Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Fans who just can’t wait for Michael Johns’ first post-Idol album will have to wait a little longer.

In a press release issued Monday, Michael announced a new release date of June 23 for “Hold Back My Heart.”

The originally announced release date was June 2. But the delay wasn’t surprising given that Michael’s first single off the album was due out last week, but has now been postponed until April 14.

That’s when “Heart on My Sleeve” will be available for download from iTunes. The single will be released to radio a week later.

Michael finished eighth last year on Idol, a surprisingly early ouster, according to some Idol fans. Still, Michael calls it “the chance of a lifetime.”

“Idol allowed me to introduce myself to the world, and I plan on making the most of that opportunity,” he says in the press release.

He says his drew inspiration from his own idols — Paul Weller, Joe Cocker, the Faces — in creating his debut album.

Michael recently spoke to an Australian radio station about the project and said the album will have a rock-soul sound, sorta like “Joe Cocker meets Otis Redding.”

The album is being released by TRP Records and distributed by Downtown Records/Fontana.

Now 30, Michael says he knew at an early age that music was the career path he would take. Prior to Idol, he was a member of a band called The Rising.

“I remember driving down the freeway at age 16 and Pearl Jam’s ‘Daughter’ was on the radio,” he said. “I don’t know what it was about that song, but afterward I kept singing it over and over. The feeling it gave me made me say, ‘I have to do this for life.'”