Corbin Bleu: After "High School"

Best known as adorable Chad Danforth from the High School Musical films, hot Corbin Bleu is a multi-talented singer/actor with a drive and determination beyond his years. With a new album ("Speed of Light"), an upcoming movie (Free Style), and the pilot of a TV series ("A Beautiful Life") on the horizon, the Brooklyn-born 20-year-old is moving on bigtime and has a very busy 2009 lined up. Corbin is focused and determined, and admits to being his toughest critic, but he is also a genuinely nice, honest guy.

This hottie, who would make a great catch for any girl, talked to us about being more involved in his career, what he'd be willing to do for his dream role, when he'll be ready for a serious love relationship, his dream vacation and who his celebrity crush is.

TeenHollywood: What can you say about your new album, "Speed of Light"?

Corbin: I really wanted to make something a lot more personal and really find my own sound. I started working with Eric Hudson, who did "Flashing Lights" for Kayne West, and Brian Kennedy, who did "Disturbia" for Rihanna. I hung out with them for the past year and we'd just come up with different things and go into the studio and build everything from scratch. None of these tracks were submitted to me. I also worked with a brilliant lyricist named Claude Kelley, who has worked with Akon and Leona Lewis. I would go in and we'd start building up a track. I'd listen to it and see how it made me feel, and then I'd give a concept of whatever I was thinking at the time, and Claude and I would get to work on writing the lyrics.

TeenHollywood: Why did you decide to call the album "Speed of Light"?

Corbin: Mainly because the title track, "Speed of Light," was the first track that we really felt set the pace for the rest of the album. It was a very haunting track, and it had that electronic/R&B/ pop vibe. I love that song itself. The whole process of making the album really fell in line with the thought of speed of light. The speed of light is extremely fast, and that's how I felt like the pace of all this was. Everything clicked.

TeenHollywood: Did you kick in your opinion for the concept and look for the video for "Moments that Matter"?

Corbin: That wasn't the original concept for the video. That video was made for Free Style because that song is going to be in the movie. They wanted just me in the studio, singing, and they were going to have Sandra Echeverria and Madison Pettis, who are in the film, just watching, and it didn't really quite get across the meaning of the song and the feeling of it. So, I said, "I want to at least do something with a piano." And then, the director came up with the brilliant idea of working out in the desert and the look of it is incredible. I'm very happy with how it turned out.

TeenHollywood: When is Free Style coming out in the U.S.?

Corbin: I'm thinking September. That's all still tentative right now, but it's going to be out this year. TeenHollywood: When did you learn to play the piano?

Corbin: I started playing piano in the 5th grade, and then I stopped after awhile. I lost track of it for awhile, but it's my favorite instrument. I still want to learn guitar and saxophone.

TeenHollywood: How are the tour plans coming?

Corbin: I'm going to be touring Europe. I've never toured in Europe before and I'm excited to be able to do that. The fans in Europe are great. That will be cool. I think I have a few dates domestically as well.

TeenHollywood: What can your fans expect from your upcoming live shows? Will you be dancing and/or playing the piano?

Corbin: Of course, I'll be dancing. I don't know about the piano for the live shows yet. I've tried to go with it for previous shows, but I didn't think it was really right. Playing the piano in that video was the first time that anybody has really seen me play, so I want to find the right moment to do that for a show.

TeenHollywood: Do you ever get nervous before you go on stage?

Corbin: Sometimes. When I performed in front of Michelle Obama and the First Daughters, that was pretty nerve-wracking just because I had no idea what to expect. I was performing in front of the First Lady. It was pretty crazy!

TeenHollywood: I can imagine! What are your performance rituals?

Corbin: I always have to be fully warmed up. I go over the entire show, full-out, dancing and sweating. I work up a sweat before I get up on the stage because I want to be completely warm. And, all my dancers and my band and I always do a circle and say a prayer.

TeenHollywood: What track off the album means the most to you?

