If there’s one thing American Idol Season 7 can brag about that you can’t find on any other season of the hit TV show, it’s that it has the most number of hotties at the head of the pack. There’s season winner David Cook, who made females swoon with his rock rendition of Mariah Carey’s R&B hit “Always Be My Baby." There’s runner-up David Archuleta, cute as a button and the object of cougar fantasies. Then there’s dreadlocked and blue-eyed Jason Castro, the only dude on the season with a Bob Marley-inspired mane. He stood out from the rest by strumming an acoustic guitar (even a ukulele!) during his own performances, making him the first contestant in Idol history to ever play an instrument on the show.Jason was recently in Manila and Cebu to promote his EP Love Uncompromised, which contains the easy, breezy love ode “Let’s Just Fall in Love Again." Warner Music Philippines and The Ayala Malls took the Season 7 third runner-up to TriNoma on March 18 and to Glorietta 5 on March 19 to regale fans with sweet and summery acoustic tunes. March 20 saw him flying off to Ayala Center Cebu, and on March 21 he returned to Manila for his final gig at Market! Market!
Cosmo got to powwow with the endlessly charming artist at a press conference he managed to squeeze in during his hectic four-date concert in Manila. Find out more about this talented singer-songwriter by reading the interview below. Click on the ‘view gallery’ button to see scenes from the presscon, not to mention Jason’s clear blue eyes, those deep dimples, and that bright smile. Sigh.
1. Happy birthday, Jason! The Idol alum turns 23 on March 25.
“I didn’t realize it was my birthday coming up until everyone started telling me ‘Happy Birthday!’ So now I’ve got to start planning. Hopefully my mom got something planned back home,” Jason says with a laugh.
2. This guy is on a love high: Last January 2, he tied the knot with his long-time girlfriend Mandy Mayhall.
“I’ve written a lot of songs about my wife,” he confesses sheepishly. “Actually, the first song I ever wrote was about her, five years ago.” And what did his wife think of it? “She loved it. She loves all my songs.”
3. So that goes without saying—sorry ladies, he’s off-limits!
“I’ve been asked for a lot of kisses around here. And I don’t do kisses,” he laughs.
4. Simon Cowell may be leaving Idol at the end of the season, but Jason thinks the hit show will still go strong without the acid-tongued judge.
“I think Simon is a lot of people’s favorite personality on the show, but I think the show is really about the talent. The fans have always liked the fact that they get to be a part of the process of taking somebody from a nobody to a big star, and they get to help by voting, by supporting them. And I think that’s the really cool thing about the show. So regardless of who’s telling you if you’re good or bad, I think the core of the show is that, the talent.”
5. Besides, Ellen DeGeneres is there to keep things interesting, and Jason takes his hat off to Idol’s newest judge.
“I like Ellen as a judge. Obviously, at first I [thought], ‘Why’d they pick her instead of Paula?’ But I really think she’s a great addition to the show. At first my hesitation was she’s never done anything with music, but I think she’s a music lover, which I think we all are.”
6. The best nugget of wisdom this budding star can impart to aspiring singers is to "be undeniable."
“My best piece of advice that I received from somebody a while back is to be undeniable. That’s got to be your goal. And the way to do that is just by working hard, taking as much as you can wherever you can.”
7. Take it from someone who has made a name for himself not by kowtowing to the public’s image of an American pop star, but by being a true individual.
“I think music is really an extension of yourself, an extension of your personality, and one thing I always strive for is just to be an authentic person. I’ve never tried to be somebody I’m not.”
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