Transcript: Danny Gokey interview with IHeartDannyGokey.com

Pam and I transcribed the interview we did with Danny so his international fans that visit iheart can understand it better. Read it after the jump…

Talking about songwriting, are you writing songs and which themes do you like to write about?

I haven’t wrote with anyone else; I’ve been able to write with just some friends and that’s it. We’re getting ready to start writing with some other writers in town; just to start perfecting the writing ability in me, you know, because it’s definitely there, it’s just got to be perfected because there’s a science behind it. And you know, when it comes to writing, whoever writes the song is always going to think it’s the best thing in the world, but you know in this industry you gotta have someone who knows how to say “listen, this does not work or this does work.”

Do you have any plans for a Christmas album?

You know, I want to do a Christmas album. My song, “O Holy Night” went over really well on my website and even on USAToday.com. But I would like to do an EP, If I could do an EP….

Maybe some SHF choir participation?

I don’t know if we’d be able to do that, because it’d be a lot of work trying to get the kids to Nashville where we would record, that might be a problem. Actually, we do have a choir in Nashville, it could kind of work, it’s all dependent on what the label thinks is the most lucrative move for them and um, sometimes you know it costs a lot of money to do a lot of production.

Have you ever thought about a DVD, filming the show, some behind-the-scenes?

Never thought about that, no, I would love to do that! I think as my career grows that’s gonna automatically happen, they’re going to start releasing behind the scenes, more stage, a whole show. Because I think, here’s the thing, at this point in my career I’m perfecting my entertainment side, my singing side, so as we are growing, as we add more production, as we grow this thing – Danny Gokey Entertainment is the company – it’s something that we’re growing from the ground up. This is my own personal company – the label doesn’t support it – it’s my company and that’s how we do touring. And so to add lights people, video people, it’s all an extra cost. As we grow, we’ll be able to facilitate more of that. But definitely, that’s going to be in the future for sure.

Movie soundtrack/voice over?

Have I thought about those? Ok, yeah, I have! I’ve thought about it… I hope ‘I Will Not Say Goodbye’ gets a movie. Or any of the songs I have… to get a movie, that’d be great. Sony has a team that specifically  works on that; I was just thinking about it, I’m going to call my management and see what’s the deal with that. But I would love that. I would love to do acting, I’m very interested in doing acting. Very interested in doing voice-overs, I like that stuff – I like expanding my portfolio. I think acting – being in a movie, I’m there for sure. [big smile and laugh]

Can you name 5 things you can’t live without?

Five things I can’t live without… I can’t live without my computer. I can’t live without my cell phone. I can’t live without the internet. I can’t live without food, I love food, I love to eat. And what’s the last thing, number 5? Five Guys burgers! [prompted by Mike] I can’t live without…. [pause, deeply contemplating]

Do you know how to cook?

Am I a great cook? I don’t spend enough time at it, but I love the idea of it. I just cooked myself a nice meal yesterday – seasoned some chicken, some chicken breast – cracked pepper on it and other spices and cooked it in coconut oil, and made some spaghetti.

[Danny backtracks to the 5 things you can't live without question]

I kept thinking of that 5th thing – Water parks, I love water, palm trees, the ocean, vacations. God, bible, I love God, I love Church – Church would be the 5th thing, you know, because I like to stay encouraged, stay motivated.

When you were a child, you were singing in your car with your mom and dad and your dad said that you could sing. Do you remember which song you were singing?

I don’t. I don’t! At that point, it was probably a Gospel song. It had to be, because I was 12, or 11. I think we were coming home from church, so I’m pretty sure, I think…

Was that a song that you heard during service?

My parents had cassette tapes so they’d listen to Gospel songs.

Can you say anything about a Winter tour or Fall tour?

Well, there was something in the wintertime that was coming up, and it ended up not working out. But we’ve got a fall tour set up right now. I don’t know if I’m allowed to say anything. [to Mike] Am I allowed to say anything about that? [after looking at Mike] – Not at this point. But we have a Fall tour. It’s gonna be me and another artist that’s coming up. I’ll be the one headlining at our own show. But those details are yet to be… there’s a lot of stuff we’re still working on right now.

Do you like cars?

I love cars!

Which car is your dream car?

Well, a dream car, man… Who’s at the door? [Brief interlude while Ivan poked his head in the bus and Mike went to see what he wanted] Do you want to ask that question again?

Pam: Your Dream Car

Do you just want me to answer it again and not have it on camera? [Pam's note: LOL, he must have thought I'd have enough brains to stop filming the interruption. Hey, we'll take whatever Danny footage we can get! Erika laughed that "It's ok, we're not professionals!"] Dream Car… I guess I don’t know what my dream car would be but right now I would like… I love the new Camaro, I love the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, I was looking at some Mercedes [laughing]. I haven’t bought a car yet. They’re all definitely way above my price range. In the future – Sell more CDs, do more shows, get on movies.

