Majesty Rose – American Idol

By starrymag | March 31, 2014

Q) What’s the one piece of advice that you think helped you the most that you’ll take with you?

A) Well, I think just recently when they were saying this is when I get on that stage and have to center myself and really get leveled out and take some deep breaths because usually when I get out there and the crowd is out there, they really do just carry me. I can almost get off with my vocals.  But, I think that’s what I’m going to work on the most from now until tour.

Q) What are you most looking forward to in the tour?

A) I’m really excited about the tour.  I’m excited to get back with the contestants because I made a lot of close friendships and like we’re going to get even closer.  We’re going to be like a family, seriously.  I’m excited for my fans to be able to see me again because I really am just so grateful to have all the support from them.  So, I’m excited to make up more fans.

Q) You seemed really excited to be singing for the save.  You demanded the mic.  You were spinning around.  What was that all about?

A) What was that all about?  I was truly happy.  I had to make a quick decision to be happy at that moment because seriously I had to be grateful for how far I already made it.  I wasn’t even thinking about the judges or if they would save me or not.  I was just thinking about right now I’m going to sing for myself and just be really proud of how far I’ve made it.  So, I think I did a really good job in that, and the crowd was really into it.

Q) Carrie Underwood gave you all necklaces and handwritten letters.  Can you describe your necklace and what did the letter say?

A) Oh, my gosh, it was so great.  All of our necklaces have our initials on them and it’s so cute.  In my letter, she just said to keep smiling and I light up when I’m on stage.  That meant everything.  People keep saying that.  It was like really I didn’t know my smile is that powerful.

Q) Did the guys get gifts, too?

A) Yes, they got little dog tags.

Q) When you were announced as the one who got eliminated, you were kind of like “Oh, I knew it.”  So, were you at all surprised to be eliminated?

A) I was surprised to be eliminated.  I wasn’t surprised that I would sing for the save.  For some reason, I just had a feeling when the show started.  I don’t know why, though; probably because I prayed a lot.  I think God told me. But, yes, I was really was surprised that I got eliminated, but right when they said they decided not to save me, it was just rest.  I had rest, I had peace.  It was fine because I made it this far and I’m not the American Idol, but I’ve made my mark on that show.  I think I’m going to make a lot of other stamps in my culture.

Q) I felt like you did so well during the audition rounds, making it all the way to the live show.  Then, you started to find yourself in the bottom.  Do you feel like there was something that wasn’t connecting with people?

A) I never really thought about that.  Usually when I sing my songs and when I’m singing, I’m not really thinking about what America would like.  I’m thinking about what I would like, you know?  Because it’s really about me. I’m not singing for America.  Yes, they’re the ones voting for me, but really this is my time to present myself.  So, I think about what will make me most happy, most comfortable.  I really made myself proud.

Q) What kind of music do you see yourself making once the tour is over?  Is there a style or an artist that you would compare yourself to?

A) Well, I think it would be a mix of the acoustic like how I really do love Coldplay.  In the end, it would be the happy type music and like … and dances around.  I would love to be that way.  My CD would be really inspiring, like you would laugh one minute and then the next minute you would cry because it would be like a rollercoaster.

Q) It is safe to say your elimination wasn’t a surprise to you, but did it come as a surprise at all that the judges didn’t use their save on you?  Do you have any idea who might have been gunning for you to stay, because even Keith mentioned that the decision was not unanimous by a very narrow margin?

A) I’m not really trying to think about that.  At this point, I’m just trying to not be sad or anything.  I was surprised that they didn’t save me, but I think every contestant was probably surprised because we’re all really good.  But, I understand that they’re in a really tough position, so whoever it was that they didn’t save me I could understand. It’s not like I’ve been absolutely perfect or anything.  But, yes, it’s not like I just feel like, “Man, I deserve that save more than anybody else.”  We all have worked so hard and it’s really hard to be in the competition.  So, yes, I can’t say that I deserved it more than anybody else.

Q) Throughout the season, the judges have been saying that you needed to be a little more comfortable and confident when performing.  This week they all agreed that you were well on your way of doing that.  But, the judges brought up some issues vocally a couple of times.  So, I guess would you say that was just from a lack of experience performing or did you have kind of a nerve issue that you were dealing with?  Would you get nervous going on stage each time?

A) I wasn’t so nervous this time.  I think it was like experience because I do like to dance and sing at the same time.  But, it was something new, it was something I just found that I love a lot to do.  I actually got to talk to Janelle Monáe a lot before and after the show.  She was giving me tips on how to do that because she does that all the time.  So, I’m really going to work on that from now until tour.  I’ll be polished one of these days.

