Chesterfield County, Virginia Chesterfield Behind the Mic, 1 Jun 2022

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From YouTube: Episode 20: American Idol Contestant Carrie Brockwell

Description

On the latest episode of Chesterfield Behind the Mic, we talk to Chesterfield’s own Carrie Brockwell about a whirlwind few months as the 15-year old turned an open audition call on Zoom into a golden ticket, a trip to Hollywood, and the adventure of a lifetime on ABC’s American Idol.

Credits:
Director: Martin Stith
Executive Producer: Susan S. Pollard
Co-Executive Producer: Teresa Bonifas
Producer/Writer/Host: Brad Franklin
Director of Photography/Editor: Matt Boyce
Camera Operator/Promotions: Vernon Freeman
Graphics: Debbie Wrenn
Promotions and Media: J. Elias O’Neal

Music:
Hip Hop This by Seven Pounds
Inspiring Electronic Rock by Alex Grohl

Guests:
Singer/Songwriter Carrie Brockwell

Filmed in-house by the Department of Communications and Media

Chesterfield.gov/podcast

Follow us on social media! On Facebook, like our page: Chesterfield Behind the Mic. On Twitter, you can find us at @ChesterfieldVa and on Instagram it’s @ChesterfieldVirginia. And you can also watch the podcast on WCCT TV Thursday through Sunday at 7 p.m. as well as on weekends at noon on Comcast Channel 98 and Verizon Channel 28.

A

Good morning, good evening, good afternoon, wherever it is that you are wherever you may be, thank you very much for making us a part of your day. Hi, I'm brad franklin, creative conscient right here in chesterfield, and I'm very glad to tell you that chessville behind the mic is on the air. Once again, we've been recording this podcast in september and we're going to do something today that we've never done before. We got a musical act in the house today. Y'all I'm really really pleased to welcome carrie brockwell.

A

Who is um I mean it seems like uh to say that your star is rising and all that fun stuff is, is just an understatement, but kerry welcome to the podcast. How are you.

B

For having me I'm great, how are you I'm.

A

Doing very well very glad to have you really appreciate your time. Obviously, it's been a interesting few months for you um and and we're gonna talk a little bit about all of it. For those who who may not be aware kerry was was on american idol made it all the way to hollywood. um If it showed better on film, we would have let you see the golden ticket, um but just trust me it's over there, um but it's suffice to say this has been.

A

um It has to have been a lot of fun, but also has to have been a little bit of a whirlwind. Has it really sunk in yet that all of this happened in this? This? You know relatively small amount of time.

B

Not really it's still, I think it's all like it's forever going to be very surreal.

C

B

I have the ticket in front of me, but it's like I don't know if it's processed, but maybe in a couple years I'll get there. I'm like that was pretty cool.

A

Yeah, I got you, let's take it back a little bit further, though um playing singing music and stuff. How early on did that really catch hold of you? How young I mean you're, only 15., but so I realized that you know everything's relative here, but in terms of your experience with music, when did it really start for you.

B

Oh gosh, since I can remember like forever. uh I know I got like a solo in my preschool graduation concert. um I sing at church with my dad and the talent show when I was like three or four right. um It's just been kind of forever. I started piano at age, seven and um kind of picked up guitar in third grade, okay and um kind of just started like growing in my music. I guess and.

C

B

I started a lot in musical theater, okay and uh that's where I kind of fell in love with the stage and then over quarantine. I just kind of started writing and getting really serious about my own music right.

C

B

And it all just kind of happened from there now you.

A

Said picked up, guitar did you have to take classes? Was it one of those things because you knew piano? It came naturally to you like what what was your? What was your experience like.

B

My dad and my uncle play guitar like pretty well I'd, say they like to say that they're not very good they're, like average, but I think they're, fantastic, okay,.

C

B

Just kind of watching them growing up um kind of inspired me to pick up guitar, and so I didn't really have to take any classes. I got to learn from my dad and my uncle and um a lot of kind of self teaching as well right.

A

So then, so you you grow up in music, it seems like it's. It was all around you, uh you're you're, getting kind of more comfortable in your own, you know being your own musician and that kind of thing the idea of american idol. Where do you remember the first time you started thinking about maybe doing something like that? Do you remember where that sort of took hold.

B

Well so it's kind of like it's interesting because the age range for idol is 15 to 28.. I think you.

C

B

29 in the middle of the competition, um and so it kind of it wasn't just like it wasn't really a question. I guess.

A

Right, I don't. I don't.

B

Know it was like we never actually like sat down to be like. Are we going to audition.

A

Are we going to do this just like hey.

B

This is a fun thing. Might as well. Try.

A

Right now, the process that you went through and jump in here at any point, if I'm wrong- because I don't want to- I don't want to be that guy um you're you're- you- you did your first, I guess audition on zoom right, and so you did that. I guess it was an open call until you do that. Take me through sort of the process from that point forward, like you got the word, I think you said a couple weeks later.

