American Idol 13 contestant, Jessica Meuse, well-known for her love for doing original songs on the show was eliminated from the contest and gained Top 4 in this season. Often chastised for her lack of emotions, the straight-forward and independent Jessica is a character one would either love or hate. Her elimination saw her baring her soul and belting out a whole season of pent-up emotions.
Lesson of the show, you talked about wanting to go home a hero and now that you’ve had some time to reflect on that how do you feel about going home and what’s next for you?
Jessica: I mean, I feel really good about it. I’m leaving on a good note. I left myself on the stage. I’m really happy I did an original song, and that’s me as an artist. I stayed true to myself the entire run on American Idol and it’s definitely not over for me.
The judges seemed to really love when you did originals. Why not do more of those on the show? I know it wouldn’t fit into every theme like ‘80s theme, but something like breakups and makeups?
Jessica: Oh, I was going to, but then I couldn’t. It’s kind of out of my power at that point because, trust me, I would have done originals every week if I could’ve.
The judges kept complaining that you didn’t show enough emotion, but you sure showed plenty of emotion when you got the final news. Were you surprised by how emotional you got then?
Jessica: No, I’m a big baby, like I’m always that way. But I believe that I have showed emotion throughout the weeks. I’ve definitely grown as an artist and there’s always things to work on and I believe that that was probably my weakest spot, but I definitely did get better. It’s going from bars where you’re not necessarily getting any attention, like you’re just a bar singer in a corner and there’s just the bartender listening to you, to being on a national stage where everyone’s looking at how your eye twitches. You know, it’s a big difference and you have to get used to it. But I really do believe that I came in to my own and I really figured out myself on the stage, ultimately, so I’m very proud of that.
A lot of people thought that the judges were harder on you than anyone else. Did you feel picked on?
Jessica: I mean at times, definitely, but I know it’s part of the game and I have bigger things ahead of me. I’m very sure that I’m going to make it happen.
So we know that you auditioned for The Voice and you already have a released album, how did you think that this past experience in the music industry helped you with Idol?
Jessica: Well it definitely got me conditioned to be in front of cameras, and that’s a major part of American Idol because you’re constantly working a camera like it’s millions of people. Like one camera symbolizes millions of people. You got to look around and see which one is turned on and when. So you kind of have to get used to that. You got to learn how to talk in front of a camera. It’s a lot more difficult than people think. It’s like you’re pulling everything together out of thin air right then and there and you’ve got to say it the right way. You’ve got to do everything a certain way and not look like a fool. So I would say that that’s probably the biggest thing.
Was there a particular judge that you looked up to the most and what was the best advice that they gave you?
Jessica: I really like Harry and Keith, but after last night I think that Harry is probably my favorite because I like to compare him to somebody up in the stands while you’re playing a football game. You don’t necessarily see what’s about to happen or the things you’re doing wrong out there on the field because you’re down there and that’s your perspective. But he’s up there and he can see everything and he knows what he’s talking about and he’s like, oh you’re doing this, you need to do this, and he has the correct terminology and he understands it and he can pinpoint things and ultimately help you grow.
When you landed in the bottom two and also when you got eliminated, there didn’t seem to be much surprise on your face. I guess is that accurate to say and would you attribute your elimination to song choice because I know the judges had kind of an issue with your first two songs, although the third from Wednesday night was excellent, obviously?
Jessica: No, I just kind of got to the point where I was like, whatever, and I will always do what’s right for me and I’ll always do what I believe to be the best thing I could do put in that situation. I did that every week and I mean that’s what matters and if I get cut I’m going to get cut for being myself, and that’s exactly what happened, but that’s the best way I could go out.
“Blue Eyed Lie,” it got a lot of obviously national exposure. You got to perform it several times. Every time it was stronger than the time before that we saw it. What is it like to experience an original song getting such a great reception from everyone in the studio, but also from fans online and beyond?
Jessica: It’s like so surreal, I can’t even think of words to describe it. That song is so real to me and it happened to me, I lived it. That’s word for word, it’s so honest and it’s so bare. It’s my soul and it’s like taking my diary and just reading it to national television. To hear that it has national exposure, to be on that stage and singing it, is such a huge blessing for me. And for people to actually like it is just absolutely amazing and I couldn’t put it all into words if I tried.
Any collaborations with your fellow competitors in the works?
Jessica: You know what, I would really love to collaborate with Majesty, like I love Majesty.
