Alessia Cara chats 'Love & Hyperbole', collaborating with John Mayer, thoughts on Chappell Roan, and more

WTDY-FM / The NEW 96.5

Transcript

00:00How are you?

00:01I'm good.

00:02How are you?

00:03I'm good.

00:05It's been a minute.

00:07Congrats on on life so much good things happening for you right now.

00:13Oh my gosh.

00:14I know it's it felt like I've been gone for so long in like a weird way.

00:17I guess I kind of have been but I'm excited to be back.

00:19Well, you make your presence known.

00:21I mean, Love and Hyperbole.

00:22I love this album.

00:23It sounds you've never sounded better in my opinion.

00:26But before we dive into this album and this new tour, I can't help but mention like,

00:33it's been 10 years since here in Scarce, you're beautiful.

00:36It seems like so much time has passed, but none at all at the same time, if that makes

00:40any sense whatsoever.

00:41I mean, these are songs that I play every morning on my show in Philadelphia.

00:45What does that mean to you?

00:47After all these years?

00:48I mean, these songs still mean so much to everyone.

00:53It's crazy.

00:54It's and thank you for playing them.

00:56So I appreciate it.

00:57It's honestly like, so wild, because you know, you don't even think like people are going

01:00to hear these songs like once or care about them once, let alone like, year after year

01:05after year.

01:06And it's so interesting now seeing like, people out of my demographic that are younger that

01:11are like discovering these songs again.

01:13And it's interesting, like, I feel like it's becoming scary to say like, almost like nostalgia

01:20music for some people, like the same way that I feel about like early 2000s and like 90s.

01:25It's crazy that it's become that but I'm like, Oh, my God, am I my vintage now?

01:29Like, am I approaching vintage status?

01:33But no, it's so cool.

01:34I'm just so glad that like new people are discovering it and that it's still meant means

01:38so much to people, you know, because you, you don't know what it's what it's gonna be

01:42when you when you are making this stuff and when you put it out.

01:44So it's really nice.

01:46Yeah, it's kind of crazy that people consider like classic music, like, you know, late 90s,

01:50early 2000s.

01:51I'm like, wait, what?

01:52I know, right?

01:53It's like, yeah, they're like, yeah, like oldies, you know,

01:56Yeah, like, like NSYNC and Britney.

01:57I'm like, wait, what?

01:58Oh, how old?

01:59How old am I getting?

02:00This is crazy.

02:01Let's fast forward 10 years.

02:04You know, it's been a week now since the album has been out.

02:07How does it feel?

02:08This new project, this new baby, like it's out in the world.

02:11How does it feel?

02:13Feels great.

02:14Yeah, already a week postpartum.

02:19It's wild.

02:19I can't believe it's been a week like it's just flown by flown by when I set the date

02:23for like, you know, the new year, February, it felt like so long from then.

02:28I was just like, oh, my God, this is going to take so long to get here.

02:31And it's flown by.

02:33But I just feel so happy that it's out.

02:35I've been sitting on this music for so long.

02:37And it's my favorite music I've ever written.

02:40So I'm just so happy that like people get to hear it now.

02:44Yeah, I mean, from first listen, there was a few songs that jumped out.

02:47I mean, fire.

02:49It's so obvious.

02:51Slow motion, slow motion might be my favorite.

02:53Song sounds so good.

02:55Is there a certain song that stands out for you?

02:58Like you couldn't wait for your fans to hear it or, you know, something special for you?

03:04I mean, honestly, all the ones you mentioned, like all the singles that we've released

03:07are some of my favorite songs on the album, which is so nice.

03:10It's so nice when they get to align, like the singles that you choose being your favorites,

03:14because usually my favorites are always like the weird deep cuts.

03:17So this is so nice to have like so many of my favorites be like showcased in that way.

03:21So, yeah, those ones.

03:24And then there's like a few other ones that I love, too.

03:25There's a song called Drive that I really love.

03:27There's a song called Clearly that I really love.

03:31It's hard to pick, honestly, because there's so many on this album that I truly, truly love.

03:36Clearly, that's another good one, too.

03:37It's a perfect way to end the album, too, in my opinion.

03:40And then you got the guitar riff, the solo from John Mayer.

03:44How did that come to fruition?

03:46I've seen that man perform live like over a dozen times.

03:50He's insane.

03:51How did that all come together?

03:52He's amazing.

03:53He's one of my favorite artists ever and one of my favorite musicians ever.

03:57So I always had him in the back of my mind, you know, for maybe one day,

04:01like doing some sort of collab.

04:03And I didn't want to use the card until it felt like it was the right song.

04:08And so once I wrote Obvious, I was like, this would be so cool, you know, for John Mayer.

04:13But I just like didn't say anything for a while.

04:15And then it kind of came time to turn in the song.

04:17And there was like this empty space in it that I had to either choose to like write

04:21something to or just leave it or I didn't know what to do.