A

What kind of time frame were we on between that and all of the other stuff like take me through sort of your experience with that.

B

So it all started on zoom we yeah. We, um we signed up to uh have a certain day where we joined a zoom with like 130 different people. I think okay and you kind of waited for a little bit and then they're like okay. It's your time to go, and so we sat in this huge room with everybody in it until they put you in a breakout room.

C

B

And they're, like okay, we're gonna, put you in this breakout room with one uh producer or like casting call.

D

C

B

And uh and then you'll sing, one or two, maybe three songs for this guy, okay, and so I got into that breakout room and um I sang a song and he was like man that was like really good, and so they send you they send, which was already surreal. I was like.

A

They actually kind.

C

Of like me, that's wild.

B

So they sent me to another breakout room.

C

B

A couple more producers and main um people who are kind of like media people- producers, like I, don't know, a bunch of different people in one other breakout.

A

B

And then they would send you to another set of breakout.

C

B

To producers and talk to people and do interviews more breakout rooms with different songs and like.

C

B

You had to record right then right.

C

B

So like after the interviews and a little bit more singing, they were like okay yeah. Now we want you to send three full song: videos, okay and email them to us.

C

B

Right now, while you're.

C

On the zoom, okay, like oh okay,.

A

All right, yeah, okay,.

B

um So I pulled out three songs: one of them was an original and I just kind of sent them over and they're, like okay, you're done for the day like we'll get back we'll.

A

Be in touch yeah, so it was two three weeks later you get that call. What was the feeling like when you got the call to say: hey, come to austin and and be on and do this I.

B

Was in my bedroom, I remember and I was doing homework or something and I looked at my phone and I got an email from one of the main casting people right and it was something like you're going to ha or no you're going to hollywood. Not yet you're going to.

C

Austin, right and.

B

I remember looking at my phone and kind of just being like, oh my goodness,.

C

B

Jaw dropped to the floor.

C

B

And I immediately ran downstairs and I was like family meeting you guys family meeting, we're going to austin.

C

B

It was the craziest thing I remember just kind of being in shock like I was in the middle of my school show at the time I was in kind of the middle of um just normal high school school stuff right.

C

B

And then it was like: hey, you're gonna go see lionel richie, katy, perry and luke bryan.

A

D

A

B

A

So you have to figure- I guess in that moment, like you're you're, very focused on the opportunity to go to austin, but there's also like a whole lot of like life stuff going on right, because this was this was last fall right fall of 21., so you had to figure out. Like I don't know, hey everybody! I'm gonna go!

A

Do this thing because, like there's a weird sort of secretive nature to this, oh, my goodness like how did you balance like telling school where you were going, but also not really telling them where you were going like I'm going on a family trip for like a while, like what did you even do.

B

That's interesting nobody's asked me that yet um it's I I remember, I got the email, and I said I was in my school show and like tech week was when the auditions were gonna go on, and so I was like tech week is the biggest thing in.

C

Theater right yeah.

B

And, like you can't miss it.

C

B

And um so I immediately told my director she was the first one to know my acting teacher at school and I was like hey so I got this huge opportunity and I'm really like. Can we like mix the schedule and fit.

D

It around because, like.

B

I feel so bad and I.

D

B

Like I don't want them to feel like I'm letting them down.

A

Right right for.

B

My own opportunity, but it's kind of like the biggest opportunity.

A

Yeah they'll say this is one of those like everybody in the room, kind of understands kind of things. You know now that makes total sense.

B

Yeah, I I remember just like wanting to cry almost because I was like I feel so bad.

A

So bad, but at the same time I have to do this and there's no there's no way around it. So how long were you in austin, then? I.

B

Was in austin for like a week, I was.

A

Going to say it had to be a while, so you.

B

A

And you do your thing and then do do I guess they. They punch your ticket to hollywood there right um real, quick, because I mean the ticket's over there, so I have to talk about it. But what was that? What was that moment like? Did it even resonate with you like? Did it? Was it a while, like you're just staring at this thing until you really sunk in.

B

um It was like you're in the room and the lights are on the judges. They look like barbie dolls sitting there they're like perfect people and they're like glowing.

C

B

And you sing and like they were giving me like positive feedback, and I was like. Oh my goodness, like I remember my neck feeling warm. I was like yeah. It was all kind of a blur yeah and, like I walked over there to grab my ticket and, like I walked out the door, and I remember I think I talked to ryan afterwards, I'm not quite sure, but we did these interviews afterwards. Right and um my dad was in the interview with me, and he was like take a second and like look at the ticket.

A

B

You can see your reflection in that ticket. That's.

A

B

And we were just like, oh my goodness,.

A

B

Away we're like we're.