Q) Can you tell us what’s next before the summer tour?  Will you get to go home and see your students and family or stay in Hollywood?  What’s the first thing you’re going to do when you’re finished with your Idol obligations today?  I imagine this round of interviews might be one of the last times before you get a little breather and time to yourself.

A) Yes, I’m really happy to go home and see my family.  Yes, I’m going to go back and see my kids.  I don’t know if I’ll be a teacher.  Hopefully, I’ll still have my spot.  But, I’m definitely going to see my kids either way.  Yes, I’m glad I’ll have a little downtime to just rest. After tour, I hope I’ll have a lot of opportunities to do what I really love to do and sing and be an actress.  I just would love to be on commercials and would do everything, like maybe be a representative for natural hair.  I would love that.  There are so many things that I would love to do.  So, I hope I get those opportunities because I think I really am capable of those things.

Q) Now, next week, the top eight are going to be performing their audition song.  That got me to thinking why did you choose to sing Violet Hill for your audition?  Did you have any other songs in mind, or was that the only one you were thinking about?

A) Yes, I actually sang another song.  It didn’t air.  But, it was a faster song, too.  Yes, that’s one of my favorites.  I sing that a lot at home. It’s just a song that I knew I could draw the judges in, really.  It really shows off my vocal strength and dynamics.  It starts off really slow and at the end I’m doing a really good high note.  That song is really good.  I like it a lot.  I wish I would have been able to perform it.

Q) Looking back over your time on the show, do you have a favorite performance that you did?

A) A combination of a lot of them.  A lot of them have been so much fun.  Some of them I liked the song that I did, but I was kind of nervous, so it couldn’t be my favorite. But, it’s probably the one from Rush Week because Rush Week was the week that we didn’t even know if our name would get called to perform.  So, I was actually first to get called.  I didn’t even have to wait in the chamber at all.  It was really good.  So, when I sang Happy, I truly was happy when I sang that song.  I was so ready to get up there.

Q) How did you handle being away from your family, friends, and students?

A) Well, it was really hard.  I had to call them a lot.  I had to call my family all the time.  It was hard, because it’s just hard to be around the people who you don’t know that well and they don’t really know you that well.  So, it was really like I was alone, even though it was like all the contestants were really close.  But, it’s just like, “Man, I wish I could have a really heartfelt hug from my family.” But, yes, I would just call them a lot.  It would help me.  We would pray together on the phone before shows.

Q) I know that you worked with Randy Jackson backstage.  You chose your own songs, right? Was he encouraging?  Did he encourage you, your song choices?  How much help did you get with the arrangement of the songs?

A) Well, Randy Jackson encouraged us a lot.  He would watch us in our own rehearsals and then give us some tips like, “Hey, I like your arrangement.  What if you did this?”  He would make really good suggestions. My vocal coaches, I had Michael and Dorian.  They really helped me a lot vocally and everything; mentally.  They were just pumping me up.  They were really always there for me.  They really helped me a lot with song choice and helping me to figure out where I fit in.

Q) Did they ever discourage you from picking a song or were they always really enthusiastic about what you wanted to do?

A) They were enthusiastic.  They would tell me straight up, “Listen, the judges might say this if you do this,” and how to take all that stuff into consideration.  They were just very honest about everything, but very loving.  They were really good to me.

Q) A few weeks ago, you sang Let It Go, and you mentioned that the song was just like written for you or just for you.  If you could elaborate a little bit on that?  Was it vocally?  Was it the lyrics of the song?  Or, was it the song itself?

A) Oh, it was the lyrics, especially the verse that I sang, because just my story is so different.  It’s just like my mom.  She really did parade me when I was younger.  I had to sing everywhere.  It was hard because it was kind of like I was just a robot or something.  It was always stifling who I really was on the inside. So, that song, the verse that I sang, if you listen back to those words, it says a lot of those similar things, “Be the good girl you always have to be.”  Yes, those words were definitely good.  So, I definitely felt all those lyrics that I sang.

Q) How did you deal with the stress and strain of the competition?

A) The stress and the strain?  Well, I did practice a lot.  We had a room where we could practice all the time, and I practiced in front of a full mirror and could see how everything looked from what I was going to feel at a certain line and to what I was going to do with my tambourine, everything.  I was practicing a lot.  I probably practiced that song Shake It Out thirty times.

Q) What did you learn about yourself on your American Idol journey?

A) I learned so much about myself.  I know I’m a much stronger person than I was before.  I really have learned to just know who I am and to stand on that.  That’s one thing I’m so proud about is that through all of that I persevered. I mean it’s easy to take somebody from a small town to Hollywood, you can change.  You really can.  That’s one thing that I can say is that I didn’t change who I was at all.  So, I’m really happy.

Q) You’ve been saying how that you would like to try out acting as well.  Do you have any favorite TV shows that you’d like to be a guest star on?

