American Idol’s Kevin Covais Makes a Splash in ‘College’

Ann M. Murray
Fancast.com

Kevin Covais is on top of the world. After being one of the youngest finalists on American Idol Season 5 (he was 16!), he is now setting his sites on the big screen with a role in the film College, out in theaters today. We talked to Kevin while he was finishing up the film, where he told us about trying to sneak into a club with fellow cast members (just for fun!), and his secret life as a rapper. Watch the trailer for College right here on Fancast.

Tell me a little about your new film.
The film is called College. It’s an MGM Studios comedy and is set to be out in theaters August 29th. It stars Drake Bell from Drake & Josh, Andrew Caldwell from Hannah Montana, and myself—Kevin Covais…from American Idol Season 4! Basically we set off for the weekend to visit a local college. We expect the normal weekend and basically get everything but…it’s one heck of a weekend.

How did you get the film?
I got involved with the film…I got plenty of opportunities for music, which I’m still exploring and growing…but I found there was an even greater response for acting and potentially casting calls. This was one of the first sides that I read for was College…for Morris, which I’m playing. I put my audition on tape from New York because I missed already a lot of high school. So I put it on tape and sent it to the big wigs over here in California. And, about a month later I got the call.

What’s your character like?
My character’s name is Morris Cooper. Morris is a very reserved young man…some would say geeky. I would say, really cool. No, he’s a geeky guy…very smart…but doesn’t take a lot of chances and is definitely restricted by his parents. He hasn’t stepped outside of the box yet and been creative. It was definitely a cool character to play. It was funny because a lot of what people might have thought that I’m like in real life after watching Idol is a lot of what my character is…it’s not who I really am.

Did you want to act before American Idol?
You know I really did want to act before Idol. I have an equal love for both singing and acting. I love to do both so obviously when I was on Idol I got to do singing, but got to show my personality. Prior to Idol, I had no professional experience. It was my first time doing something like that on that scale. When I was in high school, I did chorus…dramas…musicals in the spring. I loved it all. I found that I loved to act around the same time that I found I loved to sing.

What’s the craziest thing you did on set?
We had so much fun on and off set. It was in New Orleans—so it’s a party town. There was so much going on—we’re in the French Quarter. I’m just this 17 year old kid…I’m not a party kind of guy. I tend to relax—it’s either between going out to party or staying in and watching Sports Center and I usually choose the latter. I went out a couple of nights out of the whole experience. There was one night I was hanging out with Nick Zano and Zach Craiger and I wanted to see just for kicks if I could get into one of the clubs. Nick and Zach went in…and I’m trailing behind with my baseball cap on low and trying to look older with the clothes I was wearing. So I walk in and the bouncer grabs my arm…and as I’m walking in it was like a revolving door…I was just going right out.

What do you think your fans will think of you in this new role?
For people that know Idol and recognize me…that’s where I got my start…I think the people that watch…it’ll be mixed reactions. People might say, “I wouldn’t think he would go this route, but okay…” and other’s might say, “What’s he doing…why would he choose to make a film like this?” It’s understandable. Honestly it’s the first hand I was dealt…when I read the script I loved it. It reflects being a teenager and what being a teenager is about…the ups and downs. If I had my choice, I would do this movie…and then do a PG movie that my younger fans can go see…

Do you keep in touch with your former Idol contestants?
I do. Our year had really great chemistry—as cliché as it may sound we were all a huge family. I’m good friends with Ace Young. He’s actually got a new album coming out July. I’m so proud of him. I’m still keeping in touch with Lisa Tucker and Paris Bennett—the younger ones from my year. Melissa McGee, Mandisa…Eliot Yamin…I have so many friends from my year, it’s great.

How old were you then?
I was sixteen then. Lisa Tucker and I were 16…we were the youngest. It was like being a kid in the candy store, I was floored.

You have a little bit of a connection with Flavor Flav…you’re a rapper in your own right, no?
Yeah, I do rap. I got an opportunity to do a Talk Show with Spike Fereston…it’s one of the YouTube videos of mine. He was a writer on Seinfeld. We just went around his office and did stupid stuff. At the end of his program, I rapped to “Baby Got Back.” And, Paris Bennett just put out an album called “Princess P”…and I rapped on a song called “Let Me Rap”. It was just a cute little thing we did. You can find it on iTunes.

What’s your all time favorite hip-hop song?
My two favorites are “Golddigger” and “Through the Wire”…

Tupac or Biggie?
I haven’t followed either of them enough to make a clear decision…I’m just going to go Biggie…I love Tupac too…but I’m going to go with Biggie.

More on These Topics: American Idol | Chicken Little | College | Kevin Covais