In Control and Lovin' It

There's an unspoken general rule when it comes to interviewing rising young teenage stars: don't ask anything too complicated. However, that rule may only be valid if you're not interviewing the intelligent and multi-talented Master P protégé, fourteen year-old Forrest Lipton. On a day off from school, this Houston, TX born and raised singer-songwriter, actress, pianist, and math freak, took time to share with me her thoughts on being a role model, Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, and handling her father's disability. I told you she was deep. With her various music, film, television projects, and recent success on Radio Disney, Forrest is this close to being Hollywood's next "It" girl.

Souleo: I hear that you had the day off from school and got to catch up on some work. What's your favorite subject in school?

Forrest: My favorite subject in school is math because there's always a right answer. There's not an in-between so I love math.

S: It sounds as if you don't like any uncertainty, and that you like to be in control. Are you a person who really craves creative control over your own music?

FL: I just like explaining myself the easiest way that I can and that's through music. I love to write about how I feel. I love to write about experiences that I've had, and that's basically how I express myself in piano and everything. I think that really defines me as a person. All of my problems and issues are written into a song. That's definitely how I let out all of my feelings.

S: I hear that you're working with Aaron Carter for a song on your upcoming album. What is that like?

FL: It's awesome. Aaron Carter is so nice and he is a really great person to look up to. It's also awesome working with Master P and Romeo.

S: Your song Crush On U was a hit at Radio Disney. So who do you have a crush on?

FL: Who do I have a crush on? [Laughs] Well, you know throughout these years in school I've always had crushes on different boys. I know everyone else has had crushes before as well. So when I was writing "Crush on You," I thought it'd be kind of a song that everyone could relate to. I was like, okay, let's think of someone, and I thought of an old crush that I had a long time ago.

S: And who was that?

FL: [Laughs] Who was that?! That is confidential business right there!

S: Confidential?! You will not reveal your crush?

FL: Oh no!

S: Well then my readers and I will just have to assume that it was either Aaron Carter or Romeo. I mean why else would you keep it a secret, right?

FL: [Laughs] No, no, they're like mentors, like brothers to me. They're so not like that.

S: If they are your brothers, who would be your musical sisters that you look up to?

FL: I look up to Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin, a lot of the soul/R&B artists.

S: Will there be a lot of R&B on the album?

FL:You can expect a lot. It's really R&B and it has a little flair of pop. There's some dance tracks and it's a really fun album. I'm gonna mix it up.

S: And you have your other single, Madam President . If you were president what would you do with your power?

FL: I would do a lot a lot of things like make the world a very equal place for everyone. I would make everything equal between women and men, between races, and everything else.

S: As the title states, "Madam President" is all about a female president, so are you excited to see Hillary Clinton running for office?

FL: Yes, I am very excited to see Hillary Clinton running. That's another thing that's really awesome about "Madam President." It fits perfectly with Hillary Clinton and she really shows some girl power!

S: So you're bringing back girl power?

FL: Oh yeah!

S: You have an older sister who's in college and wants to be a doctor. Do you see yourself eventually going to college like your sister and Romeo?

FL: Yes, college is definitely in my future. I really, really, would love to go to Julliard or NYU or somewhere really awesome.

S: I'm sure you're pretty aware of the negative news surrounding stars like Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan. You are all similar due to the fact that each of you began your careers at a very early age in the industry. When you read about their troubles does it ever make you nervous or fearful about what you're getting yourself into when it comes to fame and Hollywood?

FL: No, because I was raised right. I would say that my mother has taught me very well. She definitely isn't the type that is in it for her and for the family. I'm the one who begged my mother to take me to these auditions and to move to L.A. My parents would rather have me going to school and becoming a doctor. I was like no, I really, really want to do this, and they were like okay we'll give it a try. So I think the difference between me and other people who stated out as kids, is that I think their parents were in it also for the fame and for everything else. And they also haven't made the right decisions. I think I am a little bit better prepared, and I'm as prepared as I'll get.

S: A lot of young stars like Britney and Lindsay were tagged with the label of being a role model early in their careers. Is that something that you accept or wish to avoid?

FL: I would love to be a role model for kids. Some people talk about not being a role model and they mess up and say "I'm not a role model." But I would definitely want to be a role model. I like for people to see just how much a little girl like me can accomplish. If I do productive things, the kids will say "Oh my God, she's doing all this cool stuff." Why not? I'm smart, I make straight A's, I'm involved in school sports, clubs, and everything else. It's definitely a big thing to be a role model and I would be honored if someone were to look up to me.