D

Going to hollywood.

C

A

B

That's when it was like shoot, this is.

A

Kind of real this is real, so you act so how? How long was it between when you were in austin and when you went to hollywood? What was sort of ballpark the time room for me.

B

So my audition city was the first city. Okay,.

A

B

So they had three other different cities, so it was about a month.

A

Okay, so in that month, what are you doing other than stressing and trying not to think about it too much you got to get back home. You got homework you got to do you know, there's all that fun stuff, I'm imagining that month was. You know, lots of like random moments where you're like. Oh this is this thing's happening and then also just sheer excitement and joy.

B

Right, oh yeah, it was a lot of excitement and a lot of like how am I about to tell people that I'm about to go away again. Yeah.

A

Right exactly exactly without any idea when you would be back right, because once you go you're kind of there, you're.

B

There and you don't know how long it's going.

A

B

And I think I did tell people I was going to arizona or something crazy. I was like yeah family fun trip to the desert, y'all.

A

Family fun trip where I'm going to be performing, so you get to hollywood right, um and I mean just what were the emotions like, as you went through that whole process? What and what really stands out to you now? Looking back on it.

B

Oh, my goodness, it was the most wild experience. I think, because I was so excited to be reunited with my friends from austin right, um because the atmosphere of my friends from austin was just incredible. I tell everybody that I'm like there's a lot of things that you can take away from the experience, but the amount of like like family feeling right.

C

From the whole.

D

B

Incredible it was like everybody was there to support each other, and everybody was like building each other up, instead of, like all, were competitions.

A

Right, yeah right, no.

B

Everybody was so excited like when you came out that room in austin immediately all of my friends down by the pool were cheering. We were on.

C

The balcony- and they were all.

B

Like you looked out at them, and it was like, everybody was just so excited for each.

C

B

In hollywood, it was just I'm so excited to be reunited with my friends, but also kind of get to work on this like crazy thing and get to perform in front of the judges again right, and um it was definitely a little bit more stressful.

C

B

um Than the initial audition, because um in hollywood you auditioned in front of everybody else, right.

C

Including the judges.

D

All the contestants.

B

um And austin was kind of like an intimate.

D

Room setting yeah.

B

And so hollywood was like on stage and there's all kind of this pressure right, um but there wasn't any room to kind of like freak out about it.

A

That makes sense how how many songs I mean would take me through sort of the the process for the ship in terms of the competition aspect of it, how far? How like how much how what how many songs that kind of thing? What was it all like for you for.

B

Me it was um like it's only. I only sang two songs: okay,.

A

B

In austin and one in.

A

Hollywood, but we had.

B

To have, I think, like five, that's.

A

What I was yeah that's what I was thinking is that, like, while you're there yeah you're having to have a whole bunch of others, sort of in the you know,.

C

A

Can ready to roll? Yes, you know if it need, if you needed it,.

C

A

Take me through just sort of you know, so you finish that experience and you're coming home and um you're waiting, then right, because it's a long time between when it happens and when it airs, is that right, like there's a there's, a.

B

Gap, actually, yes, so.

A

Take me through just what that time frame was like. Oh.

B

My goodness it was like well so um when I got eliminated it was like I didn't like. I didn't know how to feel. I was really I wasn't like. Obviously I was sad about not being.

D

A competition for sure right, but.

B

I um was kind of sad to leave the family again.

D

Aspect of it right.

B

um And so like, it was kind of like there's. This thing that's like after theater is like after show depression right and it's like that's how it felt or like after, like a great vacation when you come.

C

B

Finally, it's that, like let down of.

A

Like and you're sort of back to reality.

B

Yes, you're back to the real life and that's kind of what it was. um It was that kind of letdown, but it's also like. Oh, this is all going to be stirred up again and yeah.

A

In a while yeah in a little bit, you know like this is all.

B

People are going to start to get excited about it again and so the hardest thing I think about that was me knowing that I was eliminated, but everybody else thinking that I was still like when I first announced that, like oh, I auditioned for american idol maybe tune in to see me like you, don't know, I don't know if you'll see me but tune in to watch right. It was that, like everybody, still thinks that.

A

Like you're there and it's really interesting yeah, I can imagine that that's tough.

B

It was yeah and it was really hard not to tell people too.

A

It was so hard because, like absolutely even.

B

Everybody was like: where did you go carrie like what? What were those mysterious troops? You two? Where.

A

What's going on in arizona, yeah.

B

Right, I'm, like you, know, lots of cactuses.

A

Lots of rocks yep um so so you get home, show errors and- and you kind of are now sort of back to reality. um How has this experience changed changed? You changed your outlook. um I can imagine you're doing a lot more of these types of things talking about the experience stuff, but I'm just curious how? How do you feel like that experience changed you.

B

um I feel like it's made me a much like I don't know if, like well-spoken is the right.

