Amanda Kaletsky The Next American Star finalist ready for success (Interview)
Hot Zone Online had the opportunity to sit down with The Next American Star female finalist Amanda Kaletsky at the national finals. As one of four finalist (Everlife, Sammy & Sasha and Britney Christian) Kaletsky has big dreams and the talent to achieve them. With a variety of successes thus far including opening for Coldpaky and having her music placed on a variety of MTV programs she is well on her way. Relix Magazine has said; “Amanda Kaletsky has the voice of a pop star, but the soul of a singer/songwriter. Her infectious [music] finds a middle ground between New York’s homey downtown clubs and the polish of Top 40 radio.” Not only is Kaletsky a talented vocalist but she also showcased her piano and guitar skills at the Chicago finals. Check out the interview below to see what’s next for Amanda, her thoughts on the competition thus far and what she will do with the prize money if she wins!
Amanda Kaletsky at The Next American Star finals
Hot Zone: What do you feel sets you apart from the rest of the artists?
Amanda Kaletsky: A lot of the other artists are a “band.” My roots are as a singer-songwriter, and I have spent most of my career performing solo. It’s only recently that I have started performing with a full band, as my sound has grown beyond just a guitar or piano.
Hot Zone: Why do you feel you should be The Next American Star?
Amanda Kaletsky: That’s not for me to decide, of course. I do think that I have what it takes to for longevity as an artist and to be a role model.
Hot Zone: What has been the most rewarding part of being involved with The Next American Star?
Amanda Kaletsky: TNAS has given me opportunities to perform in places and venues that I may not have otherwise (at least not yet). I was able to play at the legendary Fillmore at Irving Plaza in NYC, and Chicago was my first show outside of the Northeast—and my first tour-like travel experience. The real reward is feeling that I’m being acknowledged for my hard work and my music, and that is not always an easy thing to come by.
Hot Zone: If you win the title of The Next American Star what will you do with the prize money?
Amanda Kaletsky: My band runs around with me without payment or recognition, so first I will throw them a little change. I’m sure you’ll see me in some new dresses and shirts at my shows, but I really plan on putting most of it aside for the production and promotion of my next album. It’s a slow and expensive road, to say the least.
Hot Zone: Do you have any advice for next seasons The Next American Star contestants?
Amanda Kaletsky: The bands that are no longer in the competition are the ones who thought they had already won. You should hope to win, but work your ass off to get there. The other thing I’ve noticed is that all the bands that are still competing have great songs, no matter the genre, look or stage presence. You’ve got to make good music and the rest will follow.
Hot Zone: Why are contests like The Next American Star are so important in advancing an artists career?
Amanda Kaletsky: I’ve been a part of a lot of online competitions, and very few actually do anything past asking you to upload your profile. TNAS puts on tangible events, like all of regional shows and the finals in Chicago. It takes the competition offline and into the real world, where the music really lives.
Hot Zone: Your music is featured on MTV’s Hills and True Life – how did you get involved with MTV and has it opened any other doors for you?
Amanda Kaletsky: MTV actually approached me last year about licensing my music for The Hills, and they’ve continued to use different tracks on shows like True Life and Parental Control. That introduced me to the possibilities that can come from music placement, so I’ve sought out other licensing deals, which have gotten me placed on shows like So You Think You Can Dance. The first time my music was placed on a show, I found out when I was Google-ing my name (come on, we all do it). Someone posted a question on a message board asking who sang a song they had heard on the Hills, and wrote out some of the lyrics. Somebody replied, “Amanda Kaletsky.”
Hot Zone: We read you were handpicked by Coldplay to open for them in CT – how did this come about and what was it like playing for such a large crowd?
Amanda Kaletsky: Coldplay held an online competition for a supporting slot in 5 markets around the country. On a whim, I decided to enter my video into the pool for my local radio station that was hosting the contest. It was a solo performance of “Please Forgive Me” from a recent show at the time. I really never thought I had a chance, but next thing I knew I was in the top 15 finalists for the public to vote on. At that point, I suddenly began to believe I may actually have a shot at this, and put all my energy into promoting the competition and getting votes. When the voting was over, I was in 4th place, and out of the running from the Top 3 Coldplay would choose from. I was happy with the voting, and conceded defeat. Then magically, again, they decided to narrow it down to the Top 5 instead of three, and I was back in the game. A few days later, my video was the only one left standing after Coldplay had selected their winner.
There were 3 weeks between announcing the winner and the gig, so I scrambled to get a band together and cram in rehearsals for 5 songs. The experience leading up to the show was beyond incredible. I was featured and performed on local TV news, radio, and in newspapers—it was a small taste of celebrity.
The show itself topped everything. As I walked on stage, they closed the house lights and the audience received me beyond my expectations. I was treated like I toured with them every day; from the catering to the security to the crew, everyone was classy, professional and generous (i.e., British). After my set, I went to back to my dressing room to find bottles of Champagne and a congratulatory note handwritten by Coldplay.
A few days later, after the dust had settled, I read this on Coldplay’s blog (written by their Roadie #42):
‘In the hour I spend in Production today, a constant stream of crew saying, “Have you seen the opening act? She’s amazing”. Now all of the local opening acts have been good, but it’s unusual to get such unanimous glowing praise from roadies. I understand her name was Amanda Kaletsky. Given that roadies are notoriously tough to impress, I guess I’d better check her out. Maybe you should too…’
Hot Zone: Social networking sites like Myspace, Facebook, Twitter etc have changed the face of the music industry – how do you feel this helps or hinders an artist?
Amanda Kaletsky: I have 10,000+ friends on MySpace, 700+ fans on Facebook, 100+ followers on Twitter, but come to a show and the numbers aren’t quite this good. It’s a great way to maintain fans, but a hard way to find new, dedicated ones. Finding good music, or being found, is like a needle in a haystack. Luckily, MTV and a few other licensing companies have found me through my page (and TNAS), but you shouldn’t spend more time adding friends than you do writing songs.
Hot Zone: What can we expect to see from you in the coming months?
Amanda Kaletsky: My new album is really starting to take shape, and I think it’s going to blow my last two EP’s out of the water. Along with that, I’ll be upgrading my image to match the new sounds. And if all goes well, I’ll see you in Chicago very soon.
Amanda is currently working on a third, full-length album, while continuing to perform at a variety of venues in the Northeast. The winner of The Next American Star finals will be revealed later this month keep checking back for more details!
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