Article du Ottawa Sun (Nov 14/06)

[Anikabella]

Eva Avila had little more than three weeks to record the album she dreamed of making for years, but the Gatineau teen-turned-Canadian Idol swears she's more than satisfied with the effort.

The 13 songs on Somewhere Else, which hits stores today, were recorded at Sony BMG's Toronto studios and crafted by a bevy of professional songwriters, including Chantal Kreviazuk and Our Lady Peace frontman Raine Maida, who co-penned the ubiquitous first single, Meant to Fly, and Cyndi Lauper, who pitched in on This Kind of Love.

Avila swears she chose her favourite songs from hundreds made available to her and reworked them to suit her mix of pop, R&B and soul.

"That's what I was really happy about," she told the Sun. "I had a big say in this album. It wasn't like 'and insert face here. You're an Idol and we tell you what to say.' "

Avila had heard other Idol competitions around the world have their winner spit out an album in one week, with everything from songs to backup singers lined up in advance.
 

"That's insane. I would freak out if it were like that," she said. "It's not 'You, we're taking you and using you as an object.' A lot of people have that opinion on Idol. In this situation, I'm totally impressed."

WELL-WORN SINGLE

The well-worn Meant to Fly has been in rotation since hours after Avila's win. The second single, a Latin-tinged number called I Owe It All To You, will hit airwaves Dec. 4.

Avila had other concerns about the whole Idol thing, concerns that kept her from trying out for four years, until she made a quick turnaround last winter and decided to go for it at the Ottawa auditions.

"I thought, I don't know if I want to make it in this business that way," she said. "You know, instant stardom, you make an album quick quick, but does it last?"

LONGEVITY

By the time she had made it past the judges during tryouts, Avila had changed her mind about that. And though only time will tell, when she sat down with the Sun to talk about the album, she still seemed confident her career will surpass the more modest longevity of past Idol winners, such as Ryan Malcolm or Kalan Porter.

Mostly, she doesn't have any time to think about it just now. Avila is currently on a cross-country promotional tour which will blend into rehearsals for the national tour set to kick off early next year.

She is set to sing the national anthem at the Grey Cup in Winnipeg on Sunday, and return to her hometown in February when she is booked to sing at the Maison de la culture Feb. 20-21.
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