 |
| “American Idol’s” Dennis Lorenzo
Photo: ABC/Eric McCandless |
Meet up-and-coming artist Dennis Lorenzo. The “American Idol” Top 10 finalist is this week’s Artist Spotlight. A native of Philadelphia, Lorenzo has been one of the early favorites of the show with his blend of alternate and soul, singing everything from Allen Stone’s “Unaware” to Maxwell.
Lorenzo is joined by other Top 10 Idol hopefuls Maddie Poppe, Cade Foehner, Gabby Barrett, Caleb Lee Hutchinson, Michael J. Woodard, Catie Turner, Ada Vox, Jurnee and Michelle Sussett.
TVMusic Network caught with Lorenzo for a few questions.
Check our interview with Lorenzo below:
TVMusic Network: Congratulations. How does it feel to have made it this far into the competition so far?
Dennis Lorenzo: It’s incredible, I can’t even process it. I’m fighting to get to that Top 10. (Lorenzo was selected into The Top 10 by the judges during Monday’s “Top Ten Reveal” show.) The end goal is to be in the Final Three so…I’m definitely humbled, blessed and thanking God. Moving forward, I’m keeping my faith strong, keeping my eye on the prize.
TVMusic Network: You are bringing a new blend of music to the audience, an alternative R&B sound which is a new way for people to see R &B music, how does that affect your song choices? What is your thought process for deciding which songs you are going to sing?
Dennis Lorenzo: I think it’s really important for us to not be in a box. Our music has been evolving for so long and I think it continues to evolve and then the other genres capitalize on it. I think we just need to redefine it all together and show people that we can be a lot larger than the box they put us in.
TVMusic Network: You got to duet with Allen Stone during Celebrity Duets Week. That performance was so good. That was the song you auditioned with. Were you nervous to sing it opposite the man himself upon hearing that he was coming to sing a duet with you?
Dennis Lorenzo: It felt like a dream come true. Obviously, there was a part of me that was nervous. I don’t usually get nervous but if there was ever a moment, that I was, it was that. He’s an idol of mine. In my eyes, he’s an incredible songwriter. I’ve been singing his songs for six years so I was just so happy to be performing with him. I was a dream come true and a beautiful moment.
TVMusic Network: Who are some of your musical influences?
Dennis Lorenzo: The list goes on and on but I’ll give you just a few. Some of my influences are Donny Hathaway, Michael Jackson of course, even some old rock bands like Led Zeppelin, AC/DC. More recently though I’ve been digging Allen Stone – even Katy Perry. She’s been one of my inspirations. Boyz II Men, Musiq Soulchild, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu… There’s a lot of people out there. It’s hard to name them all.
TVMusic Network: What are you doing to stay healthy and make sure your voice stays right? I know you guys are on a crazy schedule with little downtime and not a lot of time to rest?
Dennis Lorenzo: I’m trying to stay away from meat as much as possible as much as I can. Today was a cheat day since we’re celebrating. I stay away from meat, cheese, dairy and I drink a lot of water. Making sure I get up early because I think by sleeping in, you get that mentality of having “leisure time.” We don’t have any leisure time in a competition like this. Staying steadfast, keeping my eye on the prize. Keeping my spirits high. Getting up early in the morning to beat that early bird up. You know the early bird catches the worm.
Follow Dennis’s journey when “American Idol” airs Sundays on ABC at 8:00 p.m. ET, 5:00 p.m. PT for the first time in history with real-time voting.