A) Oh, my gosh. Well, I love Disney Channel.  People always say I look like 15 or 16 anyway.  I could really be over there.  I’ve always wanted to be on Disney. I really like Austin & Ally, and I like Shake It Up.

Q) I heard that you said that Dexter likes to flirt a lot.  Who is he flirting with and what does he do?

A) We make fun of Dexter when he takes pictures because he has his face.  He has this celebrity face already.  I think he knows he’s kind of like a ladies’ man now.

Q) Why exactly did you choose Happy as the song to save you?

A) Well, because I think that was one of my favorite times. So, I definitely wanted to sing something that reminded people, “Oh, my gosh, remember I’m the same girl who sang Happy.” And, I did want to truly be happy if I sang my save song.  So, there was no way I could cry or anything at that point.

Q) What were some of the struggles that you had to face during your run with American Idol?

A) Oh, yes, it was hard to overcome being in the bottom.  It’s really hard because it’s just like if I could give somebody in American Idol a tip, if they were wanting to go to American Idol, I would say you’re really going have to know who you are before you come to Hollywood.  America can really make you feel like you’re just rejected and like you’re not good enough when that’s not true. That’s one thing I’ve learned throughout this is my best is good enough.  I might not be the next American Idol, but I’m the only Majesty Rose.  No one else can be like me.  So, yes, I really have had that spiritual foundation there.  So, whatever America had decided I was fine.  That’s why I could sing Happy that way.

Q) Jennifer Lopez admitted that when she watched the playback of Wednesday’s night’s performance, one of the bottom three members, either yourself, Sam or C.J., did a better job than she originally thought when critiquing everybody.  What went through your mind in that moment?  Do you have any insight in who she might have been talking about?

A) Yes, that was strange when she said that.  I did feel like she was talking about me, which is fine.  I’m not a perfect singer and performer yet.  I’m just an amateur.  But, it didn’t really phase me at all.  At that point, I was just like whatever happens, happens.

Q) The girls in the competition seem to be on the path of getting wiped out.  Only Jena, Malaya, and Jessica are left, but both Jena and Malaya had landed in the bottom three at least one time.  So, I guess what are your thoughts on that and why do you think Jessica is the only girl who’s been pretty much safe every week?

A) I don’t know what America would think.  It’s really random.  So, they’re all really good, very powerful and nice voices.  Jess, I think she just really knows who she is as an artist.  She’s played in so many places and she’s so well-rounded with that.  So, I think she’s going to do her thing.  I just hope she doesn’t get in the bottom ever, because she’s extraordinary to me.

Q) Jennifer had also admitted at the beginning of Wednesday night’s show, I think it was, that she actually regretted not using the judges’ save on M.K. last week.  Did that surprise you guys?  Did you talk about that at all after the show?

A) Oh, I didn’t hear her say that actually.  I didn’t hear her.

Q) I guess hearing that now, did you think that M.K. probably would have gotten the save?  So, does that surprise you?

A) I don’t know.  There are just things like we’re all good at this point.  I know the save is a hard thing to have.  It seems like you only get one.  So, I don’t know who they would use it on.  But, I hope they do use it.  When they do use it, it’s going to be like “Wow.  Thanks a lot.”  You know what I’m saying? But, everybody’s so good.  I couldn’t pick a favorite at all.

Q) I was just wondering what do you think you’ll take away from this experience as a whole, the whole American Idol experience?

A) I think what I said in Hollywood Week, when I did my solo.  I said I just want to leave a good mark in my culture, in my world, and I think that’s what I’m taking back because I really feel like I did do that.  Yes, I think I was a really good example of what a lady is.  I stayed true to myself and I’m really proud of myself for persevering and just not letting things get to me like being in the bottom three or whatever.  I really bounced back from it because I definitely prayed a lot and read my Scriptures and got myself together before I got on stage.

Q) What was your favorite moment on the show, just anything?

A) Oh, my gosh so many great things have happened, even little things.  I haven’t even had time to think about them, you know?  There are so many things that happened, seriously.  Probably one of my performances.  Those are things I won’t forget; I can’t forget. I think it’s Rush Week when we didn’t know if our names would get called or not.  I was first to get called.  And … sang Happy.  That would be Happy when I sang that song.  It was great.

Q) So, being called first would probably be one of your favorite moments on the show, like being called first during Rush Week?

A) Yes, because everybody else had to sweat it out in the chamber.  I didn’t have to worry through it.

Q) I know it’s a very intense experience being on American Idol and making your way through.  So, I wondered who are your closest friends on the show.  Who do you imagine you’ll be friends with down the road ten years from now?

