Gossip Beth Ditto on Personalities, Producers and Rocking for the Right Reasons
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MAY 2012 ISSUE MMUSICMAG.COM SPOTLIGHT R ankin Hannah Blilie, Beth Ditto, Nathan Howdeshell GOSSIP Beth Ditto on personalities, producers and rocking for the right reasons CREATING THE FOLLOW-UP TO A not the most skilled musicians. We know hot-selling major-label debut can be how to play our way.” downright stressful, but Gossip was looking Ditto formed Gossip with guitarist to do so with as little drama as possible. After Nathan “Brace Paine” Howdeshell in 2009’s Music for Men proved a success, the 1999; drummer Hannah Blilie joined in Portland trio’s members readied a new batch 2004, replacing original member Kathy of songs—but found themselves unsettled Mendonca. Even the lineup change was a on the album’s direction. “Being just a typically amicable affair. “We’re just people three-piece, it would be easy to make the who hang out all the time anyway,” says Ditto. same record over and over again,” observes “That’s the beauty of being in a band for so singer and keyboardist Beth Ditto. “You long, and being in a band just because—not MAY 2012 want every record to be different, so you’re necessarily because you were setting out to M MUSIC & MUSICIANS always looking for advice. We really wanted a be famous. You’re making music because it’s producer that could filter it in a different way.” fun. I think you’ll realize that you don’t have MAGAZINE Enter Brian Higgins, known for his to be in a band with people you don’t like. work with worldwide pop acts like Kylie Actually, you can be in a band with people Minogue, Pet Shop Boys, Girls Aloud and you really care about.” Sugababes. Ditto and Higgins connected That casual attitude turned serious via a mutual friend the previous summer, when it was time to write songs for the with Higgins inviting Ditto into the studio. new album. “This is the most involved I ever Their easy working relationship encouraged was with writing lyrics,” she says. “I actually Gossip to ask Higgins to helm the new took it seriously. ‘Oh, wait a minute! I guess A Joyful Noise. The producer brought polish I am a songwriter!’ I’d never really let myself to the group’s songs while remaining true have that feeling.” Ditto credits a confidence to its longstanding indie-disco aesthetic. born of experience for allowing her to do so. “You want it to be a good combination of “Gossip’s been together for 13 years, and personalities and styles,” Ditto explains. “As this is our fifth album,” she notes. “I turned a producer you have to remember that you’re 30, and I think I finally found the voice that in there for hours a day, and be realistic I felt comfortable with. and somewhat accepting that maybe we’re –Amanda Farah 20 M mag 19_cs5.indd 20 5/20/12 11:11 PM.