CN Interview: Singer/Actress Sabrina Sloan

A performer since the age of 3, Sabrina Sloan moved to New York City a week after 9/11 to pursue her dreams of singing. After several lead roles in regional theatres, she was cast in the original Broadway production of “Hairspray” and later toured with the 1st National Touring Company of the show.

A devoted fan of “American Idol,” Sloan decided to take the plunge and audition for the show in 2006. Her talents went on to land her in “Idol’s” Hollywood round, where she came one step closer to achieving her dream of becoming a recording artist. However, one week before the Hollywood competition, Sloan was involved in a devastating car accident. She was hit by a truck running a red light and was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries. In spite of her pain, Sloan progressed through the Hollywood round, but her time on the show came to an unexpected end after she made it to the top 16.

In a candid interview, we catch up with the multi-talented star to find out what she’s been up to since capturing so many viewer hearts on the hit Fox television series.

CN: So I read that you got your start at the age of 3 singing on a table at Chuck E. Cheese!

Sloan: Yep! I was obsessed with the movie “Annie” and would always sing “Tomorrow” and one time at Chuck E. Cheese, I guess I just decided I wanted to belt it out on my own stage (up on the table!). I also used to sing my “ABC’s” and “Ebony and Ivory” into the tape recorder on our stereo at home.

CN: Tell me a little bit about your childhood. You were playing the piano and seemed to find that interest in music and performing right from the start.

Sloan: Music was always a part of my life. Both sides of my family had musicians and singers in it, and both my parents were capable singers, but no one in my family really pursued a career in the field. I think my mom recognized my love for music and helped to encourage my talent very early. I sang in my children’s choir at church and I started to play the piano very young and learn the theory of the music, how to read, form chords, etc. It just all came very naturally to me and I would spend hours at the piano doing my own concert — figuring out how to play my favorite songs and then playing and singing along.

CN: After being being born in New York, your family relocated to Southern California when you were just about a year old.

Sloan: My father worked for American Airlines and transferred from LaGuardia to LAX. So although I consider myself a California girl, when I went back to live in New York after college, something felt very at home about the East Coast too, probably because my family was rooted there for so long. I still consider myself bicoastal.

CN: You earned your Bachelor’s Degree in Musical Theatre and Communication Studies at Northwestern University. How did you end up at Northwestern and how important was your training there?

Sloan: It was down to UCLA (where my older sister went) and Northwestern. I even sent in both acceptance letters. I had lived in California practically my whole life, and though there was part of me that wanted to stay close to home and friends, I knew going away for college was an opportunity to spread my wings. I actually give credit to my high school drama teacher, Kathy Harris, who went to Northwestern for grad school, for encouraging me to take the opportunity to go to NU, not only because of their outstanding conservatory-like department and the training she knew I would receive, but because I think she recognized the need for me to get away and gain some independence by leaving home. I still hold on to a postcard she gave me with this quote: “RISK: Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” Indeed I did discover new oceans. The acting and vocal training there was outstanding. Most of all I gained a new confidence in my abilities and my potential.

CN: After college, you decided to move to New York to pursue a career on stage. How difficult was it for you at the very beginning just starting out?

Sloan: The decision to move to New York was actually pretty easy. It just seemed like the next step. NU took ten senior theatre students to perform in a showcase in NYC at the end of the year and if I didn’t already love New York, I certainly fell in love with it that week, meeting with agents and going on auditions. It was there that I met the agent I would sign with once I moved. Starting out in New York was of course difficult. I lived in a closet of a room in Brooklyn with two other NU grads and the occasional rodent and cockroach for $500 a month. I temped downtown at Prudential in the HR Benefits department, where they would let me take my lunches to go to auditions. I’ll never be able to thank them enough for helping me to realize my dreams! As “hard” a life as that whole hustle was, I really didn’t feel it at the time. It was exciting and freeing to be so independent and to have to make my own way. I wouldn’t trade that year for anything in the world. It was a huge part of shaping who I am today.

CN: You moved to New York a week after 9/11 happened. How close were you to changing your mind about the move?

Sloan: I was set to leave on the 12th, and of course after the tragedy, my family and friends encouraged me not to go. I was devastated by what happened, but it never crossed my mind to change my gameplan and stay in California or Chicago. I knew it was my destiny to go to New York and I thought I really wanted to be there to support the city — I wanted to be a NYorker! Once I got there, I immediately visited the scene and I was in awe of how everyone was back at work doing their job, and though they were in pain, they did not let the terrorist attack thwart them from continuing their daily routines. That inspired me and I got to pounding the pavement!