A) Well, I know for sure I’m going to be friends with Jess Meuse.  We were roommates for a lot of the time and we just really clicked right at the beginning.  We really just care about each other a lot.  I think even beyond this we’re going to be really good friends.  Then, Alex, we’re really cool, too.  We have similar tastes in music and I mean we both really inspire each other a lot.  So, I hope we’ll be friends for a while.

Q) You talk a lot about your faith.  I wondered if Christian music or Gospel music might be in the future for you.  Also, you love the Disney Channel and you sang the animated theme from Frozen so beautifully.  Would that be an area, making music especially for young people, for children, or for Gospel or Christian music?

A) I think that when I make a CD, it will be a combination of all those things.  I don’t specifically think that I’m going to say, “Oh, Christian artist because I’m a Christian person.”  I mean just the way that I live my life, people would understand who I am, fine. I’m saying if I’m in an alternative genre people are going to know what I stand for.  Here’s my music.  They’re going to feel really happy.  Kids are going to like it and then grown-ups are going to like it.  That’s what I really think.  It’s going to be one of those albums that everybody would be able to relate to.

Q) So, after your performance for Shake It Out, Harry said that your diversity was great, but fans might not be able to grasp what your style is.  But, then the judges have also criticized people for sticking to only one genre.  So, what are your thoughts on that comment, then?

A) Yes, I understand exactly what Harry is saying.  That’s why it was kind of tricky for me because it wasn’t like I knew exactly what kind of artist I was when I got into this.  But, now, that’s developed throughout this competition.  So, you know it might not be a good idea to do things that are so polar opposites or whatever like in American Idol.  But, I think it will work in my favor now that I’m out of American Idol because I can do so many different things and I’ll have so many different avenues I can go on.  Yes, I’m excited.

Q) So last night would be the first thirty minute results show of the season.  Since you’ve all been kind of use to the results being drawn out across an hour, does it feel like it just went by really quickly?

A) Yes, it did go by really quickly, yes.  Different. Yes, it went really fast.  It was kind of like you just can’t think.

Q) You had mentioned Carrie Underwood.  What are some of your favorite contestants that have been on the show over the years?

A) Well, I really did like Carrie Underwood.  I liked Jason Castro a lot.  Oh, my gosh, I liked Casey Abrams.  Adam Lambert actually inspired me a lot because of how different he was.  He just came out and was so different than everybody else on the show.  He was extreme.  I really liked that.

Q) When you’re with the other contestants, you’re not rehearsing or anything, what are some of the things you guys do in your free time?

A) Oh, what do we do in our free time?  Well, me and Jess, we were roommates, and a lot of times we were seriously just resting.  In our free time, you don’t get a lot of free time, so Jess would chill out at the pool.  I would be practicing music in our room.  Then, we would go exercise a lot.  We went to cycling class a lot.

Q) So, you would say you and the contestants are really close?

A) Yes, especially me and Jess.  We were like the closest.  Then, Alex was my next bestie.

Q) What would you say is the most rewarding thing about being on American Idol?

A) I think now that I really do have a platform.  I have so many things to choose from now.  It’s just really cool because I think I’m in a really great place like I get time to rest and then I’m going to go back for the finale and then the tour.  So, yes.

Q) I’d love to know when it comes to romantic relationships, what qualities do you look for in somebody?

A) Romantic relationships?  Well, I would look for somebody who’s like me.  I think I’m really level-headed and I try to be a very honorable person.  So, somebody who really knows where they’re going in life.  Somebody who knows who they are already, because I’m 22.  Somebody’s going to have to be “grown” enough, I guess.

Q) You have such a beautiful name.  I just wondered could you tell us a little bit.  You’ve never asked your mom why she chose your unique name?

A) I don’t know actually.  I really don’t understand.  My older sister’s name is Joy, and then my name is Majesty, and then my younger sister’s name is Precious.  So, we all have special names.  I think my name is the most different, though. Yes, I like my name.  My name is actually Majesty Rochelle.  But, since I like flowers a lot and I really wished that my name was Rose, so I just put it together and I named myself Majesty Rose.

Q) What can we see next from you?

A) Hopefully, I will get to do a lot more music and singing.  I really would like to do acting.  People keep saying they can see me on Broadway.  That would be really fun.  I would love to do so many things like just being a commercial model and being a real role model for young girls.  I can really see myself being a good example for a lot of people younger than me, and older than me, actually.

Q) What would you like to say to your fans and supporters?

A) I just want to let my supporters and all my fans know, my “Rose buddies”, I just thank all of them for my support.  Seriously, I could not have done this without all of them.  I just hope that they all find me on Twitter, @PSMajestyRose, and on Instagram, because I’m always being interactive there.  Just keep following me all around the world and see everybody on tour.

 

*CONFERENCE CALL*