by Jackie Kass

Jason Castro may have been the fourth place finisher on season seven of American Idol, but he’s still number one with his legion of devoted fans. I had the opportunity to sit down for a one-on-one interview with the extremely gentle, warm-hearted and incredibly talented singer to talk about American Idol, Adam Lambert, Kris Allen, David Cook (who took the American Idol title in 2008), and his upcoming CD before his performance at Atlanta’s Discover Mills on Friday, October 23, 2009.

Sequestered together in a back room before his mini-concert, soft-spoken Jason Castro told me that he doesn’t usually get nervous before a performance, unless he is debuting a new song. He stated that he has enjoyed his two days in Atlanta, calling the city beautiful and its people very nice. When asked about his favorite memories from American Idol, Jason said, “everyday was an adventure. It’s all about being in the right place at the right time.” He still stays in touch regularly with all of the other top ten finalists from season seven. I went on to ask Jason if he could offer any advice to the new batch of competitors when American Idol starts its ninth season in January of 2010. “Be yourself. Stay true to yourself and your music,” he said humbly. “If you love something, you’ll do it well.” Not only is Jason Castro charming, he’s also very funny, and sheepishly described how "older" fans overstepped the boundaries in the past.  In closing I wondered what songs Jason listened to the most on his own iPod. He enthusiastically replied, “Fireflies” by Owl City. “It grew on me more and more. I became obsessed with it.”

After our interview, I sadly bid farewell, and went out to join Jason Castro's fans, many of whom had driven 2-3 hours to see their favorite ‘Idol’ perform. Caitlin Manuel and Melanie Howard made the drive from the University of Georgia in Athens. The two students said that they felt a real connection with Jason. “He plays the music I love, and he’s such a free-spirit,” said Caitlin. Melanie echoed her friend’s sentiments by explaining, “Jason was the only reason I watched American Idol. He sings feel-good music, and it feels good to support a musician who wants to have a positive influence.” Amber Ballenger chimed in, “I absolutely love Jason. His voice is so soothing.” Connie Wyatt, another fan said, “I love his sweet spirit. He’s so real.”

This sometimes-jaded writer has to agree. Despite Jason Castro’s growing success after American Idol, his ego remains in tact. He truly loves being a musician, and that passion came shining through during his performance, especially when he sang “Over the Rainbow” and “Hallelujah.” He remains humble, soft-spoken, devoted to his craft, and quite surprisingly, a breath of fresh air in an industry that is full of performers who are too full of themselves. Talented singer-songwriter Jason Castro has a brand new fan.

Jason’s self-titled CD is due to release in January of 2010. For fans eager to hear more from him right now, his single “Let’s Just Fall in Love Again” can be downloaded on iTunes. To read more about Jason Castro visit his official website.

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