C

B

The word but or like way to describe it, but I spent a lot of time with people over 18.

C

B

I was kind of like one of the adults almost right, and so it was like I kind of learned how, like I guess I don't know, be more of human.

D

You know like it's not going to be like.

B

A person in high school.

D

That's like just here, you.

C

B

I kind of like I don't know that's interesting, but I feel like it also idol has helped me so much more with like my interview, process and.

A

B

A

Yeah you're doing a pretty great job.

B

um I, like I used to just kind of I still do, but I used to kind of like ramble on a bunch.

D

B

Like um now, I kind of have my thoughts more together because.

C

B

They're like okay, we want to hear this from you and like right.

A

This is what we need.

C

B

um Like be yourself, but also like, we want to hear your story.

C

A

So it's like exactly you can't.

B

Like ramble on right.

A

You got to stay sort of focused on what you want to talk about yeah and.

B

I think it's kind of it's also made me a lot more focused in my songwriting and also focused like in what I it's made me realize what I want to do and who I want to be right, um because I used to be this like. Oh, I want to be on broadway. It was like broadway or grand ole, opry right.

D

B

It's like 100 percent grand.

D

C

It's like these songwriters.

B

That I've been around and these people that are just so inspiring to be around and like all the everything just about the whole experience, is kind of like I want to be a musician right.

C

B

To express myself through music and that's.

D

B

How to it used to be.

C

B

Into somebody else's shoes and tell their story right.

A

B

Now it's like, I want to tell mine gotcha.

A

All right last question: for you.

C

A

And I feel like on some level this is a silly question, but I gotta ask it anyway. I don't know if there's a rule against folks coming back to american idol or or you know, trying to you know re-audition or what have you. um So I don't know if that's an option, but I'm curious if, if you're interested in trying to go back on the show and trying to do it again um and have you thought much about doing it again,.

B

um That's an interesting question and a lot of people ask it too and I'm like I don't know. I think if it feels right. Yes, um I think I'm going to graduate high school first. Okay, so there's not that.

A

Much so no more mysterious trips.

B

Yes, no more mysterious trips to arizona um and a lot less homework stress and.

A

B

And midterm stress.

A

D

B

Was midterms during that time and um yeah? I think once I kind of have uh like adulting a little bit more like adulting down. I guess I.

A

Don't know I know I got you that much. It was interesting.

B

Being like the kid in.

A

D

Everybody else who's like.

B

Oh, these people have to go, do their job and then they can fly out to go meet each other and write songs on the weekend. It's.

C

B

No, I have to have like my dad with me when I fly so I.

A

No offense to your dad, oh no! They love my dad too. Dad got to come with me with everything like.

B

Like I, he loves my friends, they love him. It.

C

B

But yeah, I think I don't know just kind of if, if the timing's right and if I feel like.

C

B

Need that extra platform too, I think maybe.

A

One day, maybe rumor has it that you're gonna play a little something for us here.

B

A

Yeah so we'll uh we'll be right back.

B

All right, this song is called dear nashville, and it's original that I wrote um right after I got back from austin actually for an acting assignment, and um it's kind of just all about my hopes and dreams.

D

Never knew how much love I would fall with you.

D

D

Cause in three years I'll be running.

D

That I wanna hear my name.

D

Everyone sing it loud the words to set you free.

D

Hey nashville, could you please wait on me.

D

D

D

Everyone singing loud the words to say you free.

D

Hey nashville, could you please wait on me.

D

I've been fighting can't stop riding cause. I can't put out this fire.

D

Oh inside of me,.

D

Cause I wanna hear my name chanted out.

D

Dear nashville, sincerely.

A

I want to thank carrie for coming on the podcast and playing that song for us, and hopefully you guys can check out her music carriebrockwellmusic.com has all kinds of stuff so definitely give that a look when you get a chance now make sure you check us out on social media on twitter, it's at chesterfieldva and on instagram, it's chetchfieldvirginia1 word and on facebook check out our podcast page, just search chessville behind the mic make sure to like that page. You can keep up this as you go forward now.

A

Let me tell you about all the ways you can check us out. You can watch on our youtube channel as well as on our website. Chessfield.Gov podcast, an audio only version of the show is available there, as well as an apple podcast, spotify, google, podcast, overcast and a whole host of other services. You can also watch the podcast on wcct thursday, through sunday, at seven and on the weekends at noon: that's comcast, channel, 98 and verizon channel 28.

A

Lastly, you can check out chatsford.gov slash connect with us for more ways to get in touch with us and for us to get in touch with you. My thanks to my director, martin stiff my executive producer, susan pollard, and all the good folks here in communications media for making this happen, and my thanks to you for checking us out today so from all of us here in chesterfield. Thank you very much for making this part of your day. We'll see you again real soon take care.

A