MOD on Muchmusic Interview Transcript - January 24, 2005

> Leah: WELCOME BACK TO "MuchOnDemand!" (Cheering and applause)

> Leah: EVERYBODY IS GOING NUTS. WE HAVE KALAN PORTER HERE. SO, KALAN, COME ON DOWN! (Cheering and applause)

> Leah: HOW ARE YOU DOING? STAND HERE. (Cheering and applause) HOW ARE YOU DOING?

> GOOD. REALLY GOOD.

> Leah: HOW IS THIS WITH ALL THE GIRLS?

> A LITTLE CRAZY.

> Leah: GETTING USED TO IT?

> NOT AT ALL.

> Leah: I LOVE IT. THEY HAVE SIGNS OUTSIDE. LOOK HOW CUTE. PEOPLE MADE THEIR OWN T-SHIRTS.

> HEY, GUYS.

> Leah: LET'S GET RIGHT TO IT, KALAN. NOW, YOUR CAREER... A LOT OF ARTISTS HAVE SLOWLY BUILT UP THEIR CAREER UNTIL THEY'VE REALLY BECOME FAMOUS. BUT YOU, YOU WERE AN OVERNIGHT SUCCESS. HOW HAS THAT, FOR YOU, AFFECTED YOU, WINNING "CANADIAN IDOL?"

> IT'S BEEN A LOT OF FUN. IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN A HUGE LEARNING EXPERIENCE, AND A LOT-- YOU'RE KIND OF JUST THROWN INTO IT, BUT IT'S-- IT'S KIND OF A JUMP-START AT A CAREER, SO YOU JUST HAVE TO KIND OF TAKE IT AND MAKE THE BEST OF IT. SO THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO.

> Leah: IS IT OVERWHELMING AT TIMES?

> DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY, BUT A LOT OF FUN.

> Leah: SO YOU'RE GETTING USED TO THE GIRLS, AS YOU SAID?

> NOT REALLY, NO.

> Leah: NO? NOT YET? I HAVE AN E-MAIL QUESTION FOR YOU, SPEAKING OF LIFE.

> COOL.

> Leah: OKAY. EMILY FROM COLDBROOK, NOVA SCOTIA WROTE: "MY QUESTION FOR KALAN IS: IS IT HARD TO GO OUT IN PUBLIC FOR A WALK OR JUST TO GO SHOPPING?"

> IT'S NOT TOO BAD. MOST PEOPLE ARE PRETTY COOL, YEAH. THEY JUST COME UP AND SAY "CONGRATULATIONS" OR WHATEVER. EVERYONE IS PRETTY COOL.

> Leah: NO ONE HAS CHASED AFTER YOU YET?

> NOT REALLY, NO.

> Leah: I BET SOME OF THESE GIRLS WOULD, RIGHT? (Cheering and applause)

> Leah: NOW, THIS IS YOUR FIRST CD, OBVIOUSLY, SINCE WINNING. YOU KNOW, WITH WINNING SOMETHING OF THIS MAGNITUDE, A LOT OF PUBLICITY COMES ALONG, A LOT OF PRESS; SOME GOOD AND SOME BAD. HOW DO YOU, WITH THE ALBUM, HOW DO YOU-- DO YOU HAVE TO PROVE YOURSELF AS AN ARTIST MORE THAN OTHER ARTISTS? DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? 'CAUSE IT'S-- YOU'RE NOT JUST WINNING ANOTHER COMPETITION, RIGHT?

> DEFINITELY, YEAH. I HOPE THAT-- YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, THIS IS A JUMP-START AND A FOOT IN THE DOOR, SO NOW I REALLY HAVE TO PROVE MYSELF, AND NOW IS WHEN THE REAL WORK STARTS. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

> Leah: HOW DOES AN ARTIST GO ABOUT DOING THAT, LIKE PROVING THEMSELF?

> I THINK YOU JUST HAVE TO DO WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO AND HOPE THAT PEOPLE GIVE YOU A CHANCE AND RESPECT YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING OUT ON THE ROAD TOUR AND HEADING OUT ON TOUR.

> Leah: AND YOU CO-WROTE SONGS ON THE ALBUM? YOU PLAY THE VIOLIN?

> YES.

> Leah: YOU'RE VERY TALENTED.