And what about a pet? What kind of pet would you have and which name would you give to your pet?

I don’t have a name I would give a dog… a dog would be my pet – I love dogs. Right now we have a dog, Nuvo, it’s a great dog.

You mean your family?

Yeah, me, Ivan and Margarita, we have a dog. Definitely love that guy. But I don’t have a dog yet, I’m looking in the future to have my own personal puppy to have on the bus.

Did you practice writing your autograph before going on American Idol?

Well, you know what, I used to work at a bookstore and I had to do a lot of signing of membership cards so I always signed them and I just came up with my autograph at that point. Since I got on the show I did a lot of autographing and I just perfected it at that point.

Everyone imagines what it would like to be a celebrity, has your experience matched up to what you imagined it would be like?

Yeah, it’s been great, I think the only thing I struggle with as a person in the spotlight is that you have to be turned on all the time, always have to be like [big cheesy grin]. And sometimes it’s just like [he looks tired]. And people recognize you and they always want to talk to you. Now, believe me, this is not a hard or difficult problem. But if there was a problem or something I struggle with at times, it’s having to turn myself back on when I’m completely wasted, or completely tired, or just got bad news and someone wants to just sit here and talk to me and I have to make sure that I keep a professional attitude. Do you know what I mean? I don’t want to come off rude, but sometimes you’re just like [he pantomimes falling asleep], you know? That’s the only thing. But that’s an easy problem, that is not difficult by any means.

Are you usually early, late, or on time?

Late.

What do you value most in other people?

I value realness in people. I value people who are beautiful, but yet they’re very humble. People who are in power, yet have the best interests of other people. People who aren’t arrogant or cocky. I can’t stand cocky or arrogant; by any means I can’t stand that. Yeah, those are the traits that I value in people.

Which song that you have performed to date is the most difficult technically and why?

Technically? You mean vocally? Ummm, probably ‘Get Away’. ‘Get Away’ is probably the most because it’s low and high. You know what I mean? It’s everything in between. It’s not the easiest song to perform but it’s a lot of singing.

And how do you memorize the words to the songs? Sometimes there’s a lot of words…

It’s funny, sometimes I’ll get up on stage and I’ll forget. It’s weird, I’m like ‘How can I forget that?’ but just repetition, repetition definitely brings memory back.

Do you have a favorite vocal warm-up?

I think… [Danny demonstrates his vocal warm-up] That one. I do that a lot.

Before you said that you found surprising that people would call you ‘HOT’. Is that something that you’re still dealing with or now you’re fine with it?

It’s definitely a compliment, you know, the fact that people think that I’m a good-looking guy, that I can hold my own, ’cause when I was young I was a ugly duckling, you know? It’s definitely a privilege, I just don’t let it get to my head, I think in any part of this industry, just don’t let that get to your head. That’s the biggest challenge.

And who’s the person that keeps you in check? You’re always getting praise…

[Danny points to Mike] I’m gonna point to that guy over there. He’s the one that keeps it real. That’s Mike, he’s my drummer and he played with every band that you can possibly think of in this industry. He’s also my tour manager, he has his hands full, he’s always working. Sometimes I feel sorry for him because he gives me things to do and I get mad at him at times. I don’t mean it but… Sometimes I don’t feel like doing anything but laying down. But, then again, you gotta understand, those are easy problems, these are not bad by any means. You know, I always try to put myself in a perspective. We’re in a country with places with people that don’t have running water, with places with people that spend their whole lives in slavery. You know, it’s like… Man, to honestly complain about this? It’s completely… but it’s human nature, human nature finds, no matter where you’re in, you’re gonna find something wrong with it and that’s something that I’ve kinda noticed… it’s funny… so I have it good, I’m very happy, he keeps me slapped up and ready to go. And the whole band, they’re really all good guys, we keep a good team.

Do you ever read the comments on iheart?

Oh, man, I think one time I read the comments there. One or two, that was a long time ago…

Were you shocked? [laughs]

I was one time, I gotta say that but I’m not gonna tell the story. It was so funny, I was like ‘Wow’. They got carried away with who they thought… what they thought I would do… I don’t know… it was funny, I was like ‘Wow’… but, you know, that’s good, I mean, that means that people really like me. You want that. It’s great. Man, I think I was on the American Idol tour, that’s how long ago it was. That was the last time I read it. When I go there, it’s because I see their tweets on and I want to see iheartdannygokey’s perspective on it and sometimes I’ll retweet.

What would be the hardest thing for you to give up?

The hardest thing for me to give up? Like as far as…

Anything.

