Coconuts Manila had some minutes with Colton Dixon, that mohawked guy from the eleventh season of “American Idol.” He’s releasing his debut album called “A Messenger” on Jan. 29, plus he’ll open for fellow Idol Jessica Sanchez, who will be having a Valentine’s Day concert in Manila on Feb. 14.
Here’s Colton talking about how much he enjoyed Manila, his first record, and Jessica.
You’re heading to Manila again pretty soon. What are you most excited about?
Honestly I’m really looking forward to seeing more of the culture there. I experienced a couple of different foods like the Filipino mango and the puto boom-boom (bumbong). I tried a couple of these things and it was really just interesting how it differs from America and I liked a lot of the foods. It was really cool. I like experiencing different cultures. Hopefully I get to have the chance to dive into that a little more next trip. We weren’t able to truly dive into lot of it because we were so busy.
After your trip to Manila for the last leg of the “American Idol” tour, what have you been doing?
I’ve been recording for this first album that will be out in a week. I had already written most of the songs by the time I went to the Philippines, but wrote a couple more when I came back. And then I recorded the record and finished it up and then I enjoyed the holidays. And then now I’m just getting back to rehearsals, just gearing up for the Philippines again. I can’t believe I’m going back so soon.
Are we going to hear/see a different Colton on the album, as opposed to the Colton we saw on the show?
I think it’s very similar. There are some tender moments on the record, there are some rock moments on the record. There are songs that kind of remind me of “Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper. There’s a couple of songs that remind you of “Love the Way You Lie,” that I did on “Idol.” It’s very, very similar and the message is very similar, of course. I just want to be encouraging with the music. Never a negative lyric.
Is it a Christian album?
It is a Christian album. I am who I am and if people don’t want to listen just because it’s Christian music I think it’s a little disheartening.
How do you feel about being chosen to open for Jessica?
I’m very honored to be opening for Jessica. I know she’s done very, very well in the Philippines and she’s only getting started! It’s fun to watch how she’s grown and blossomed. There’s a lot of talent that could have been chosen. I honestly don’t know how it came about. Maybe Jessica put in the word. Any way I am very honored to be with her in the Philippines.
What do you and Jessica like to talk about?
We honestly don’t talk about music a lot. Everything was so music-related as far as our relationship went in the beginning that we kind of steered away from that a little bit. We like to talk about other things.
