JB-  We often see that when people don't make it all the way that there's the tears and, I guess, sadness.  Did you go through all those emotions as well?  How emotionally involved in the show were you?

KM- I did.  It's really hard to describe what it feels like to get voted off of Canadian Idol.  It's an insane thing.  For like two months before getting voted off you get so into it.  It's like summer camp and you become friends with everybody and everybody's so positive and supportive and every week you get closer and closer as the configuration changes.  So for sure, when I was voted off the show I think I was really shocked initially in the moment.  It was one of those things I didn't really know exactly what to say.  And as time's gone on, the last couple of months, it has been definitely a feeling of going through some withdraw of just being a part of that.  It's like losing something or somebody.  You go through a series of different feelings where, for a while there, I was really frustrated because I was like, "Well, what could I have done differently?" and go through this real depression where I was really sad.  I think now I'm feeling really excited about the future after going through all that.  There's still so many things on the go with the band and I've got a zillion different projects musically on the go.  I just hope at some level they're going to be successful.  I really try to put my heart into everything I do.  I'm hoping the Idol experience will come full circle at some point down the road and it will all work together.

JB-  At any point did you feel like, "Hey, I don't have what it takes"?  I guess being voted off the show is essentially the people's way of saying "You're not our favourite" kind of thing.  Did that go into your mind at all?  Does it almost kind of brainwash you to think that you're not good?  Like "people don't like me"?

KM- There's definitely so many parallels to this show.  One of those parallels is that not everybody's going to like what you do and this industry is so much about putting yourself out there and getting rejected and then putting yourself out there (again) and getting rejected (again).  It's a constant.  You just keep pushing forward.  You can't let things like that bring you down and stop you from doing what your ultimate goal is.  My goal is to be playing music full time and it's what I'm doing already and it's going to be hopefully expanding more.  It's so much fun.  I feel like in one sense it was like getting a rejection letter from a record company that I submitted to and I totally accept the fact that not everybody that watched the show is going to appreciate what I was doing and couldn't relate to me on a musical level or something.  That's a given.  Not everybody likes the same kind of music.  So I definitely was OK with that.  I think what was more difficult for me was leaving such an amazing experience that was so positive.  I did feel like I wish I could have stayed.  It's kind of parallel to somebody that dies to early and still wanted to be living.  I really wanted to still be there and it was so much fun.

JB-  So do you follow the show now?

KM-  I do, yes.  It's so painful to watch all your friends get voted off the show because you totally know what they're going through. (laughing)  It's like, "Oh man".  They're going to have probably like two months of feeling like crap and hopefully get the inspiration to keep going.

JB- Do you sit and play judge at home?  When I've talked with previous American Idol contestants they say they sit back and they feel nervous for the people on the show and they find themselves critiquing and playing armchair judge, let's call it.

KM-  (laughing)  Yeah, I guess.  The show is set up in such a way that you just have to watch it like you're judging it.  It's really hard not to.  It's such a great show.  It creates so much controversy and "what's going to happen?" and "how are they going to sing?"  I catch myself for sure watching and going, "Aww, maybe they shouldn't have done that" or "they should have done that" or "that was awesome".  For sure, I definitely can say that I can't help but go, like, "that was good" or "that wasn't".

JB-  So who sticks out for you from the remaining contestants?

KM- I'm really a huge fan of… I've always loved Craig Sharpe's voice, I think it's incredible.  Eva (Avila) too is another one too that grew on me.  It's so cool to see her as a performer.  She was one of the ones that was always backstage and doing her homework and would go to bed super early and get up early and vocal warm-ups and she was taking the process so seriously it was just so awesome.  It was kind of inspiring.  She was my next door neighbour and I could hear her every morning warming up (she was) just really focused.  To me, I'm so happy for her that she's come down to the Top 3.  She really deserves it based on that.  I'm rooting for anybody that everybody wants.  It's really one of those things where getting that far in the contest they all have something really great to give.  It's exciting. 

JB-  So there's no bitterness.  You're not going to be running to the tabloids with any stories…

KM-  Not that I can recall!

JB-  All right, things don't work out for you on the show, you're voted out, but you're not disappointed because you already have this music career going for yourself.  What happened when you got back home to Winnipeg?  Many contestants just wait for the phone to ring and the offers start pouring in.  What happened upon your arrival?

KM- The week I got home I got a call from Disney, which is bizarre.  (laughing)  And they were like, "We want to know if you'd be interested in singing on a kid's show" theme song thing.  Totally not what I want to do forever but it was kind of funny.  They have this new show coming out called "This is Emily Young" and so I ended up singing the theme song for that which should come out in the new year or something.  So that was the first thing immediately that happened.  Which is kind of hilarious.

JB-  Are you mobbed now when you go out in public?

KM- Not at all.  It's so cool to run into people.  I think every day since the show I've run into one person who saw the show or knows the band now.  I think it's amazing.  This lady in the dollar store the other day, I was in there shopping for some Winnipeg discount deals…

JB-  Come on…you're a big-time celebrity now and you're shopping in the dollar store?

KM-  I didn't get the huge cheque at the end of Idol so I…  no, I'm just kidding.  But I'm in there and this lady walked by and she didn't even said hi and she just said, "You got robbed!"  And I was like, "oh man!"  (laughing)  I was so depressed!

JB-  Coincidence that Rob James was also "rob"bed. 

KM-  Yeah, that's a good one.  You can totally tell you're a writer in the media!

JB-  And you know, maybe she thought you were him.  There are some similarities.  The complexion.

KM-  People were calling us "Macpherson & James for a while".

JB-  (laughing)

KM-  It's "McMaster & James".

JB-  Are you going to try out for Idol next year?

KM-  I don't know.  I've never thought about it.  That might be something worth doing.  Maybe we should go together.

JB-  (laughing)  I'll report on it, you audition.

KM-  Maybe we could just go and do like a "behind the scenes".

JB-  Are you going to the finale?

KM-  I don't know.  I'd love to go to the finale.  I haven't thought about that either.  We should go together for that too.

JB-  Well maybe.  Stay tuned for that.

JB-  Like we saw on Idol, you have a signature tie.  You're always wearing a tie.

KM-  Oh right!  Yeah!

JB-  What's the story behind that?

KM-  I do wear a tie when playing a live show as much as possible.  Unless I'm feeling casual then I'll wear a T-shirt and jeans.  I don't know.  It happened about two years ago with the band and Renee was always getting hit on by these guys and I was like, "Well, if she's going to get hit on by all these guys I need to figure out a way that at least I can meet some girls."  I thought maybe I'll try a tie.  It seemed to work for… well, I don't know who it worked for.

JB-  Avril (Lavigne)!

KM-  (laughing)  Yeah!  I guess so!  So I put a tie on and I loved the look of it.  It surprisingly feels comfortable to rock out in a tie.  I do like wearing the tie.