Idol Life

Three years after finishing third on American Idol’s fifth season, former contestant Elliot Yamin, 31, is singing the show’s praises on American Idol Rewind, a spinoff of the show featuring present day interviews with contestants, plus never before seen footage. R&B singer Yamin had a platinum single in 2007 with “Wait for You,” and his sophomore album, Fight for Love, was released in May. He spoke to Kidult about his early years as a troubled teenager, his battles with Type 1 Diabetes, and how Idol helped him mature into a hardworking, responsible man.

How are you enjoying participating in American Idol Rewind?

Well, we actually filmed all of the narrator parts months and months ago. But man, it’s really cool to be able to relive those moments and take a stroll down memory lane. It’s fun to see my growth and see where it all started.

What’s your best memory of the show?

There are so many fun memories I have of the show and my experience on it. I think as opposed to just one particular moment, it was the camaraderie we all shared going through that whole experience together. For me, it was the first time I had ever tried out or auditioned for anything or was a part of anything remotely close to that. I didn’t grow up that way. I wasn’t entering contests before I started on Idol, so everything we did was a learning experience for me. It was the best time of my life.

Do you have any regrets from your time on the show?

None whatsoever.

What are you currently working on?

I’ve been back in the studio writing with other artists—not particularly for myself—just writing in general to keep the brain functioning and working on the craft. We’re planning a tour for the New Year. So in January and February we’ll be all over the country promoting my current album. I’m getting ready to go back to Africa early next year also with Idol Gives Back and Exxon Mobil.

Your 2007 single “Wait for You” went platinum. Are you focused on getting there again?

I guess you could say that. That would be nice. That wasn’t really the goal when "Wait for You" came out. It kind of took everybody by surprise. So it would be nice to get that kind of radio exposure again for sure. That being said, that doesn’t drive me to make music—those goals are kind of hard to come by especially these days in radio. The landscape in radio has totally changed. It’s a little tougher to get airplay these days, and I understand that. I’m not going out there trying to hit a home run. I’m just trying to be true to myself and make music that I enjoy and that I hope others will too.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Richmond, Virginia. I moved there from L.A. when I was 10, so I was born in L.A. It was a big culture shock because I went from an urban upbringing to a suburban one.

Is it true that you dropped out of high school?

True indeed. I was a troubled teen. I had a lot of issues going on. I just didn’t like school. I got in trouble in school a lot. I just showed up when I felt like it. I grew up in a single parent household, so my mom was always more focused on making sure we had clothes on our back and food on the table. She worked a lot and it left me time to get out of suburbia and have plenty of time to screw up. So that’s what I did. And then I was diagnosed with diabetes when I was 16, so all of that together, it was a rough patch in my life where I wasn’t motivated in school. I was always kind of a dreamer anyway. I always imagined myself somewhere else when I was in school.

Obviously to get where you are, you have to know how to work hard and be responsible, so what made you change?

I think what really changed me was honestly—I’m kind of a late bloomer—so I think that what really helped my maturation process and really helped me change was my whole Idol experience. I’ve become well rounded and so much more mature and a lot more responsible since I tried out for the show. But even before that, when I was 23—when I was having problems with my diabetes—I had to really wise up, or I probably wouldn’t be here today. I was really mishandling my diabetes, and I wasn’t taking good care of myself, and I was getting sick a lot. So, I think I was about 23 when I turned over a new leaf.

What kinds of problems were you having with your diabetes?

I was passing out a lot, having low blood sugar, overdosing on insulin, not checking my blood sugar. Anything that can go wrong with type 1 Diabetes, I experienced it. So I think that helped me grow up a little quicker, just having an adult type disease from a young age. I was in denial for a very long time before I realized this is going to be with me the rest of my life until we find a cure. I just didn’t want to deal with it. I didn’t accept it. From about age 16 to 23, I was really screwing up. So it took a few years for me to really realize that if I wanted a bright future, I had to take care of myself.

What advice would you give a kid in high school who is messing up and getting in trouble?

When you’re a kid, you’re always in the present—as well you should be. But it’s hard to think about the future and realize that everything you do now is going to affect your future. What I try to tell kids is that no matter what it is you want to do in life, you have to get educated first to be successful. Whatever you want to do in life, school is important. Whether you’re home-schooled, or whether you have certain interests that are bigger than others in school, find something you like and work as hard as you can on it. I got a lot of my education from the hard knocks on my own away from school, on the street, and I don’t mean like on the "Mean Streets," but just outside of school. As I got older, I started reading a lot more and becoming more interested in things that I wanted to learn about. And school is important. I try to stress that to every young person I meet.

Is it true that you’ve lost 90% of your hearing?

What?

Is it true that you’ve lost 90% of your hearing?

What!? [Laughs]

OK! I fell for that one.

You did! I went through all of these problems with my ears when I was a kid. When I was 13, my eardrum burst in my right ear and I had a prosthetic ear drum put in. It never really worked properly. Over the years, a lot of scar tissue and cartilage has kind of clogged up my right ear, and my eardrums have never been the same. I’m pretty damn near deaf in my right ear. It doesn’t hinder my singing or get in the way of anything in my career, which is great.

How do you hear yourself sing?

I hear really well out of my left ear, probably because it makes up for my right ear. And you know, music is something you really feel in the first place anyway. You have to feel it first.

Do you still work as a spokesman for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation?

I certainly do. I’ll be involved with the JDR Gala Auction for my hometown of Richmond Virginia chapter. We do a big gala every year and that’s coming up in February and March. Anything that has to do with diabetes, I always consider. It’s very important to me, and I use my platform to raise awareness and bring diabetes to the forefront.

Do you feel like people are still going to love Idol without Paula Abdul there?

Sure! Why not? I mean, I think that Paula was great, but I think Ellen will also be great. I don’t think it’s going to affect how the ratings are. I don’t think we’re going to see a drop in ratings at all. I’m looking forward to the new season.

One of the things that I loved most about your season was the relationship between you and your mom, which was so great. In doing Rewind, are you reminded of how much of an impact she had? People love her!

I am. It really just kind of kind of reiterates how important she was not only to me, but also to the show. I mean, they really made her a part of my journey and they always threw the camera on her and she was always looking proud and just ecstatic. She was a big part of my journey. I really wish that she were a fly on the wall for a day whenever I go out or when I’m on tour. No matter where I go people always ask about her. I think she’ll forever be in everybody’s hearts that knew her and grew to like her. She’s really missed.

Do you have a New Year’s Resolution?

No, not really. They never really work for me. I am not a good resolution keeper! [Laughs]

You can follow Elliot on Twitter here.