Music

Demi Lovato calls from her home in Los Angeles. It's a day full of phone interviews for the 16-year-old singer and actress born and raised in Dallas. Most journalists have been focusing on questions about her love life, Lovato's publicist confirms.

She's been rumored to be dating a slew of guys: Trace Cyrus (Miley's big brother) of Metro Station, Alex DeLeon of the Cab, Alex Noyes of new band Honor Society and Joe Jonas of the Jonas Brothers.

But Lovato doesn't want to talk about that. She would prefer to concentrate on her burgeoning music career, which was officially launched with her 2008 solo debut, Don't Forget. Oh, and her second record, too, the upcoming Here We Go Again, which is scheduled for release July 21, a little more than two weeks after her concert performance Sunday night at Nokia Theatre.

Dallas is very special to Lovato. She calls LA, where she currently lives with her family, her "home base right now." Clearly, she would rather be back in Big D.

"I still love Dallas," she says. "I was in Dallas up until last year. Dallas is my home."

And just how did Dallas ignite her desire to make music her priority?

In Dallas, she says, it was all about "seeing the music rather than showing the music. It's a huge performance place. I got to grow up in a really good place to experience so much music ... feel it instead of just hearing it."

Lovato knows it was her starring role in 2008's Disney Channel film Camp Rock that put her on the proverbial pop-culture map. She currently stars in the Disney Channel sitcom Sonny With a Chance. She also shared star billing with friend Selena Gomez, another North Texas native, on the recent Disney Channel flick Princess Protection Program. And Camp Rock 2, where she reprises her role as Mitchie Torres, is a sure thing.

Still, for Demetria Devonne Lovato, acting remains a hobby, she has said, and music is her "first passion." She's still an artist and budding songwriter finding her muse. On Don't Forget she explored her inner rock chick. Much of the CD is composed of songs written by Lovato and the three Jonas Brothers. Overall the sound is rock-edged pop, a testament to the fact that Lovato is a fan of heavy metal.

The title track in particular is indicative of Lovato's style. The tune is a catchy mix of slow and fast, light and dark. It's all angst tempered by a gradual build to the explosive, guitar-fueled climax.

"That song 'Don't Forget' is my baby project. That's what my music style as an individual is. There's always a little bit more of me that wants to come out. Performing is the one way that I get to fully express who I am. You don't know me. Let me show you who I am."

Here We Go Again, Lovato confirms, reveals a few more of her musical sides. For that effort, she co-wrote tunes with Toby Gad (Beyoncé, Fergie, the Veronicas) and William Beckett of indie rock band the Academy Is ... .

"There's a lot of songs on there that are more edgy and more rock," she says about the new record. "But there are also songs on there that are the complete opposite, very soulful. It's different. I've grown so much between albums. There's one that talks about the inner emotions that I'm feeling. People think that they know me, but they don't."

One thing is for sure: Lovato doesn't want to be immediately connected to the Camp Rock films. Or, for that matter, any of the men she's supposedly dating.

"I didn't want to be just known for Camp Rock. I wanted to show my personal music, just express myself. I just wanted to show the music that I'm proud of. Writing is where I can most be myself." Plan your life

Demi Lovato and opening act David Archuleta perform Sunday at Nokia Theatre, 1001 Performance Place, Grand Prairie. Doors open at 6 p.m.; show begins at 7. $39.50 to $49.50. Ticketmaster.

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