The sunny California singer Colbie Caillat brought her shiny tunes to Glen Ellyn, Illinois, recently to the newly renovated McAnich Arts Center at College of DuPage. Not only was there a visually stunning show with large video screens, but her Grammy-winning duet with Jason Mraz, "Lucky," was beamed in to the delight of fans. Her partnering with openers Alex & Sierra from X Factor for a rendition of Magic!'s "Rude" was also a highlight.
She is known not only for hits such as "Bubbly" and "Realize," but also for winning a Grammy for Album of the Year for background vocals and writing on Taylor Swift's album Fearless.
Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds worked on several tracks, with her latest endeavor Gypsy Heart ( Side A ) released this summer. The video for her single "Try" featured celebrities such as Miranda Lambert, Sara Bareilles, Katherine McPhee and Fifth Harmony without makeup.
Windy City spoke with the hitmaker just before this latest gig in Illinois.
Windy City Times: Hi, Colbie. You have performed in Chicago a few times, haven't you?
Colbie Caillat: Definitely. My boyfriend is a huge Bears fan. We have played at several Bears' games and did the national anthem a bunch of times.
WCT: That has to be a challenging song.
Colbie Caillat: Oh my God; it's brutal.
WCT: Let's talk about your new song "Try." It seems a very women-empowering message.
Colbie Caillat: Well, I wrote "Try" with Babyface. It was a song for me to become very comfortable with myself and to not let people steer me in the wrong direction. That has happened to me when I got into the music industry. Especially with this record, I was going through a difficult time. Kenny reminded me that I don't have to be someone that I am not so people would like me better. My insecurities can hold me back from so many things.
Getting ready as a female every day is exhausting. I had to learn to be comfortable with myself. From that I am going to get dolled up if I want to because it's fun but if I don't want to that's okay, too. I don't have to worry about going out in public without being done up is a bad thing. It's a refreshing thing if you are inspiring other people and being creative in the whole fashion world, too. For me that has been important.
The music video came out and people have been giving me their reactions to it, not only women but men. I am so proud of that. I didn't know it would affect men in the same way but I guess we all have insecurities. We look in the mirror and point them out daily. The point is I guess we all have them.
WCT: I saw you were in a video for the Human Rights Campaign about same-sex marriage. Do you have a lot of gay friends that inspired your involvement?
Colbie Caillat: I have some friends that are, like, my stylist, but that is not even the point. I don't think we have a right to stop people from that. It doesn't bother any of us, so when they asked if I would speak out about it I was a hundred percent on board. The bummer is people get mad at you by doing that. I believe you can speak on what you believe in so if that will help in any way then it's worth it.
WCT: The good side is you gain even more fans. I am sure there will be lots of gay fans like myself at the show tonight.
Colbie Caillat: Totally!
WCT: With the song "If You Love Me Let Me Go," things were heading in an electronic approach to the album.
Colbie Caillat: Yes; I have always loved all of these genres of music. Being a songwriter it is so much fun to be able to write any of those if you want to. By producing it, you can turn it into a radio song, a country song [or] a synthetic pop song, or just do whatever you want with production.
I wanted a mix and that is why I called the record Gypsy Heart. Not only in my personal life am I all over the place with the things I like, my style, I'm so indecisive, constantly changing but when it comes to music I didn't want to have music that you only listen to by the pool barbecuing or a full record of dance-pop. I wanted a song that people could use for any occasion. I wanted them to flow nicely into each other.
I started the record off pretty uptempo. "If You Love Me Let Me Go" goes into "Try," which goes into "Never Gonna Let You Down," that then goes into "Land Called Far Away" that I did with Babyface. It is very folky with acoustic guitar, a little banjo and no harmonies. It is like a riding on a train through a field somewhere.
I wanted songs that could flow in and out of each other. Some are mellow and some are really fun that you can dance to.
WCT: Making it with a "Side A" is a throwback to vinyl?
Colbie Caillat: Yes, calling it "Side A" is for sure that. What I love about records is that you have to listen to the whole thing. You can't just skip around really. It is not that easy. You listen to the first five songs and then you take a break, flip it over and listen to the rest of the record.
I know when I buy records on iTunes I don't have time to listen to them. I am always bummed. I will buy the Beyonce record, listen to the first three songs, then get busy at rehearsal, and forget to go back to it because there are fifteen songs on the record and no one has time for that right now.
I wanted to give people a glimpse and it just enough for them to be able to hear, get to know, and love the new music. Now at my shows people know every word to those songs.
In September when the rest of the record comes out, it won't be a huge amount for people to digest.
WCT: Your music is very influenced by California overall?
Colbie Caillat: Yeah, California, classic rock, Hawaiithe whole sunny, optimistic, carefree lifestyle.
WCT: What can you tell readers about the person behind the music?
Colbie Caillat: Well, I'm very shy in a lot of ways. I am kind of a hermit. I like to hideout on my tour bus. When I am home I don't really go out. I hang out with my family, boyfriend, and three dogs. I like the outdoors so things like hiking and going to the lake a lot. I like to jet ski or take boat rides, paddle board.
I'm vegetarian and a huge supporter of animal rights. I wear all Vegan clothing. I try to make an impact in that way for cruelty issues.
WCT: I noticed you sang a song with Columbian singer Juanes. Do you speak Spanish?
Colbie Caillat: No, I don't. I should. I grew up in dance class in California and can't dance either, so...
WCT: You have worked with other artists like Jason Mraz and, now, Babyface. Is there someone out there that you would really like to work with but haven't yet?
Colbie Caillat: I've been lucky enough to work with so many people on my bucket list but I would like to do a song with Coldplay. I think that would be incredible. An R&B artist like Lauryn Hill would be amazing because she is my favorite singer of all timesomeone with soul I would like to do a song with.
WCT: You didn't wind up getting on American Idol after auditioning at the front of your career. What do you say to singers who don't make it on the show?
Colbie Caillat: I think they have to find the path that is right for them. American Idol was not right for me. I knew it but I figured I would give it a try. There will always be times that people don't choose you and that is okay, because it happens for a reason.
You have to work really hard and I want to remind people about that because people think that if they want it then it will happen. They have to work hard in every single way.
Colbie Caillat releases the entire Gypsy Heart on Tuesday, Sept. 30. For more information on the tour, visit www.colbiecaillat.com .