Cassidy Haley takes flight and talks about his audition after watching Adam Lambert

http://blogs.chron.com/peep/2009/08/cassidy_haley_takes_flight_via_1.html

In a bittersweet twist of fate, Skin.Graft has also dressed several Idol contestants, including Lambert (of course), Allison Iraheta, Lil Rounds and season 7 winner David Cook.
"Sitting there watching these people on screen, wearing my clothes, was kind of heartwrenching, because all I wanted to do was be up there singing," Haley says.
"A lot of my personal style goes into the clothes that we sell. It was really an inspiration to just go for it."
Ultimately, though, Haley says Lambert's success on the show was "inspiring" and motivation to put his own career plans into action. The pair have been friends for several years.
And yes, Haley did audition for Idol earlier this summer. He made it past two rounds and sang in front of an executive producer but was dismissed. (Their loss.)
"He basically said my voice wasn't unique enough -- which probably was code for, 'You don't sound like Adam Lambert.' And that was that," Haley says with a laugh.
"I had to do it because of what happened with Adam. In a way, I was relieved. I just have such a strong idea of what I want to do. The last thing I'd want is label like that breathing down my neck, telling me what to do.
"It gave me a lot more respect for Adam and what he was able to achieve on that show."