COLBIE CAILLAT Really Made Me Comfortable

JUNE 2011 ISSUE MMUSICMAG.COM JUNE 2011 ISSUE MMUSICMAG.COM Q&A

Where did you meet Common? and I fell in love with the song after a couple whether it’s falling in love or saying “I love On a Grammy panel I did at the House of months. I try to listen to people’s input, so you” for the fi rst time or being in a fi ght with Blues in L.A. with Nas, Doc Brown Band and I went with my gut and trusted that he was someone. We wrote “Shadow” for my friend Common. We were asked questions about right. You couldn’t go wrong starting with Brianna, who was dating this guy who was songs we had written, and then we sang any song, but that one puts people in a good leading her on. Everyone has gone through them. When Common sang “The Light,” Nas mood right off the bat. the same things, so I just wrote from what I nudged me and said, “Sing the chorus!” It was honestly, genuinely going through. The was so crazy: Nas was telling me to sing one What else did you do differently? reason I titled the album All of You is because of my favorite Common songs with Common. I wanted to show off more vocal range than I gave more of myself. With Breakthrough I later told him, “I love your music, I’d love on the fi rst two records. On Coco, I was and Coco, I wrote from a more general point to write with you,” and he said he’d like to really young, not as experienced or tapped of view. With this record I named situations write with me, too. into what I could do vocally. I just sang and and moments and he-she stuff. I opened up it was all very simple. With Breakthrough, more, and I think people can tap into that What surprised you about him? I had a sinus infection the whole time, and even more when you’re that honest. You never know how a person is going to you can hear that. With this record, I wanted be when you actually meet them. He always to go beyond what I had done. The older I Did Brianna like the song? seemed nice and he raps about positive, get and the more I learn about singing, the She loved it. She actually played it for the poetic things. But that’s really the case—he’s stronger my voice gets. guy, which we were a little embarrassed the sweetest guy with the most positive, mellow energy. Every lyric that came out of Onstage in Chicago, April 2011 his mouth was positive. Some who don’t know his music have a misunderstanding about him.

Do you ever fi nd yourself intimidated by your collaborators? Not really, because I’ve written with many people and we make it comfortable with each other. You just say what you feel and express your ideas, and everyone is respectful. But when it comes to singing the tracks, yeah—Toby Gad and Ryan have Andrew Southam recorded Natasha Bedingfi eld and Beyoncé, so I want to do my vocals as well as I can. They were both so complimentary that it COLBIE CAILLAT really made me comfortable. We all have different styles, different voice tones, so Falling in love, making new friends and sharing more of herself than ever once I stopped worrying about comparisons it was not a problem. COLBIE CAILLAT BELIEVES IN FATE. which put Caillat very much in the right What’s your writing process like? In fact, it plays a major role in the songs on place at the right time: Without the Idol Each record has been the same in that I write When you’re co-writing, how do you her third album, All of You. The 26-year-old grind occupying her every waking moment, all the songs differently. I’ll write by myself keep your own sound intact? California singer wrote most of the tunes she recorded her 2007 debut, Coco, which on the guitar, or I’ll have a writing session By adding my input. When you hear a song about her relationship with guitarist Justin promptly sold more than 2 million copies. with a producer or a songwriter or an artist on the radio you can tell if Ryan wrote it, but Maury/Landov Tannen Young. Caillat wasn’t looking for a boyfriend, The follow-up, 2009’s Breakthrough, I know. I’ll write with my friend Jason Reeves that’s usually a song he’s written by himself but she had just released an album and hired debuted at No. 1 and produced the hit or with my boyfriend, Justin Young—we went or with a different producer, not really with a band that happened to include Young. A “Fallin’ for You.” Caillat remains proud of to Hawaii and wrote a few songs together. an artist. What I wanted to do with “Favorite Do you practice? ‘The more I learn connection was made. Sure, you can call it both records, but wanted to push herself Song” was blend Common’s R&B hip-hop I defi nitely practice, and I take lessons coincidence, but isn’t fate more romantic? further on All of You. She collaborated How did Common and Ryan Tedder end style with Ryan Tedder’s rock-pop feel and once in a while when I’m not on tour. about singing, the “Sometimes if you’re in the right place at with noted songwriters Ryan Tedder and up on “Favorite Song”? my soul sound. For example, I wanted to I should take them more often. You the wrong time, or you left your house fi ve Toby Gad, as well as rapper Common—and I’ve been friends with Ryan for 10 start the song with the chorus, otherwise you have to. It’s like tuning your guitar—it’s minutes later or didn’t stop at that stoplight she focused more than ever before on her years, and I met Common a year ago stronger my start out with the rap part and heavy electric an instrument you have to work on. or didn’t get that cup of coffee or whatever—it vocals. “I’m really learning what my voice and asked if he’d write with me for this guitar—and I wanted my sound at the start, You have to warm up before every all happens for a reason,” says Caillat. can do if I treat it the right way,” she says. record. So the three of us did a session voice gets.’ that summery, acoustic feel. single show, otherwise you’re hurting That would include her early rejection Here, she discusses other things that have in Los Angeles, and it went so well it your voice. You can’t run a marathon on TV talent show American Idol, recently gone right. surprised us all. Why did you lead off the album with without training for it. about. Justin and I wrote it for her, and they “Brighter Than the Sun”? were still dating at the time and we were My manager gets credit for that. I wanted How do you make songs personal, but hanging out with him. He thought it was ‘When you write about any experience, someone to ease into the record. I wanted to start it relatable for the listener? funny, but it was awkward with him knowing with something mellow, but he felt strongly When you write about any experience, how we felt about him. is going to be able to relate to it.’ that “Brighter Than the Sun” should lead, someone is going to be able to relate to it, –Eric R. Danton

3838 39

M mag 12.indd 38 7/7/11 9:40:39 PM M mag 12.indd 39 7/7/11 9:40:23 PM