> YEAH, I THINK ONE KIND OF MISCONCEPTION IS THAT IT IS JUST THAT, OVERNIGHT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT I HAVE BEEN WORKING AT IT FOR WHILE.

> Leah: AND YOU'VE BEEN IN MUSIC FOR A LONG TIME, RIGHT?

> DEFINITELY.

> Leah: ABSOLUTELY. AND WE HAVE AN AUDIENCE QUESTION.

> COOL.

> Leah: WHAT'S THE QUESTION FOR KALAN?

> I HAD HEARD A RUMOUR THAT A FAN MADE AN ACTION FIGURE OUT OF YOU, AND I WAS WONDERING IF THAT'S TRUE?

> I HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET, BUT THAT WOULD BE COOL, I GUESS.

> Leah: SO YOU HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THAT?

> NO, HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING.

> Leah: SO THAT'S A RUMOUR. WE'RE FIXING EVERYTHING HERE. NOW, WE'RE PREMIERING YOUR BRAND-NEW VIDEO HERE TODAY.

> YES. (Cheering and applause)

> Leah: FIRST VIDEO SHOOT EVER. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE FOR YOU? WHAT WAS THE EXPERIENCE LIKE?

> IT WAS EXCITING, AND IT WAS VERY TIRING, TOO. IT WAS-- WE STARTED SHOOTING AT 8 IN THE MORNING AND FINISHED AT 6 THE NEXT MORNING. SO IT WAS A LONG SHOOT BUT A LOT OF FUN.

> Leah: SO IT WAS A GOOD EXPERIENCE, ALL-IN-ALL?

> DEFINITELY.

> Leah: NOW, I HEARD YOU'RE A LITTLE BIT OF A PERFECTIONIST?

> YES.

> Leah: SO WATCHING THE VIDEO FOR THE FIRST TIME, WERE YOU OVERLY CRITICAL OF YOURSELF? LIKE WAS IT WEIRD SEEING YOURSELF IN THE VIDEO?

> YEAH, DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY. I COULD ONLY KIND OF SIT THROUGH IT ONCE AND HAD TO TURN IT OFF.

> Leah: "I DON'T WANT TO SEE MYSELF ANYMORE!" IS THAT WHAT--

> DEFINITELY. YEAH, BUT I'M EXCITED TO SEE IT.

> Leah: GREAT. NOW, WHAT'S THE VIDEO ABOUT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T HEARD MUCH ABOUT IT? TELL US THE CONCEPT OF IT.

> IT'S FOR THE SINGLE "SINGLE," AND I'M IN A ROOM WITH A BUNCH OF MIRRORS, AND THERE'S A GIRL, AND I'M TRYING TO GET HER ATTENTION THROUGH THE WHOLE VIDEO.

> Leah: VERY NICE. SHE SAID, "GET MY ATTENTION." NOW, ARE WE GOING TO OPEN THE WINDOW? NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT TODAY. NEVER MIND.

> SORRY, GUYS.

> Leah: WE'RE GOING TO GET TO YOUR VIDEO. THEY'RE VERY UPSET. THEY HAVE CAMERAS AND EVERYTHING. WE'RE GOING TO GET TO YOUR VIDEO. WE HAVE MORE WITH KALAN. SO HERE IT IS, "SINGLE."

> GREAT.

> Leah: HERE IT IS, "SINGLE." (Cheering and applause) (Playing video) ("MuchOnDemand" theme) (Cheering and applause)

> Matte: WHAT'S GOING ON? WELCOME BACK TO "MuchOnDemand." (Cheering and applause)

> Matte: KALAN PORTER HERE. THAT'S THE SECOND TIME YOU'VE SEEN YOUR VIDEO, RIGHT? WHAT DID YOU THINK, MAN?

> IT WAS OKAY.

> Matte: IS IT BETTER THE SECOND TIME AROUND?

> IT'S STILL PRETTY HARD TO WATCH BUT...

> Matte: IT WASN'T FOR THESE GUYS-- (Cheering and applause)

> Matte: NOW, HAVE YOU EVER HAD TROUBLE GETTING A GIRL'S ATTENTION? LET'S BE HONEST.

> LIKE-- YEAH, IN HIGH SCHOOL, DEFINITELY.

> Matte: REALLY?

> YEAH, TOTALLY.

> Matte: COME ON! YOU WEREN'T THE MAGNET IN THE CLASS?