Anything in the world? … Sugar?

Sugar?

I love sweets! And by the way, you iheartdannygokey men and women, you feed me so much sugar, you naughty, that’s all I’m gonna say, naughty, naughty, naughty! I’m a sucker for some sweets. I’m trying to maintain my shape, my physique. I wanna get a six-pack! I wanna get a six-pack! I know I was supposed to tweet pictures from Puerto Rico… My friend’s camera has all the pictures so I’m waiting to get these pictures sent to my computer so I can tweet one or two.

How long you were there? It was so quick!

Yeah, it was! Five, five days, that’s all the time I had. I had to do some Sophia’s Heart stuff. I was going to leave earlier but Sophia’s Heart stuff came up so I gotta make sure I attended to that…

Did you get to go to the beach?

In one day, I went to the beach three times. I went to three different beaches in one day. It was amazing! See, one part of Puerto Rico we went, it was very clear water but very still, so we went… we left… we found… the whole island is surrounded by the ocean. Obviously. Island. Ocean. Very obvious statement I made.  And we just found this secluded beach, and we just went. The waves were humongous. And it was really neat, we got rafts, we got a ride on the rafts and we went on another part, we went snorkling. It’s great!

Do you have some pet peeves, some things that really annoy you?

Pet peeves? Yes! Number one pet peeve is urine on the toilet seat. A guy can’t lift up the toilet seat or can’t wipe down his mess?! I mean, really?! Number two is when they use the bathroom and don’t wash their hands. You know, when you walk in a men’s bathroom and you see a guy just lay a deuce and just walk out of the stall and not wash his hands. This is jacked up! Part of me is like ‘Yo! You can clean that! Clean your hands, please!’ Part of me wants to say that and… what’s the other pet peeve?… Oh, now, take this with a grain of salt, my ihearties… ’cause I’m sure some of you do this… smoking… I hate smoke and it’s so disrespectful to me when someone lights up a cigarette right next to me and just smokes it. And smoking is cool, do your thing, you know? I had a cigar or two in my lifetime, and I smoked when I was 15 years old for like, one month. Yeah, believe it or not.

And you didn’t like it.

I hated it! And I just hate the smell of smoke. I have a few family members that smoke and I’m constantly on them about quitting. But you know what? Here is how I look at it. Smoking is not wrong, no wrong with it…

It just smells bad.

It just might hurt you… and you’re right, in the future, you might smell bad. So, if any of you guys smoke, don’t change, you don’t gotta change for me.

They might…

But if you wanna quit, I’m definitely on your side! [laughs]

Have you ever had something like… a crazy fan did [something] for you that you were like ‘Oh my God, how did that happen?’ Something that shocked you.

Things that shocked me… Recently I did a show at BamaJam and I went backstage and somehow this woman had a backstage pass… and she just wouldn’t leave me alone and she was drunk. She kept making advances towards me, grabbing me. I just find that very unattractive. You know what I mean?

That’s rude!

It is rude. Finally, she asked if I wanted her to leave and I said ‘I don’t wanna be rude but yes.’ Because I don’t want to be rude…

You are so polite!

You know why? Because people have feelings and I want to make sure they are respected but, at the same time, respect me. You don’t need to be grabbing on me. She didn’t grab me… I mean, she grabbed my butt at one time… not forcefully, but kinda slipped her hand and I was like ‘wow, ok’ [moves away]. Stuff like that, it’s like… I don’t know… [Mike stood up so we took the hint that we were running out of time and he confirmed it] Anything else?

No, I think we covered it.

I think it’s amazing what you guys do, all the support. I’m gonna tweet what you said, I don’t know, maybe tomorrow or Monday or next week, about supporting my single and calling radio stations. I just appreciate everything, all that you guys do and I hope the site keeps growing and growing, keeps adding more iheart…

It is growing. We had to change from… We had several sites in a server and we kept crashing the other sites so they asked us to move to a dedicated server.

Really? That’s great. And I think as the single ‘I Will Not Say Goodbye’ just keeps climbing up the charts, I wanna… I was thinking of it… one of the tweets I want to do is tweet about iheart saying ‘Listen, if you’re a fan and you wanna connect with other fans or you wanna help my career, please go to dannygokey’… or maybe this is how I’ll tweet ‘Hey, if you wanna help my single, go to iheartdannygokey, they have all kinds of instructions.’ I’ve been wanting to do that because I think the way you guys have it laid out, it’s just… it’s perfect. It gives people a laid-out idea… because just tweet people to support at the radio station, they might overkill it… and that’s one thing that I noticed that you guys have out there… ‘Listen, you can annoy them so you gotta do this this type of way.’ I can’t thank you guys enough, you are the reason why I’m successful.