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Apparently, “American Idol” doesn't just launch the careers of its contestants. That much became apparent in 2006, when “Idol” runner-up-to-be Katharine McPhee covered KT Tunstall's little-known “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree.” After the performance, Tunstall — a Scottish singer-songwriter — saw the single jump more than 50 spots on the Billboard singles chart. McPhee's performance helped Tunstall find a mainstream American audience, which propelled her debut album — Eye to the Telescope, originally released in late 2004 — to platinum status in the U.S. Although she's an international star, Tunstall still finds herself in the unenviable position of trying to avoid the sophomore jinx with the release of her latest album, Drastic Fantastic, due in stores Tuesday, Sept. 18.

210SA caught up with Tunstall to get her thoughts on the potential for a sophomore sales slump, the trials and tribulations of dating a band mate and why guys dig a woman who plays guitar.

How much pressure are you feeling after the success of Eye to the Telescope?
In terms of sales, it was so completely off the scale with the first one, I kind of feel like I (checked) the “sell lots of records” box, and I don't need to do it again. That's not how the (record) label feels, I'm sure, but for me, it's more important to make something I really loved and was happy to spend a lot of time playing.

What about the cover art of Drastic Fantastic (which features Tunstall rocking out with an electric guitar)? It looks a little bit like an AC/DC record cover.
I take that as a huge compliment ..... The photograph was part of a photo shoot a few weeks before, and it went out (as the cover art) for our live tour. All the fans really responded and said they loved it. Where I'm at, the good thing about keeping in touch with fans is I really like to have a laugh, and the cover is very tongue-in-cheek.

What's the most personal song on Drastic Fantastic?
They're all personal, but “Someday Soon” (track 10) is the most vulnerable. When Luke (Bullen) the drummer (and Tunstall's boyfriend) and I split up for a day, he told me to f-off after a huge argument, so I did. He must have been reading some book about how to handle a woman in confrontational situations because he didn't call for three days. I decided that was that, and it was such a cowardly way of ending a relationship, so I slipped a note under the door saying, “I can't believe you did that, but thanks for the memories.” I went and wrote this song, and he was like, “What are you talking about? It was just an argument.”

What have you learned from dating him over the past few years?
He's really taught me to be much more independent than I have been in previous relationships. He's independent and needs his space, and that's good for me because I'm happiest that way as well and able to do my own thing. We're sharing the stage and living out a passionate dream on our own terms. The most boring thing in the world is to call your boyfriend when you come offstage. I want to have a beer with him and tell him how great he was.

Why Drastic Fantastic as the new album title?
It just sounded like an approach to life, really, in that how drastic will you go to find your fantastic plateau you're trying to climb to.

When you were coming up through the years, did you feel there was a lack of female role models in music, and do you think strides have been made since then?
Such amazing female role models from the past have been burned fiercely into new generations — Patti Smith, PJ Harvey (and others), but (the list is) not nearly as long as that of male icons and role models. I was very sure about which women in music I aspired to be, and most of the time it was musicians like PJ Harvey, Patti Smith and Chrissie Hynde. They approached music as musicians first and women second. Not to belittle the fact of being women because there's a fierce femininity in what they do, but there was an attitude that was really genderless and related to male icons as well.

Do you still have to overcome hurdles as a woman in the music industry?
Thankfully, if I go into a guitar shop now, I get full respect from the boys behind the counter. Apparently, it's very sexy having a woman play the guitar.

CLINT HALE | 210SA