> NO, NOT AT ALL.

> Matte: YOU WEREN'T, EH?

> NO.

> Matte: WELL, YOU SURE ARE NOW. I DISAGREE. NOW, YOU'VE GOT A BIG TOUR COMING UP, MAN.

> YEAH.

> Matte: IT STARTS FEBRUARY 3rd?

> YEAH, WE'RE HEADING OUT ON THE ROAD. THERE'S 40 SHOWS, SO.. (Applause and cheering)

> Matte: 40 SHOWS, EH?

> YEAH.

> Matte: AND I'M GUESSING BY THIS TURNOUT, THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE SOLD OUT?

> THERE'S TWO OR THREE THAT AREN'T, BUT PRETTY MUCH--

> Matte: TWO OR THREE-- (Chuckling)

> PRETTY MUCH SOLD OUT, SO IT'S-- THAT'S EXCITING.

> Matte: YOU MUST BE REAL EXCITED, MAN.

> YEAH, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I REALLY, YOU KNOW, LOVE DOING, LIVE PERFORMING. THE INTERVIEWS AND STUFF, I'M STILL LEARNING, BUT PERFORMING...

> Matte: SO AM I, MAN. WE'RE BOTH IN THE SAME BOAT HERE, BOTH STRUGGLING. SO HOW DO YOU GET READY FOR THIS, MAN? PERFORMING IS AN ART.

> WE'RE REHEARSING A LOT. JUST CAME FROM THE REHEARSAL STUDIO, ACTUALLY. REHEARSING, AND JUST GETTING READY, YEAH.

> Matte: IS THERE ANYONE WHO YOU LOOK AT AND SAY, "I WANT TO BE LIKE THAT!?"

> I DON'T KNOW. I HAVE A LOT TO LEARN-- YOU KNOW, AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF, BUT YEAH, ANY SHOW I GO TO, I TRY AND TAKE SOMETHING FROM IT.

> Matte: NICE, MAN. AND YOU LEARN AS YOU GO ALONG, OBVIOUSLY?

> DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY.

> Matte: MY FRIEND OVER HERE HAD A QUESTION. SHE WAS WONDERING WHAT IS GOING TO BE YOUR PRE-GAME RITUAL TO GET READY TO GET HYPED?

> PREGAME... PROBABLY LIKE BEFORE THE SHOW? YEAH. PROBABLY LIKE ABOUT A HALF HOUR BEFORE, I WILL JUST GET OFF ON MY OWN AND KIND OF-- KIND OF FOCUS.

> Matte: IS THERE ANYONE YOU LISTEN TO WHILE YOU'RE GETTING READY?

> I DON'T KNOW. SOMETHING HEAVY LIKE VAN HALEN OR SOMETHING.

> Matte: YEAH? OKAY. WHO WOULD BE YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE IF YOU HAD ANY MUSICIAN? IT'S OKAY IF IT'S BRITNEY SPEARS OR CHRISTINA. DO YOU HAVE A GUILTY PLEASURE IN TERMS OF MUSIC?

> GUILTY PLEASURE?

> Matte: YEAH. (Laughter)

> I DON'T KNOW.

> Matte: NO? NOT REALLY.

> Matte: NO ONE YOU WANT TO TELL US JUST NOW?

> YEAH, EXACTLY.

> Matte: I AGREE. WHAT ABOUT FOODS? BECAUSE THE ROAD, YOU'RE GOING TO BE EATING OUT, McDONALD'S, BURGERS. I SHOULDN'T HAVE GAVE THEM A FREE PLUG THERE. YOU'RE GOING TO BE EATING A LOT OF FOOD AND STUFF. IS THERE A FOOD THAT'S A GUILTY PLEASURE FOR YOU?

> YEAH, PROBABLY McDONALD'S AND THAT KIND OF STUFF.

> Matte: YEAH? THE FAST FOODS?

> YEAH.

> Matte: NOW, LADIES, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LOCKS, RIGHT? (Cheering and applause)

> Matte: HOLY SMOKES! MY QUESTION IS-- AND THE EYES, EH? HAS THE HAIR ALWAYS BEEN LIKE THAT?

> WHAT?

> Matte: HAS THE HAIR--

> IT WAS A LOT SHORTER IN HIGH SCHOOL. I KINDA GREW IT OUT, BUT YEAH.