CN: After being cast in several regional productions, you landed a role in the original Broadway cast of the Tony award-winning musical “Hairspray.” That must have been an exciting moment for you?

Sloan: Thrilling. I remember receiving the call from my agent at Prudential while I was temping. I had been through an all-day audition and he called that night when almost everyone was out of the office and said, ‘Are you ready to make your Broadway debut?!’ I wanted to scream and ran and told the two people left in the office and they were thrilled. Even more thrilling, and a little scary was that I would start rehearsing Tuesday and be in the show Friday night! When I stepped on that stage it was the greatest feeling in the world. I’ll be honest, with the little rehearsal I had, I surprised myself with my performance! I knew then more than ever that this is where I belonged — it felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

CN: You later joined the touring production of “Hairspray” and performed in cities all over the country. What was that experience like and how challenging was all the travel?

Sloan: Being on the road was great because I had an opportunity to see cities I hadn’t been to. Living out of your suitcase can be rough, but again, I remember only feeling so lucky and blessed to be making a living doing what I loved and being able to visit places all over the country. It got difficult in terms of my relationship with my then boyfriend/fiancée, now husband, because we were eventually trying to plan a wedding over the phone and the separation was difficult. But it made us appreciate even more actually living together in the same place once we were married!

CN: You later moved back to Southern California and eventually decided to pursue a music career. What led you down the path of music again?

Sloan: Music was always my first love. I love singing in any capacity, and though acting and the stage are also my passion, it was always a dream of mine to be a recording artist — to sing at a sold-out concert and hear myself on the radio. Moving back to L.A. was an opportunity to focus on that.

CN: You and that college sweetheart of yours got married shortly after the move back. How difficult has it been being a wife and pursuing your hopes and dreams at the same time?

Sloan: My husband is my greatest champion and supporter. I honestly can’t imagine having gone on “American Idol” without him. He has always said that his biggest attraction to me was my commitment to pursuing my dreams and taking risks to do so no matter what odds were against me. For me, marriage was a part of my dreams, and marrying my best friend gave me a built-in support system for the ups and downs of my career.

CN: What can you share about your decision to audition for “American Idol” and your experience on the show?

Sloan: People had told me since the beginning of “Idol” that I should audition. I honestly had some doubts as to whether I should try, because so many of my friends who were incredibly talented had auditioned and never made it past the first round. I knew it was about much more than your singing talent and that if you were lucky enough to make it on, the votes were not always for the best singer. I had a solid career going and only wanted to do “Idol” if it would help that career and did not want it to damage my career or personal life in any way. Let’s be honest, it’s the biggest stage in the world and you risk putting yourself out there and having people judge you and make assumptions about you, without really knowing you. But once I realized that’s what fame is and what people will do regardless of how you get in the limelight, I knew I had to release the fear of what people would think of me and go for it.

CN: You reached the semifinals before being voted off. What was going through your mind at the time?

Sloan: Of course I wasn’t ready to go home yet. So much of your life is put on hold for the competition and I really hoped I’d be in the top 10 and go on tour, etc. But I really do trust that God has perfect timing and now looking back I feel it is better that I had the opportunity to do some other things being off the show that I may not have had were I to have stayed until the end. I haven’t lost any sleep wondering what might have happened if I had won, but rather planning how to continue moving forward with my career.

CN: You and fellow contestant Sundance Head were signed rather quickly by Universal Motown Records after your departure. I understand there were plans for a joint album, but that didn’t fall into place for you.

Sloan: Unfortunately, things didn’t work out timing-wise the way we’d hoped. Although we had finished most of the songs, it was just too late to put out the album, so we are now both working on our solo careers. It was great working together. We had a lot of fun.

CN: You mention Sting, Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston as some of your influences. What are some of the things you’ve picked up from those artists over the years and what do you respect the most about them?

Sloan: I enjoy the way those artists have reinvented themselves over the years and maintained such longevity in the industry. I feel like a lot of people can make a hit record or have a hit song, but to truly LAST in the business and continually put things out that are more exciting and draw your fan base back for more is something special. And most of all, they all have incredible gifts. They can stand alone on their talent — it’s really about their voices — not just about being great performers.

CN: The music industry is obviously facing some difficult challenges. Any suggestions for how the industry can improve?

Sloan: It appears that one day soon record labels may very well be obsolete. Because of iTunes and the new wave of music being released and purchased digitally, the game has really changed. It is a good opportunity for people of all genres to get their music heard.