What are you focusing on now?
Paul McDonald: I've been writing tons of material while I'm out here, which I probably shouldn't have been doing, that's why I got kicked off already, but I've been focusing a bunch on writing and working hard on the stuff that's coming on after Idol.

Any regrets from your Idol tenure?
PM: Yes, some of the song choices that I did weren't probably the best ones for me. When I got up here I kind of listened to some people when I probably should have stuck with my gut, my guns. But other than that, it was fun. I just maybe wish I had done some more of these obscure artists and stuff, more of the vibe of music that I was into, because it came across on stage I didn't feel comfortable a whole lot of the time up there just because I felt like it wasn't me all the time.

About those famous suits of yours...
PM: Yes, actually I had those outfits made for me before the show. So everyone keeps telling me, they're like, that's awesome Idol did this and that, but I had all that stuff previous to all the Idol stuff. I came in there, and it was funny, because the hair and make-up team would be like man, we don't need to do anything to you today, and I was like all right, cool. Then the stylist was like, I like your clothes better than the ones we have. So I kind of just did my own thing, and it worked out good enough for eighth place, so I'm pretty happy about it.

It keeps coming up, but do you believe the men had an advantage over the women in the beginning?
PM: Oh I definitely do. It's funny, because whenever you're in the audience it's like the teenage girls are the ones that watch the show the most. I remember walking out on stage and I would look around and people out in the audience have their posters and signs made. I was like, oh man, I think oh there's like one poster over there that says Paul and then there's like a thousand screaming 14-year old girls that have Scotty McCreery posters. So I think the guys definitely have an advantage. I have a feeling I don't know too many guys that watch the show; I think it's mostly girls.

Do you think being on the show hurt your credibility with the more "indie" crowd?
PM: You know, that was one of my main concerns whenever I tried out for the show, it was like, "Is it worth the credibility?" That's the one thing that I've always wanted in my career, no matter how rich or poor, is to have respect in the music community. All these legit bands in the music business are calling me up and being like, "Oh dude, I can't believe you're doing this show." They're happy for me now; they're like, "I think you dropped out right at the best point. Now let's cut some real records and get back to doing our thing."

There's a rumor that you're dating Nikki Reed.
PM: Yes, Nikki Reed and me are dating. It's officially true.

Remarkably straightforward. Fellow soon-to-be eliminated contestants, Paul McDonald is not special. You, too, can do this!

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