to keep her memory alive and let people know that Latinas are back!
Q: Steven Tyler said you had a what-it-isness. How did you interpret that?
A: I took it as a great thing. Steven and Randy said that they love when I incorporate Spanish. They said I even sound better in Spanish. Of course, I wasn't going to sing in Spanish every week. It's great because this is who I am, I grew up speaking Spanish. I wanted to stand up for my heritage. I'm so glad I did that. I'm so glad I stayed true to myself in such an Americanized show.
Q: You were on a Puerto Rican talent show before this. How did that show prepare you to be on Idol?
A: I was the youngest contestant, made it to seventh place. It wasn't as big as American Idol. When I was on that Spanish, I was the American one, trying to show what I could do with my Americanized style of singing. So it was like the roles kind of reversed.
When I was on that show, the judges would tell me to stay out of the pop, Spanish people don't understand what you're doing. I listened to that, and I lost myself in the competition. I regretted that I didn't stay true to myself, and I always told myself that if I was in another competition I would be true to myself.
When I got to American Idol, I used that experience. This was my chance to really show people who I am. That's why I decided to bring on the Spanish. I needed to make it known that I wanted to be a Latin-American artist.
Q: Is there anything you would have done differently on Idol?
A: No, every song I chose was a song I wanted to sing. I would have gone up there with even more passion, even more drama, even guts. I am very proud of making this far. I never thought off an audition from MySpace that I was going to make it Top 12. Especially on the best season ever.
Q: What was it like to have Jennifer be such a big fan of yours?
A: I felt the love so much. We identified with each other so much. People have said she's seen herself in me. She struggled all her life to get to where she's at with hard work and perseverance. She's just a big example.
She really was rooting for me and it felt great. My idol has always been Selena, and, when Selena passed away, she did the movie. I've been following Jennifer for so long. I got to sing to her every single week. That, to me, was incredible.
Q: Were you ever worried about isolating votes by singing in Spanish?
A: No, not at all. My main focus was showing people who I was and being myself on the show. I wanted to be diverse. I wanted it to make it known that I wanted to be a Latin-American Idol. Honestly, I can't control the votes, all I can do is do my best every week and make a career out of this exposure.
Q: What's your relationship with Pia?
A: Me and Pia are friends and we used to be in school together, and we were in a group. We used to write together. There was a time where Pia had trouble finishing a song, and I finished it for her and we performed it. Even though she's older, I've always been, like, that bigger sister. I support her and I toughen her up a little bit because sometimes she doubts herself. As far as the competition, everyone has an equal chance of taking it all. You never know what America wants. It changes every week.
Q: What does your mom say about everything?
A: I called my mom yesterday after the show. She was kind of sad but I had to remind her that life goes on.
Q: Where do you get your strength?
A: American Idol was just one thing in a long list of what I want to accomplish in my life. I'm so glad that I can scratch it... There are so many things above American Idol I want do, I want win a Grammy. I want to win an Oscar. I want to do so many things that are just going to keep topping one after another. That's what keeps me going, knowing that this is not the end. I just have so much faith.
My destiny is destined for greatness. I feel that in every part of my being. I've always felt that since I was a little girl. Being on American Idol Top 12, Season 10, the best season ever, that reinstates it for me.
See photos of: Jennifer Lopez
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