A few weeks ago, "American Idol" did its Hollywood shows. A little song called "Hollywood's not America" served as those two programs' farewell song.
The tune was written and sung by singer/songwriter Ferras (pronounced fur-AHS), and has already sold more than 20,000 digital singles. He's appeared on "Today," and his new CD, "Aliens and Rainbows," will be released on Tuesday. Incidentally, that's the date he'll be opening up for Fine Frenzy at the Avalon.
Ferras was on the road somewhere between North Carolina and Virginia when a Deseret Morning News reporter caught up with him by phone.
"I have always loved the power of music," said Ferras (born Ferras Alqaisi in 1982). "If someone made me mad on the playground, I wouldn't go hit him. I'm small and I would've probably gotten messed up pretty bad if I did anything like that. No. What happened was the fact that I would go home and write a song about how mad or hurt I was. If I liked a girl, I'd go home and write a song about how pretty she was."
Ferras was introduced to the likes of Elton John and a slew of singer/songwriters such as Cat Stevens, Joni Mitchell, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Tori Amos and David Bowie.
"I never tried to emulate those people," Ferras said. "When I set out to pursue music, I was selfish and wanted to make music for me. I would wrap myself up in my little world that was filled with my own words. It was, and is still, a way to express my emotions."
When he began recording "Aliens and Rainbows," that aforementioned little world proved to be a little challenging when working with the production team known as the Matrix (Scott Spock, Lauren Christy and Graham Edwards).
"They are the most amazing songwriting and production team," Ferras said. "And they are used to giving singers pre-written songs and producing the singer until it's flawless.
"But that method didn't work for us. We were using my own songs, and it wasn't sounding like it was me. And when that happens, I don't feel sincere. So, we took a break from each other for a couple of weeks."
He spent most of that time in his bedroom writing songs. "When we reconvened, we knew more or less what each of us were about. They heard the stuff and decided to change the whole album."
After hearing "Hollywood's not America," the "American Idol" producers called and asked if they could use it for a couple of episodes.
"After that I didn't hear from them for weeks and then I saw a piece in Variety that they were going to use the song," Ferras said. "I called my record label and they said, 'It hasn't been confirmed, yet.' So I told them about the Variety article."
The irony of the story is the fact that the contestants on "American Idol" are working hard to get to where Ferras is these days.
"I'm happy the CD turned out the way it did," Ferras said. "And I'm fortunate for being able to call this my job. I mean, I could be working at a mall in the Gap."
If you go ...
What: A Fine Frenzy, Ferras
Where: Avalon, 3605 S. State
When: Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.
How much: $13
Phone: 467-8499 or 800-888-8499
Web: www.smitstix.com
E-mail: scott@desnews.com