American Idol has found so many talented artists, including Matt Giraud who was a finalist in season 8. I was lucky enough to chat with Matt about the American Idol tour which is going on right now and what else he is up to. I found it very interesting to find out that he is hosting a new online TV show, Make the Cut for Yobi.tv where aspiring singers get the chance to be mentored by Matt in professional recording studios in his home state and one talent wins the chance to make a record. You can watch the promo here, learn more about the new show and Matt’s experience with Idol below!

How has it been on the Idol tour?
The tour has been great! We have the best people working with us so we are all in good hands.

What were rehearsals like for the Idol tour?
We rehearsed for almost a month straight. We got our dances and songs down. It was grueling but it was great!

A lot of celebrities come to American Idol tapings so what celebrities were you excited to see in the crowds?
I saw Ginuwine and Colbie Caillat in the audience. Also the celebrities who were our mentors on the show were amazing, like Jamie Foxx and Stevie Wonder.

What was going through your head when Ryan was about to announce who would be eliminated the week that you left?
I kind of knew that I was going but we were both prepared for anything. I got really good comments from Paula & Simon on that last night and people don’t usually get that so I was happy.

Did you enjoy having 4 judges as opposed to 3?
(laughs) Well, when we did good it was great but when we did bad, you just had one more person to tell you that.

What was the hardest song to sing or style of music to sing?
Have You Ever Loved A Woman was really hard for me. I was nervous. Sometimes the judges watch our rehearsals and I remember Kara walking up to the stage and she gave me a look that said, “Good luck” (laughs). That kind of tripped me out. I was nervous…yeah that was hard for me.

Is there anything you had wished you had known about American Idol beforehand?
No, not really. Well, you have more power than you think you do when it comes to song choice.

Is there anything you remembered Ryan Seacrest did on the Idol set that you will take with you and do as a host yourself for “Make the Cut”?
Ryan is such a professional guy and knows how to handle anything on stage. He’ll take an awkward moment and swing it back to the right point. I want to be able to handle anything on camera. He is always in control and I want to do that too.

How did you get involved with YOBI.tv?
I was approached by the company who wanted to try something new. I checked it out and I was really interested, especially since it was a nice way for me to come back to Michigan and give me something to focus on after the tour.

How can the viewers get involved?
You can log in on yobi.tv to vote and support your favorite singers…or you can even audition. We bring the top 12 out and I mentor them and there will be more prizes mentioned at a later date so definitely get involved.

What advice do you have for those not only entering these contests on YOBI.tv but voting for those who enter?
Be yourself, be passionate about your performance, be confident and just do your best. Viewers who are judging, don’t always look for the hype, look for the talent…people may not always have the best look but pick people who you would like to listen to for an hour or see in concert.

What can you tell me about your music career…working on your debut album?
I am not working on the album just yet but I am writing new music and talking to different people about releasing a few songs on iTunes for the time being. I want to make good music. If I get to do that for the rest of my career, I will be very happy.