Colbie Caillat Breaks Out with "Breakthrough"
September 2009
The sunny California girl known for her laidback, acoustic pop hits "Bubbly" and "Realize," Caillat continues to dominate radio waves with her newest single, "Fallin' For You," off of her sophomore release "Breakthrough," a collection of songs showcasing her signature crisp, delightful vocal talents. For Caillat fans, Fall brings the return of their favorite folksy songstress, who has tour dates booked throughout the month. WaldenPonders chatted with Caillat about the personal breakthroughs which led to "Breakthrough" and her newly acquired penchant for jumping out of planes.
How does "Breakthrough" differ from your first album, "Coco"?
I worked with different producers and different songwriters, and I really wanted to experiment and make changes where there was more tempo with all of the songs. We added more electric guitar and violin and the cello, even though those aren't the main instruments throughout the CD. They're just tossed back in the mix just to add a different kind of style and sound to all the songs.
In the liner notes, you talk about this new record as a result of overcoming fears and insecurities. Can you elaborate on that struggle?
For my entire life, I've always had stage fright. All of a sudden, after writing songs and recording 'em for fun I got a record deal, and I had to go on tour with the Goo Goo Dolls and start doing TV performances. I wasn't ready for any of that. Honestly, I would sometimes cry before shows, or I'd wanna just cancel the show because I couldn't bear going out there on the stage, but I had to keep challenging myself every day. For two years, I kept performing, and slowly, it got easier and easier each time. When I was recording this record, I got scared again, and I was like, "Oh my gosh, I'm about to start this whole process over again. I don't know if I'm ready for it." Then, I realized that so many people have to fight through their fears in life, and there are parts of your job that you don't like, and you just have to break through that and overcome it. And so, I talked myself out of the fear and started looking at ways of being positive about it, looking at the good things like seeing my fans singing my songs back to me and everyone cheering when I get out on stage. Music's supposed to be fun, and once I started thinking of it in that perspective, I enjoy it now. I can't wait for every show. I love it.
What can fans expect from this tour?
Well, I'm having a lot more fun up on stage, and I have a bigger band now. I have a lighting director. I'm doing a cover song, "Don't Cha," and my band and I redid it, so it's like a totally different style.
What is your favorite song to perform off the new record?
"Fearless." It's the one that's more of an emotional ballad, and we have this really cool bass that's behind it that's more of like a hip hop-py, urban-y kind of bass beat. We bring the house down, it's just the coolest vibe.
You have previously recorded a Christmas song called "Mistletoe." Is it true you're recording another?
I just recorded "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" for the Special Olympics: A Very Special Christmas album. It's such an honor for me to help out with that.
Would you like to collaborate with artists across other genres?
I love hip hop music and R&B, so that's my next project is work with hip hop artists like Common, Pharrell, Timbaland - that's the next collaboration that I wanna do.
What goals do you have for career in the next few years?
Well, I really wanna perform at the Grammys. I wanna win a Grammy, hopefully. I wanna start writing songs for other artists. I have so many songs written, but I don't see myself putting them out as my kind of music, so if I could be able to give those to other artists who I admire and think would be great for them, that's what I would like to do.
When you're in a certain mood and looking for a song to help, what artists do you find yourself gravitating towards? Do you ever choose your own music?
I do both. I'll go to my room, and I'll play my guitar and start singing and write about it if it's happy or sad. I put on Bob Marley if I want him to take me out of [a] bad mood. If I'm not in the mood to write, and if I'm just in the mood to just cry about something, I'll listen to Coldplay. "Fix You" - thats probably my favorite song when you're sad. It somehow relates to every situation that you're going through. Or Amy Winehouse or Adele. Those are beautiful musicians.
What is something about you fans don't necessarily know?
I'm a daredevil. I went skydiving a few weeks ago. I loved it. I would go a million times, but next time, I wanna go either at sunset or at night in a really beautiful place like Hawaii or some tropical place. And I'd like to go multiple times in a row cause it happens so fast that it's like, "Really? Thats it?" It's like 3 minutes. I like to go on roller coasters, and I like go-kart racing, stuff like that. I'm really into fun, adventurous stuff and being very spontaneous.
