Photo Of Our Interview, Taken By Grand Rapids Press

Our very own Paige Cook made a trip to the Cornerstone Church in Michigan today for Matt Giraud's first post-"Idol" solo concerts.

There was an afternoon show that kicked off at 3:30pm and an evening show that started at 7:30pm. The evening show was even to be followed by an awesome firework display! We have photos and videos from the concerts here.

But, before Matt hit the stage to perform, he took a few minutes to talk with Paige about his solo album.

Paige: Since our chat with you earlier this month you went to Nashville and you worked with Marcus Hummon. How did that go?

Matt: He's amazing, I mean, super cool to work with some of these writers, I mean he wrote 'God Bless The Broken Road' and all kinds of great songs. So I just went to his house, played his piano, I even played 'God Bless The Broken Road' for him, and he was like 'Why don't you play it for me?' and I'm like 'this is so nerve wrecking to play the song that someone wrote for them.'

Paige: Can you talk a little bit about the songs you wrote with him?

Matt: Yeah, I'll be doing it tonight, its called 'Go On And Sing, Boy.' Its a really cool tune about my life story, growing up as a little drummer, and people telling me to go on and sing, get in front of the stage and do it!

Paige: You also worked with country singer, Billy Dean?

Matt: I did, we wrote a song called "Breaking In A Broken Heart." He's great. It was the last day of writing, and I'm just going to write a bluesy -- something that comes easy -- sometimes you get caught up writing catchy melodies, so let's just write a blues, funky song. I wasn't sure if anyone would like it and I played it for my roommate and my friends and they were like "yeah!"

Paige: Can you tell us something about the "I Miss You Tonight" song?

Matt: I wrote that one with Victoria Shaw and Matt Lopez, they're Lady Antebellum's producers and writers. They're so great. We did a late night session, its a really cool tune.

Paige: Are there any other collaborators you can tell us about?

Matt: Monty Powell. He wrote "Sweet Thing" for Keith Urban. Anna Wilson, I recorded with for the upcoming album "Countrypolitan Duets." Lady Antebellum is on it, Rascal Flatts, Ray Price, Kenny Rogers, all kinds of big names and they asked me to be on it and I was so honored.

Paige: Can you tell us about the song you recorded?

Matt: Yeah, its called "You Don't Know Me." Great tune. Michael Buble's done it, Ray Charles has done it, its a great song. We killed it.

Paige: Do you feel any added pressure on your show tonight and future shows while still working out a recording contract?

Matt: At this point, it seems everyone in the world has seen you already but there always are people who don't watch the show. I don't feel the added pressure, this is my night to kind of show people and say thank you. I think its less pressure because people get to see what I really do, rather than just a minute and a half of a song on the show.

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