Tyler Lewis Rocks On

Canadian Idol finalist continues on the road to stardom.

Tyler Lewis is one dreamy dude: a down-to-earth, intelligent, sweet and funny guy-next-door type. Who happens to be super hot. And a super-talented singer, who strutted his rock ’n’ roll and crooner stuff to finish number three in the 2006 season of Canadian Idol. FASHION18’s managing editor Kate Yorga, who’s also from Tyler’s hometown, Rockglen, Saskatchewan (population 500—small world!), recently caught up with him via phone. The 20-year-old is still having a blast, jetting about performing gigs and plotting how to record his first CD.

HOW DID MUSIC COME INTO YOUR LIFE?
I’ve been singing since I was a little kid, as long as I can remember. Grade 7 was probably the first time I sang in front of people, at my sister’s wedding—I sang a romantic song first, then “Wild Thing”! Other people got me to sing at their wedding and in high school I was in a couple of bands. When I graduated I was studying computer aided drafting, for architecture, when I realized I wasn’t built for a classroom setting. Then I sang at my brother’s wedding and realized that was what I loved and should be doing with my life.

ANY MUSICAL TRAINING?
Just with Mark Lalama and Debra Byrd (the Canadian Idol pianist and vocal coach, respectively).

DESCRIBE THE CANADIAN IDOL ADVENTURE.
It was a very new process to me. Before Idol, I was performing in front of 200 to 300 people in a Quonset at the beach (Rockin’ Beach) or at the Fife Lake Bar (both near Rockglen). The theatre we were in (for Canadian Idol) held 1,500, with usually three million TV viewers. I’d never done anything like that before—it was a blast. In the top 22 I was super nervous: as soon as you were done singing there were four people sitting right in front of you who were going to say whatever they wanted on national TV. It got me used to the fact some people like you and some people hate you. The bad comments made me want to come back and prove them wrong.

MUSICAL ICONS?
I listen to a lot of different stuff: Tom Petty, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Johnny
Reed, Toby Keith, Johnny Cash, Bryan Adams, Nickelback, Bon Jovi, Guns N’ Roses, 3 Doors Down, Collective Soul, Live.

DREAM COLLABORATION?
With Live. I’m not the greatest writer yet, so to listen to a band that has great metaphors in their songs…

CURRENTLY ON YOUR MP3?
I have an iPod and haven’t figured out how to use it—I’m not technically adept!

FAVE KARAOKE SONG?
“Kryptonite” by 3 Doors Down.

SPOTLIGHT DOPE?
The best part was just redeeming the fact this is what I want to do with my life. It made me grow as a performer and confirmed this is what I should be doing. It turned my whole life around—before this I was serving pancakes in a restaurant. It’s given me a purpose.

ONE THING PEOPLE PROBABLY DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU?
I was on the honour roll every year in high school.

GUILTY PLEASURE?
I’m a big MSN fan.

FASHION FAVES?
I like a lot of Diesel stuff. Billabong.

MANLY GROOMING PRODUCT FAVES?
Adidas cologne.

WHAT YOU LOOK FOR IN A GIRL?
Somebody who understands my sarcastic sense of humour. She has to make me laugh, too. And somebody who’s a blast to hang out with.

YOUR IDEA OF A ROMANTIC DATE?
Sitting in a restaurant, eating, having drinks, being relaxed, talking and laughing.

MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT?
When I was very little we were at the beach and my older brother pulled my shorts down in front of everybody.

FAVE MOVIE?
Pretty much anything Will Farrell is in.

WHO INSPIRES YOU?
Everybody who has been able to put out a CD because that’s my goal right now.

CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT…?
The stereo in my car. If I go on a road trip I have to be listening to something and singing along.

THOUGHTS ON BEING IN THE PUBLIC EYE?
In the very beginning, in the very first auditions with the judges, they’d ask me questions and I stood there like a deer in the headlights. But by the end of the season I knew what to expect—the questions and how to handle myself. It teaches you so much and makes you grow up fast.

FOR MORE TYLER:
Our hometown: www.rockglentourism.com
Tyler sites: www.idol.ctv.ca, www.tyler-lewis.com, www.myspace.com/tylerlewisfans, www.ssblondeau.com/tylerlewisonline

By Kate Yorga

Photo courtesy CTV

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