IML: What a whirlwind year for you! Have you been able to catch your breath and take it all in?

Justin: I went to Hawaii right after the movie, but it’s been pretty crazy. I’ve spent the whole year building up to this moment, the album release. I’ve learned so much this year.

IML: What have you learned?

Justin: American Idol has prepared me for so much. I learned about performance, what works and what doesn’t work on camera and with an audience. I’ve learned to take criticism, from Simon and some other critics from papers and magazines [who] are horrendous. But I’ve realized that I don’t do this for the critics. I do this for the fans. I’ve learned how to budget my time, because there’s so little of it. And I’ve learned how to work quickly and effectively because that’s what we had to do on the show.

IML: How about handling fame…the good AND bad parts?

Justin: I don’t take any of that too seriously. It’s cool, I mean it’s great, it’s what I’ve wanted, but fame is not what I’m after. For me, being in the spotlight is being up there performing or promoting what I’m doing. Fame comes with the territory. What most concerns me is doing what I love.

IML: When did you realize you loved singing and that you were good at it?

Justin: I’ve known it from the first memories that I have of anything. When I really knew it was what I wanted do, it was around eighth grade. I always hoped and told people that I was going to make it. And I’m glad it’s happened ‘cause I can relax a little, but it has always been a career path. It’s a gift that I knew I was given and had to put out to the world.

IML: Did you have any idea that American Idol would be such a phenomenon?

Justin: When I was there at 5:30 in the morning, the 126th person in line, freezing my butt off in Times Square, I didn’t know that it all would come to this. I had no idea that I’d tour and have an album, movie, television shows. I haven’t had the time to sit back and take it all in, but I don’t want that time right now ‘cause that would mean I’m not working, and I want to work!

IML: Who were you rooting for on the second AI?

Justin: Ruben, Ruben, Ruben! But the fact that I got on the final two shows was the catalyst for everything that’s happened until now, so I think Clay will do as well as Ruben.

IML: If you’d been on that show, do you think you’d have made it as far?

Justin: I don’t know. It would have been a fight to the end no matter what!

IML: You went on the American Idol tour, then recorded your album, and now the attention is on Ruben and Clay. Do you think that might be a disadvantage for your album?

Justin: It didn’t hurt Kelly! I think it’s been a great advantage for me. From what I heard of the music that they were trying to push on both of us, it was horrendous and we would have had flash-in-the-pan careers. Kelly and I both took a year to learn, to grow and to experience as much as we could.

IML: Did you feel any pressure to live up to all the AI hype?

Justin: I didn’t have the pressure of living up to American Idol… I had the pressure of EXCEEDING it! That pressure was actually a blessing for me, because I always felt that people didn’t quite hear as much of my voice as I wanted them to hear on the show. Now that I’ve had the opportunity to grow over the year vocally and mentally and spiritually, I think that comes out and I think a lot of people will be surprised.

IML: Do you have a favorite song on the album?

Justin: I do! “If You Wanna,” which is one of the songs I co-wrote. I wrote on that and on “Heartbreaker.” I’m glad that I got to write, and have the input of experts to bring out the best in me.

IML: What do you think of “Timeless,” your duet with Kelly Clarkson, which is in From Justin to Kelly?

Justin: We’re really proud of that. We wanted to do a musical, which is our passion, but for a youthful audience, unlike Chicago or Moulin Rouge which have adult themes. This is our answer to that. I know that we’re going to get hit by critics. We’re totally prepared. Bring it on! We don’t do this for them.

IML: Are you playing yourselves?

Justin: No, not even versions of ourselves.
The movie Justin is a little more high-strung than I am, more of a go-getter. I’m much more mellow.

IML: I know you and Kelly got close on Idol. Did the movie make you closer?

Justin: It was the continuation of a great friendship. We clicked immediately on the set.

IML: But you weren’t ever a couple?

Justin: No. If I had a penny for everyone who asked me!

IML: We can see that. But you’re so cute together…You understand why people ask, right?

Justin: Our relationship just works very well.

IML: Are you close with other Idol finalists?

Justin: Yes! Jim, Tamyra, and R.J.

IML: What was the biggest challenge of making the movie?

Justin: Learning the intimacy of film acting. A month or two before, I was playing to 19,000 people, having to get across to audiences in arenas. Even in musical theater that I did in school, you have to be “big” and play to the back row. But you have to completely dial it down when your head is 10 feet tall on screen!

IML: Do you want to make more movies?

Justin: I want to do movies, television, Broadway. I really want to expand into a lot of things, but I’m keeping it open for the album now. I was offered the role of the Emcee in Cabaret on Broadway, but I told them I’d love to do it if it they ask me later.

Part 2

IML: Your mom got sick and had surgery while you were on AI. How is she doing?