Corbin: "Moments that Matter" is one of them. "Speed of Light" is another one, for sure. And, "Champion" is a very important track to me. When I went into the studio, I just felt like I needed to write that track. It's the crossroads between two different young people's lives, the first being Jenny, who's a young girl that doesn't really come from much and she wants to be a star. Her family isn't really involved and her parents aren't supportive, and she turns to the wrong things. Then there's this kid Jordan, who comes from everything. He's rich and he's quarterback of the football team, and yet he wants to live life on the edge. He has too much time and too much money, and he turns to drugs. It doesn't matter what walk of life you come from, or whether you come from nothing or everything, it's the decisions that you make that you have to come through, in the end.

TeenHollywood: What are the differences and similarities between "Speed of Light" and your previous album, "Another Side"?

Corbin: As far as content goes, "Speed of Light" is a bit more mature, even in the look of the album with the cover, the imagery and the artwork. It's all really contingent on who I am right now, which I think music should be. I wasn't really trying to cater to anybody specific. I just wanted to give the audience me. I've obviously experienced a lot more since the first album. It's about different relationships, love and family. The first album was mainly about getting tracks submitted and choosing which ones I felt really connected to me. With this one, I really created the whole album, from the ground up, and built a story, as opposed to just having single tracks.

TeenHollywood: You did a duet with Vanessa Hudgens on the first album. Would you like to do another duet with her?

Corbin: I love that song! A lot of the fans really enjoyed that song, too. It's a beautiful track that's a big ballad song. Her and I enjoyed being able to do it together. Maybe in the future, we'll get a chance to pull it out at a performance. That would be really cool!

TeenHollywood: Who else would you like to collaborate with, in the future?

Corbin: There's one collaboration that I would really, really love to do, but it's strange and not something you would expect from me. I'm a huge rock fan, especially of a lot of heavy metal. One of my favorite bands is Disturbed and I would love to be able to work with them. They're just really great musicians. The lead singer's voice is insane. I have this really dark, twisted side of me, and that's why I love Johnny Depp, Tim Burton and Danny Elfman -- anything along that genre. Even though Disturbed has this whole dark aura and vibe about them, if you listen to the lyrics of their songs, there's a lot more to them than just trying to be these crazy, evil guys. They're actually really inspirational. Their lyrics go pretty deep. I love their music, and that would be a really cool collaboration.

TeenHollywood: Interesting. What kind of music are you into right now? Which artists do you look to for inspiration?

Corbin: Obviously, I'm beyond excited that Michael Jackson is going to be performing again. He is my favorite artist, always has been. All his dance moves and everything he does just makes him a brilliant performer. He's 50 years old and he's getting ready to go on tour. That is so inspiring. I listen to everything. I like classical music. I'm into T.I. right now. I like the new Jamie Foxx. I listen to all different things.

TeenHollywood: Since you're so critical of your own performances, what is a good performance you gave, in your opinion?

Corbin: I really liked the inauguration performance I did. When I looked back and saw that, I was very proud. No matter what, there's always something that I feel could be better. It's really crazy! I don't know what's wrong with me. After every performance, I have to go back and look at the video and I know that something could have been better. It's good because it pushes me to get better, but at the same time, it's one of my worst qualities because I'm so crazy about it. My dad will be like, "It was great!," and I'll be like, "No, it wasn't!"

TeenHollywood: Lighten up on yourself, dude! What other projects do you have in the works?

Corbin: "A Beautiful Life" is in the works right now, for The CW, but it still hasn't been picked up yet. That's with Mischa Barton and Elle MacPherson. It's about the life of these models in New York, and I'm playing a male model who's a struggling musician. I hadn't met any of the cast before, except for Sara Paxton. We did a film with each other awhile back, called Soldier with Kurt Russell, so it's cool to get to work with her again.

TeenHollywood: Will you be a part of High School Musical 4?

Corbin: No, I'm not going to be a part of the next one. I'm excited to be able to move on to different characters. It's been an incredible experience. Being a part of that project for the past three years, has been life-changing. I'll never forget the experience. But, just like with anything, it's time to move onto a new chapter.

TeenHollywood: You've said that you are willing to shave your head for the right role. Is there anything you wouldn't be willing to do for a dream project?