Any final comments?
I just wanna thank [my fans] for still listening to my music and making my album go to #1 the first week it came out. I really can't wait to see them at my show and just expect to have a lot of fun.
Links: Official Site | Facebook | Twitter
How does "Breakthrough" differ from your first album, "Coco"?
I worked with different producers and different songwriters, and I really wanted to experiment and make changes where there was more tempo with all of the songs. We added more electric guitar and violin and the cello, even though those aren't the main instruments throughout the CD. They're just tossed back in the mix just to add a different kind of style and sound to all the songs.
In the liner notes, you talk about this new record as a result of overcoming fears and insecurities. Can you elaborate on that struggle?
For my entire life, I've always had stage fright. All of a sudden, after writing songs and recording 'em for fun I got a record deal, and I had to go on tour with the Goo Goo Dolls and start doing TV performances. I wasn't ready for any of that. Honestly, I would sometimes cry before shows, or I'd wanna just cancel the show because I couldn't bear going out there on the stage, but I had to keep challenging myself every day. For two years, I kept performing, and slowly, it got easier and easier each time. When I was recording this record, I got scared again, and I was like, "Oh my gosh, I'm about to start this whole process over again. I don't know if I'm ready for it." Then, I realized that so many people have to fight through their fears in life, and there are parts of your job that you don't like, and you just have to break through that and overcome it. And so, I talked myself out of the fear and started looking at ways of being positive about it, looking at the good things like seeing my fans singing my songs back to me and everyone cheering when I get out on stage. Music's supposed to be fun, and once I started thinking of it in that perspective, I enjoy it now. I can't wait for every show. I love it.
What can fans expect from this tour?
Well, I'm having a lot more fun up on stage, and I have a bigger band now. I have a lighting director. I'm doing a cover song, "Don't Cha," and my band and I redid it, so it's like a totally different style.
What is your favorite song to perform off the new record?
"Fearless." It's the one that's more of an emotional ballad, and we have this really cool bass that's behind it that's more of like a hip hop-py, urban-y kind of bass beat. We bring the house down, it's just the coolest vibe.
You have previously recorded a Christmas song called "Mistletoe." Is it true you're recording another?
I just recorded "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" for the Special Olympics: A Very Special Christmas album. It's such an honor for me to help out with that.
Would you like to collaborate with artists across other genres?
I love hip hop music and R&B, so that's my next project is work with hip hop artists like Common, Pharrell, Timbaland - that's the next collaboration that I wanna do.
What goals do you have for career in the next few years?
Well, I really wanna perform at the Grammys. I wanna win a Grammy, hopefully. I wanna start writing songs for other artists. I have so many songs written, but I don't see myself putting them out as my kind of music, so if I could be able to give those to other artists who I admire and think would be great for them, that's what I would like to do.
When you're in a certain mood and looking for a song to help, what artists do you find yourself gravitating towards? Do you ever choose your own music?
I do both. I'll go to my room, and I'll play my guitar and start singing and write about it if it's happy or sad. I put on Bob Marley if I want him to take me out of [a] bad mood. If I'm not in the mood to write, and if I'm just in the mood to just cry about something, I'll listen to Coldplay. "Fix You" - thats probably my favorite song when you're sad. It somehow relates to every situation that you're going through. Or Amy Winehouse or Adele. Those are beautiful musicians.
What is something about you fans don't necessarily know?
I'm a daredevil. I went skydiving a few weeks ago. I loved it. I would go a million times, but next time, I wanna go either at sunset or at night in a really beautiful place like Hawaii or some tropical place. And I'd like to go multiple times in a row cause it happens so fast that it's like, "Really? Thats it?" It's like 3 minutes. I like to go on roller coasters, and I like go-kart racing, stuff like that. I'm really into fun, adventurous stuff and being very spontaneous.
Any final comments?
I just wanna thank [my fans] for still listening to my music and making my album go to #1 the first week it came out. I really can't wait to see them at my show and just expect to have a lot of fun.
Links: Official Site | Facebook | Twitter
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