The involuntary Idol continues
http://www.vf.se/Kultur--Noje/Varmland/Den-ofrivillige-Idolen-gar-vidare-090318.aspx

He chose a Dylan-song.
  Lars Eriksson from Karlskoga sang "It ain't me you're looking for" when he was standing in front of the Idol judges the first time. The Idol judges didn't get it.
  Now Lars Eriksson is entering the studio with the judge member Anders Bagge.

  He has lain low right since the Idol adventure ended in the beginning of November and has only done a few performances. At the same time he's found a band. And lain low, as said.
  - It has been deliberately, I've tried to stay away from Sony BMG, he said.
Last Friday the contract with Sony BMG ended, the contract that all Idol finalists have to sign and which means that Sony BMG has the first right on the artists.
  Because Lars Eriksson doesn't want to be tied after being in Idol. Actually he didn't want to be there at all. His sister-in-law reported him to Idol and his first thought was "absolutely not".
  - They called and called from the production company, but I refused to answer when I saw it was a hidden number. I didn't answer for the whole first day. At lunch I finally answered and it was a girl who asked "do you want to come and sign for us?". She said it exactly like that and it sounded so nice so I said "Sure, I guess I can".
  Already during the audition part Lars Eriksson attracted attention, when the judge member Anders Bagge directly said he wanted to make a record with the guy from Karlskoga. Then it just rolled on, suddenly Lars Eriksson was a part of the competetors. An uncomfortable competetor, who didn't make it into a secret that he didn't feel he fit into the program.
  - I think the other participants were pretty grateful that I didn't want to win, it was one less competitor. Then I was clear about that I didn't have anything against my competitors, that I just felt uncomfortable in the situation. We had a lot of fun together and i still have contact with a couple of them. I talked to Johan Palm as late as yesterday. And Alice (Svensson).
  The evening papers got filled with Idols and Lars Eriksson was one of the more popular. In the beginning he didn't read anything, but the last three weks before he got voted out he read everything.
  - Then it had started to become so much and I thought it was good to keep an eye on what was written. It was great. Especially the week when I'd sang in those glasses.
  He says that the feeling of discomfort increased the closer it got to the big finale.
  - I got saved by the schlager-week. When I saw the title "Det börjar verka kärlek banne mig" on the list I knew exactly what I was gonna do.
  He got to borrow a costume and bought a big pair of glasses on sale. During the rehearsal he sang the song as normal, but asked the Idol participant Robin Ericsson to keep an eye on the camera angles on some lyric rows.
  - I didn't reveal what I was gonna do but at the same time I wanted to know where the camera was when I hit the microphone in my head. If I'd done it at the same time as they showed a picture of the keyboard man it hadn't worked. Same thing when I tripped on the stage.
  The Idols laughed, but the production team and the judges weren't entertained - and the evening papers soon got caught as well.
  - The day after when I walked in the city with my brother and his family I got to see the news bills: Big fight with Idol-Lars. The week after I think I had one spread every day in Aftonbladet and Expressen. The last Friday I did between thirty and forty interviews. I was totally weak in my head, Lars Eriksson said.
  Lars Eriksson also met the week's guest judge, the old rock producer Desmond Child, who explained to Lars Eriksson that he would say in live broadcast what an asshole he thought Lars was.
  - I felt like shit on the rehearsal and had gotten a migraine because I was stressed by Desmond Child. I don't like him, you can write that.
  All other Idols sang Desmond Child songs. Except Lars. He sang Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit instead. And got voted out of the competition.
  It was fun to be there, but I'd never do it again, he said.
Now it appears as if Anders Bagge finally gets to make that record with Lars Eriksson. They are meeting this weekend and "planning the edition". With him Lars Eriksson has a whole bunch of own songs and also the band he found the last months.
  - Anders and I weren't allowed to discuss records when I was in Idol. It was frustrating to meet so often and not be able to talk about it, but now it is happening, Lars Eriksson said. A record contract is still not signed, but the Idol's advance hasn't been passing by unnoticed and several companies have shown an interest, Lars Eriksson said.
  - It feels great to have Bagge with you. He is experienced and know how the industry works.   Lars Eriksson plays (without the band) on Ritz in Arvika next Saturday. Then the local singer/wongwriter Joseph Tholl (who plays in the hard rock band Enforcer) also plays.