> Matte: GREW IT OUT, EH?

> YEAH.

> Matte: WELL, IT'S A GOOD LOOK, MAN. I'M THINKING ABOUT GROWING IT OUT MYSELF. DO YOU THINK IT WILL WORK ON ME? DO YOU THINK IT WOULD HELP ME OUT?

> YEAH. TOTALLY, THE BIG 'FRO.

> Matte: (Laughing) THE BIG-- MAYBE I CAN JERRY-CURL IT, RIGHT, SO WE CAN HAVE THE SAME LOOK? MAYBE IT WOULD HELP ME OUT A LITTLE BIT. ANYWAY, WE HAVE A CALLER ON THE LINE. IS IT LANGLEY?

> Caller: YEAH.

> Matte: LANGLEY, WHAT'S GOING ON?

> Caller: JUST WATCHING YOUR SHOW.

> Matte: YEAH? DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR KALAN?

> Caller: YES, I DO. MY QUESTION IS WHAT WAS THE BEST PART OF SHOOTING THE VIDEO, AND WHAT WAS THE WORSE PART OF IT THAT YOU DIDN'T LIKE?

> OKAY. I THINK THE BEST PART WAS PROBABLY JUST SEEING HOW IT ALL WORKS AND STUFF. THERE WAS A LOT OF POST-PRODUCTION THAT WENT INTO IT, AND I SHOT IN FRONT OF A GREEN SCREEN, SO THAT WAS COOL. THE WORST PART WOULD PROBABLY BE THE LONG HOURS. WE STARTED AT 8 AND WENT UNTIL 6. IT WAS A LONG DAY BUT... THANKS, LANGLEY.

> Caller: ONE MORE QUESTION.

> Matte: YOU HAVE ANOTHER ONE?

> Caller: NO, I SAID THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING IT. (Applause)

> Matte: OH, YEAH. IT'S KIND OF MUGGY ON THE PHONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TAKE CARE.

> Caller: THANK YOU!

> Matte: WERE THE LIGHTS AS BRIGHT AS THIS? THESE ARE PRETTY HOT, EH, GUYS?

> Audience: YEAH!

> Matte: HOLY SMOKES! WAS IT AS BRIGHT AS THIS?

> ON THE SHOW?

> Matte: YES.

> IT WAS PRETTY HOT.

> Matte: OKAY. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ALBUM. NOW, YOU SEEM LIKE A PRETTY POSITIVE GUY, LIKE VERY OPTIMISTIC. I LISTENED TO YOUR SONGS, AND I'LL QUOTE ONE OF THE LYRICS. IT WAS: "I MADE A LOT OF CHOICES, SOME OF THEM RIGHT, SOME OF THEM WONG, BUT THE BEST IS YET TO COME." OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES?

> YES.

> Matte: NOW, HOW DO YOU-- BASICALLY, YOU'VE BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL. DO YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS RIGHT NOW IN YOUR MIND?

> DEFINITELY. I'M DOUBTING MYSELF ALL THE TIME.

> Matte: YOU SHOULDN'T BE DOING THAT, EH, GUYS? (Applause and cheering)

> BUT YEAH, I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE, AND I'M GOING TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY AND MAKE THE BEST OF IT SO...

> Matte: SO IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS, WHEN YOU'RE ACTUALLY RECORDING THE ALBUM-- I LOOKED AND YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR WRITING SOME OF THE TRACKS.

> YES.

> Matte: WHAT'S THE NUMBER ONE THING YOU LEARNED WHILE MAKING THE ALBUM, IF YOU HAD TO TAKE ONE THING?

> I GUESS IT WAS JUST A COMBINATION OF TRYING TO LEARN FROM ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE AROUND ME AND STAY TRUE TO WHAT I WANT TO DO AND MY MUSICAL INTEGRITY. SO IT WAS KIND OF LEARNING THAT BALANCE FOR SURE.

> Matte: NICE, MAN. WELL, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING BY, AND I KNOW ALL THESE GUYS DO. (Cheering and applause)

> Matte: WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU ON THE SHOW AGAIN. GOOD LUCK ON THE TOUR. THANKS FOR STOPPING BY. WE'LL SEE YOU GUYS IN A LITTLE BIT RIGHT HERE ON "MuchOnDemand." (Cheering and applause) ("MuchOnDemand" theme)