S: One person that has been labeled a role model is your fellow Disney associate Vanessa Hudgens, from "High School Musical." How do you feel about her recent nude photo scandal?

FL: My older sister, who is about the same age as Vanessa Hudgens, tells me the same thing my mom and dad have always said, "Put all your cards on the table and nothing will bite you in the tush." If you have bad stuff out there you would have to know it, even if nobody else knew, you would always be worried about someone finding out. So I try to not do things in the first place to be worried about.

S: Do you think that Vanessa can still be a role model to the young audience that you both target?

FL: I guess so to people who realize that everyone makes mistakes. She is working hard, she's talented, and that is something to be proud of. I just hope not to do things myself to begin with, that I have to be worried about in the future. Call me a "goodie, goodie" if you want, but I don't want to be worried all of the time about some bad thing I did coming back to bite me in the bottom.

S: Many teenagers at your age go through a rebellious phase. Are you experiencing any of that at all?

FL: Not really. I have never been like a rebellious type. I'm like a goody two shoes. I like never do anything wrong. Between me and my sister I'm like the goody, goody, goody two shoes. She's willing to take a risk or something and I'm just like "Uhhhhhhhh, are you sure?"

S: If you were to rebel and get away with anything without your parents punishing you, what would you do?

FL: If I were to rebel about something it'd be like a wardrobe thing or something like I wanna wear this instead, or I wanna wear high heels or something. That's the biggest rebellious thing I would ever do.

S: So you say you're a goody two shoes which I believe, but I also know that you're a little thief on the down-low. I hear that you and your cousin like to steal each other's clothes when she visits you.

FL: [Laughs] My cousin and I have been taking each other's things, since we were probably about the age of five. She always comes into town and stays for a long period of time for like two weeks. Basically, during that period of time it's like a shopping spree for me. I just go through all of her clothes and she goes through all of mine. But we both don't tell each other we're going through each other's clothes. By the end of the trip she's like "Boy where did that shirt go?" I'm like, "I don't know what you're talking about, sorry?" And then she'll leave and I'll be like, "Yes, score!"

S: If you could steal all of the clothes out of one celebrity's wardrobe which celebrity would it be and why?

FL: It would be Fergie. I think Fergie has the best taste of all. I love her clothing. She reminds me of myself. I like wearing sporty kinds of clothes like sweats, and she always has the cutest sweatpants, jumpers, and sweat suits. And if she wants to get dressed up you know she does. She always looks cute and that's definitely why I would wanna raid her closet.

S: In addition to trying to figure out how to steal Fergie's clothes, you'll soon be busy working on the film, The Prom. How do you relate to the character in this film?

FL: I play an outgoing, funny, kind-of-person. I think I'm definitely outgoing, fun, and I go to high school. So it all fits together.

S: Speaking of high school do you ever find it hard to relate to your peers or do they treat you differently at all since your life isn't exactly an average teenager's life?

FL: Sometimes it's a little bit difficult to relate to them because they'll be like, "Hey do you wanna go do this?" I'll be like, "I'm sorry I have to go perform somewhere," or "I have to go to an audition." Sometimes it's a little bit difficult to relate and they're like "What?!" But it keeps me out of trouble!

S: You've chosen to show some range as an actress by also deciding to star in a more dramatic role for the upcoming ABC Family comedy-drama Kings of Malibu. You play the daughter of a man with health issues. In your own life your father is in a wheelchair. How did you handle your father's disability?

FL: I will tell you a story. When I was 3 years old, I was in the grocery store with my mom and there was a stranger in the line. I walked up to him and stood on the feet of his wheel chair and my mom ran over and told me "What did I tell you about talking to strangers?" Well after initially getting in trouble for jumping on a stranger, she made me go tell him I was sorry. But my dad is in a chair and I always rode on his foot rest so I thought that was what you were supposed to do just for fun. From that time on I realized that other people think of people with disabilities as different from them in ways that they aren't. Like my Dad can't walk, but he does everything like drive a car, work, watch movies, he goes out to dinner, and whatever. He thinks like everyone else, feels like everyone else, you know just normal. I think that some people don't realize that. If you are missing a limb or you have diabetes or whatever might be different about you, inside you're the same as everyone else.

S: I would have to say that you are a bit different because of your talent and all of your amazing projects. Five years from now where does Forrest Lipton want to be professionally?

FL: I would love to have an album go platinum. I would love to be in a big feature film and own my own clothing company or just a company in general. I would love to be part of a big business.

S: It sounds like you want to follow in your mentor, Master P's, footsteps and have a hugely successful empire.

FL: [Laughs] Yeah, definitely!