Suzie McNeil Gives Birth to Debut Album

(andPOP) - Suzie McNeil is late. Not late enough to merit a J-Lo inspired diva reference or to clump her under the young, irresponsible, late-cause-they-partied-too-hard category of recent songstresses, but, just late enough so that when she finally rushes into the Shanghai Cowgirl on Queen St. West in her hometown of Toronto – her multi-streaked hair pulled into a messy ponytail, bike helmet in hand – she apologizes profusely.

Her full proof excuse and indisputable sincerity are not very rock 'n roll of her. It's hard not to be misled by the died hair, the well-inked tattoo crawling up her right arm or the rocker chick persona she developed while a contestant on Rock Star: INXS, but McNeil is not your typical rebellious pop star; she's polite, grounded, and refreshingly candid.

"I felt like I just gave birth," she says of what it was like to finally see her debut album, Broken and Beautiful, on stands. McNeil hopes to establish herself as a legitimate artist rather than just "Sweet Suzie McNeil," the last woman standing on a reality TV show.

So, how does one break free of the reality show stigma? How do you reverse the curse that comes along with the free press and overnight exposure that has many established artists boiling over with animosity? Well, waiting two years to release an album is a start. Also, competing on a show that bent over backwards to make sure it came off as somewhat credible helps.

"The fact that I can't ride on the Rock Star: INXS momentum anymore is probably positive and negative," she says while fidgeting with the long black beads that hang loosely around her neck, "but, I have no regrets and I am really proud of how I have translated that experience."

That experience translated into a whirlwind of opportunity and possibility for McNeil. For the past two years, she has been given the chance to work with music industry legends, collaborate with some of the best voices in the business, and go on tour as a backup singer for power pop veteran Pink.

When it came time for her to live the classic rock 'n roll experience – the excitement, the parties, the sleepless nights, the inscrutability of life on the road – McNeil felt right at home.

"Everyday was a Saturday," she says with a laugh.

After the tour, McNeil was itching to create something of her own.

"I think that my record is different than what people might have expected, but I choose not to care," she says bluntly. "My problem is that I fit into a lot of genres. I'm kind of like a musical Jack-of-all-Trades, but it's hard for some people to understand that. When you're all over the place, it takes away from a potential image. But, I've got to go with who I am."

McNeil says that with Broken & Beautiful, she was resiliently aiming for a specific sound, relying heavily on a pop filled "user-friendliness" as well as her rock influences.

Now, she feels as though that focus came, to an extent, at the expense of a certain musical depth. And that expenditure is a detriment that some critics have been quick to notice.

Aside from mostly positive reviews, McNeil has felt the backlash from detractors who feel her record lacks originality and rock-induced profundity. But she's okay with that. In fact, she wholeheartedly agrees.

"I totally agree with them. I'm really proud of this record as a debut album, but it is very accessible. There's a formula to hit songs and pop songs and a lot of the songs on this record follow that formula. The power in that is that I made the choice to do it. I wanted my first record to be something really accessible to radio and to people."

While the highly charged, energetic pop album may have gotten her categorized alongside Ashlee Simpson and Avril Lavigne, McNeil makes one thing clear: Homegirl can sing.

"The funny thing is that the reviews have never insulted my talent. If they were saying I sound horrible, then there would be a problem."

Her brilliant blue eyes hold a steady expression of humility and intensity, but they soften at the mention of her latest undertaking. We Will Rock You is a musical production playing at Toronto's Canon Theatre that pays homage to rock gods Queen. McNeil's raw talent landed her the role of Oz, a Bohemian rebel with a bad attitude. Musical theatre has been a dream of McNeil's since she was just a kid; it was always fixed goal on her list of future endeavours so when she was offered the part, she saw it as a chance to fulfill her childhood desire. She's gone from a little girl listening to Broadway soundtracks like Les Mis and Cats, to juggling important conference calls with record execs and dodging rocket attacks while performing in Afghanistan.

Suzie McNeil is proving that there is life after being a reality show loser. She's already looking towards a studio follow-up to Broken & Beautiful and is ready to hit the road to promote the album. After that, she'll find herself back in L.A.

"I'm not ever going to stop. I love it too much."

She may have one of the top ten singles in Toronto, and she may be one of the most promising talents in the industry, but she never got the memo that says it's a rocker's job to be untouchably cool. McNeil exudes an "I'm just happy to be here" giddiness and an almost exasperating likeability.

No, she's not your typical rebellious pop star. She's the kind that still rides her bike around her home city, and the kind that offers to pay your bill in order to make up for being late. Many artists talk about humility but not many deliver the earnest goods like "Sweet Suzie McNeil." It looks like it's going to take her a little longer to shed that nickname.