Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Dillon James listens to the feedback from the judges following his audition on American Idol Season 18. (ABC Photo)

He did it first in the audition round, singing Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love” during an audition that Katy Perry called “awesome.”

He did it again in the Hollywood Week genre round that aired Monday, performing a delightfully different take on Billy Joel’s “Vienna” that ranked as one of the night’s best performances.

You might recall Dylan as the young man who struggled with addiction after getting wrapped up in the Hollywood lifestyle. He was celebrating two years of sobriety at the time of his Idol audition.

Here’s what he told Idol Chatter about that experience.

Idol Chatter: How did you wind up auditioning for American Idol Season 18 (Season 3 on ABC) and what prompted you to do it this year?

Dillon: American Idol actually reached out to me after seeing me on “Lower Deck Sessions.” I felt it was time to start putting myself out there. I had been working so hard from home, writing music and recording my EP that I felt the timing was good.

Idol Chatter: Had you ever tried a singing show in the past? If so when and how did that go and what do you think made the difference this time around?

Dillon: I have never done a singing show before, but I did do a songwriting competition in New York where I had to sing my original song and I ended up winning.

Idol Chatter: Why did you choose Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love.” for your audition song? What’s your performance history with that song? (Is it one you’ve played often?)

Dillon: I’m a huge fan of Bob Dylan. He’s a legend, and his songs are legendary. It is a song that I play often in my set during a show; everyone always loves a Dylan song!

Idol Chatter: What was that audition experience like? You said you were super nervous, but you got amazing feedback from the judges.

Dillon: The audition experience was nerve racking. I was the very last to go, so we had to wait all day into the night, so my emotions were a roller coaster. I thought my nerves were pretty good until I walked into that audition room and was standing in front of the celebrity judges. It all hit me at once, where I was and what it could mean, and I got super nervous. I am very grateful for all the kind words and advice I received from the judges that day.

Idol Chatter: You released an EP in January 2019 and late this January wrote on Facebook that another record is coming soon. Can you tell me a bit about what you have planned in terms of original music and what fans can expect from the new music you’re planning to release?

Dillon: I wrote all the songs on the album. The songs are about me and my life experiences. There is one song that is extra special to me called “The Long Ride Home”. It is about the ride home from my best friend’s funeral. It is more on the country side because that is what my friend was about. Other songs on the album are more indie with country embellishments.

For more on Dillon, his post-show music and his movie appearance with Dolly Parton, head here.