Justin: She’s doing great. She’s part of the inspiration that got me through it. Had I not gotten the American Idol gig, she wouldn’t have gone out to L.A., picked up that suitcase -- she thought she strained her back -- and they found the tumor. So it all happened perfectly and that’s why I didn’t freak out. She’s healed up and back at work.

IML: We hear that you’re also close with your father and stepdad.

Justin: Yeah. We have a great family unit. While divorce wasn’t exactly an ideal event in my life, it has really helped me grow and to understand myself, and where I come from. My father has taught me how to deal with the craziness politically, spiritually and career-wise, and how to ground myself. My stepfather has taught me how to be meticulous and follow through, and be orderly. My mother has given me the strength to handle this whole thing. She’s an amazingly strong woman, with everything in her life let alone the illness she went through during a time of great joy in my life. She’s the rock that I stand on. I’m blessed that I have the three parental figures that I have and those are my role models.

IML: Do you have brothers and sisters?

Justin: I have one half brother, two half sisters, three stepbrothers, and four stepsisters. We’re a tight family unit. My brother Adrian is into singing. He’s always a great source of support and bouncing ideas off of. He’s been through the music scene in Atlanta.

IML: Was being biracial ever difficult for you growing up?

Justin: Fortunately, no. I always knew that I was different, but I never faced any sort of racism or bias until maybe junior high, when you’re dealing with 13-year-olds. I was one of two people in my school who were biracial and eventually, the only person. I never thought of myself as black or white or whatever. I was just me. I was very fortunate to toe the line between black and white, a very fine line. I identify very strongly with both cultures. I have this wonderful black history and also a very strong Italian-Irish heritage. In 50 years, there are going to be more people who look like me than not. The world is coming together.

IML: But you weren’t bullied because of your ethnicity?

Justin: No. I’ve had slurs thrown my way but they’ve been few and far between. I was very lucky to have grown up in a very tolerant community.

IML: Didn’t you go to junior high with Pink?

Justin: I did!

IML: Did you know her then?

Justin: I did know Alicia back then -- that’s how she still refers to herself. She’s always been grounded like that. We didn’t run in the same circles, but our common denominator was music. We were in choir together. She was always very cool. Beneath that tough exterior, she’s a kind and generous woman.

IML: Were you popular in school?

Justin: I was very fortunate to be able to move freely through different cliques. My friends to this day consist of little bit of jock, little bit of choir, little bit of music biz. I have a very tight-knit group of friends who knew me before all this and have supported me, and who are good to me and keep me grounded.

IML: Are you dating anyone now?

Justin: There are some girls I’d love to go out on dates with, but I don’t even have the time to get the question out! These next two years are going to be where I make a solid foundation and I’m committed to working. After that I can kind of sit back just a little bit, work on the third album and other projects.

IML: Then there’s the fame dilemma: does a girl like you for yourself or because you’re famous?

Justin: That’s another thing affecting my romantic life -- you don’t know who to trust. A very good friend of mine who is famous was courted by this girl for six months and after they parted ways, it turns out she was a reporter for a tabloid and got paid $50,000. That’s the price of fame that makes all of us gun shy. You never know. And this is not the time to deal with something like that.

IML: What qualities do you look for in someone?

Justin: I look for an amazing and wacky sense of humor ‘cause that’s what I have. I love to laugh. Just someone who’s open and understanding, and who’s understanding of their spirit.

IML: Do you smoke?

Justin: God, no!

IML: What do you say to kids who think smoking is cool? Any advice for kids who might be tempted?

Justin: Unfortunately, popular culture has made smoking kind of a cool thing, which saddens me. I think that a lot of today’s youth are too smart to fall for such a dumb thing. For me, a girl can be the most beautiful girl in the world and once she puts that cigarette in her mouth…ugly street!

IML: What would you say is the toughest thing kids face today?

Justin: They’re facing an extremely unstable society and a world that changes by the month, and the most difficult thing for kids is to find where they belong, to realize they have a voice. They have to realize that when they band together, they can get things done.

IML: What goals do you set for yourself? Where do you want to be in 10 years?

Justin: I’m setting some pretty high goals for myself. I want to have a platinum album. I’m looking forward to doing movies and television and really broadening my horizons. I don’t want to be pigeonholed, you know. My goal is to be known as an entertainer. By the time that 10 years comes around, I really want to be focused on behind the scenes. Producing and writing, especially in the music industry, is where it’s at. Performers come and go. Writers, producers, and engineers last.

IML: Okay, we have to ask. What do you use on your hair?

Justin: I use a bunch of different stuff. I use Phytology and Kiehl’s and mix it up into my own special concoction.

IML: That’s it, and you’re ready to go?

Justin: I wake up with it like this. It depends if I take a shower or not right when I wake up. Usually I take a shower when I go to bed, and wake up and shake it, and I’m good.

IML: It was a pleasure meeting you! We wish you tons of success!

Justin: Thank you so much!