Corbin: I don't know. It would have to be something pretty out there. I think I'd do just about anything for a role, if it was the right role, in a good project, and I got a chance to work with some top-notch actors that really inspire me, or a great director. I don't like to do anything just for shock value. I grew up acting and I've always believed that you have to have no fear and really submit yourself to whatever character you're playing, even if it's a villain and you have to do something crazy. To be honest, I don't think there's anything that I'd be uncomfortable doing. I know there's a certain persona about me. I'm a very positive person. But, when it comes to roles, I'm being a different person. As far as my real life goes, there are plenty of things that I wouldn't do. But, as far as a role goes, and as long as it's not really happening, I think I'd be down with just about anything.

TeenHollywood: What real-life person would you want to play in a biopic?

Corbin: I would say Bob Marley. That would be really cool! I'm Jamaican, so I'd have to go back to my roots a little bit. I love his work. He's a very interesting man, who did so much. He's very inspirational. That would be a really cool story. Let's get that going!

TeenHollywood: I would so go see that! Do you prefer music or acting?

Corbin: I don't know. I've grown up singing, dancing and acting. Even though I definitely feel that all the arts connect, especially because I grew up in musical theater, I still feel like they're so different. When I'm working on my music, I just cut myself off from the rest of the world. I have to pull a lot of inspiration from what's going on in my life. I'm just in the studio working, focusing on getting the album done. Whereas, in a film situation, there's a lot more to your surrounds that you have to deal with. You have the director and the crew and the actors on set. Music is a chance to really dive into myself, and acting is a chance to dive into somebody else's life. They're two parts of me that I love.

TeenHollywood: What was it like working with Kristen Stewart, back on the film Catch That Kid so long ago? Have you seen her in Twilight?

Corbin: I did see Twilight, twice. I'm really into the story. Kristen is a good friend of mine. I haven't seen her for awhile, but it was great working with her, back then. She was always very cool. We had a good time on set.

TeenHollywood: How did you get into doing voices? What would be your ideal voice-over project?

Corbin: I just started doing voices when I was really young. I started repeating different characters and voices that I'd hear in movies. I loved Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast. I love cartoons, so I've always latched onto that cartoony type of voice. My ideal voice-over project would just be something where I could do a really wacky voice. Most of the voice-over projects that I've done so far have been in the vein of my own voice because they don't want it to be too out there and caricaturish. I would love to do something where I could just go full-out and do something strange.

TeenHollywood: You seem so busy with everything that you're working on. Have you had time to date at all?

Corbin: No. I'm focusing on my work, at the moment. I just don't need a distraction right now. But, I still get the chance to go out and have dinner or go to the movies, or something like that. As far as anything serious goes, I have too much on my plate. Right now, I'm trying to build the empire. Once I have finally built the kingdom, I can have my queen.

TeenHollywood: Do you prefer wearing your hair back or down loose?

Corbin: There are certain days that I'm just tired and, if I want to go out to eat and I want to be incognito, I'll tie my hair back and just feel more comfortable walking around. But, at the same time, having your hair yanked back can be uncomfortable, so sometimes I like to just wear it down. It depends on my mood. If I'm feeling wild and crazy, and decide to just go out and cause a fuss, I'll wear it down.

TeenHollywood: Who is your celeb crush?

Corbin: It's always been Angelina Jolie. It doesn't matter if she's with Brad Pitt. It doesn't matter that she's however many years older than me. I don't care. I love her. Those lips are ridiculous! Also, when I saw the video for the band Hey Monday, I thought the singer, Cassadee Pope, was really cute. She's got a cute face and a pretty smile. TeenHollywood: What is your dream vacation? Are you a sit and relax type of guy, or do you like adventure?

Corbin: Both. I would like to go someplace that I can lay on the beach, and then get up and go for some crazy rock climb or jump out of a plane. When it comes to what I do in my free time, I'm a little bit of an extremist, in the sense that I like to just do nothing, and sit and chill and be a lazy bum, or do something insane. I really love a lot of action adventure type of stuff.

TeenHollywood: Sounds great. What is your guilty pleasure TV show?

Corbin: It's the cartoon "Avatar". They're doing a film of it. It's just so cool! I love that they can move elements and control water, fire and earth. I'm hooked on that show!