04:24And I was like, a John Mayer solo here would be just spectacular.

04:27So I just like bit the bullet and asked.

04:30I was like, you know, fully expecting him to politely decline.

04:36So I was fully prepared for that.

04:37And it was the complete opposite.

04:38We went in the studio then a couple days later.

04:41And he just like, you know, played something incredible on it and was so quick.

04:46And just like is absolutely the most one of the most talented people I've ever seen.

04:50So it was so cool to, you know, to have his stamp of approval,

04:54but also like his stamp of like talent on my song.

04:57It felt really cool.

04:58That's amazing.

04:59Who else are we manifesting for like a future collab?

05:02Who's put it out there?

05:04Oh, my gosh.

05:05I always like shoot for the stars.

05:06I have like these like manifest the ones like Stevie Wonder, Stevie Nicks, the Stevies.

05:14I love them all.

05:16Who else?

05:17I love Chris Martin of Coldplay.

05:20Amazing.

05:21There's so many people I'd love to work with.

05:23He's on another planet.

05:25Chris Martin, he's he's one of my favorites, too.

05:27He's unreal.

05:29So good.

05:29Yeah.

05:29And his voice is like one of the one of my favorite voices in music ever.

05:33So that would be unreal.

05:35You got 14 songs on this album.

05:37How many songs did you write all together?

05:39Were there a lot of songs that, you know, maybe be a part of a deluxe album in the future?

05:44How many songs were scrapped?

05:46Um, there were I wrote, I believe about 46, I think was what I 46 songs for the album

05:52narrowed down to 14.

05:53I can't do math.

05:54So I don't know how many.

05:57There's a there's a reason I'm an artist, not a.

06:00But yeah, there's gonna be a few for hopefully a potential deluxe.

06:03There's some stuff that I want to definitely keep that just didn't feel right for like the

06:08original body of work that I would love to maybe put out in the future or on a deluxe

06:12or something, you know, because there were great songs that I unfortunately had to to

06:17cut, not because I didn't love them, just because, you know, they just didn't feel right

06:20for this.

06:20But I would love to use them elsewhere.

06:23Maybe.

06:24Yeah, I'm always wanting more.

06:25I'm greedy.

06:25I'm like always think about that deluxe version, like SZA just released her deluxe version

06:29of her album.

06:30It's so good.

06:32Speaking of the Grammys, obviously, you won Best New Artist 2018.

06:37The Grammys just passed Chapel Rowan.

06:39What are your thoughts on on this year's Best New Artist?

06:43Oh, my gosh.

06:44I love her.

06:45Love her.

06:46I felt like she was going to win that because she just I mean, has like her artistry is

06:51just like so beautiful and so well crafted.

06:54So I felt like she would win it.

06:56But there are so many other people that I was also rooting for.

07:00Like that category was like the most stacked I've seen.

07:02Like I was like, I genuinely don't know who I would pick.

07:06Like there are so many incredible artists this year that have just like have been working

07:10for years that have finally like, you know, broken through.

07:14So I thought it was great.

07:15I'm so happy for her.

07:16And I'm so happy for everyone in that category who's had like such a wonderful year.

07:21And so many of them that I know personally to them like been putting in work, you know,

07:25I've seen so many of these artists music in the past, like, and how hard they've been

07:29working.

07:30So it's so nice to see them have like, their, their chance to break through.

07:35But yeah, love Chapel.

07:36She's wonderful.

07:37Yeah, she's having such a run.

07:40The song you wish you wrote.

07:41I love asking this question.

07:42Like you've been, you know, working hard on this project in the studio grinding.

07:46Is there a song that you've heard recently that has given you inspiration?

07:50You're like, oh, I wish I thought of that first.

07:52Oh my god.

07:53Yeah, I always think that there's so many songs.

07:55Oh, this is so good.

07:56Like listening to music as a fan is wonderful.

07:58And then listening to music as an artist is torture because you're like, oh, you just

08:01have that like, you know, but it does make you want to be better.

08:05There's so many great songs.

08:06There's honestly, this entire album, there's an artist named McGee, who is like, kind of

08:11popping off now.

08:12And he has a song called Are You Looking Up that I wish I wrote for sure.

08:17Who else?

08:18There's so many.

08:19I mean, good luck, babe.

08:20Speaking of Chapel again, what a beautifully crafted song.

08:24That whole album is wonderful, too.

08:25It's like filled with songs that are great, but probably Are You Looking Up is like my

08:29top right now.

08:30Yeah.

08:31And you're getting all set for this tour.

08:33It's happening by Philadelphia in a couple months.

08:35It's coming up fast.

08:37Are you excited to get back on the road?

08:39Are there tour must haves for you as you embark on this journey?

08:45Yes.

08:46I feel like I really need to prepare myself this time because I don't really take care

08:51of myself as much as I should on the road.

08:52I'm always like losing my voice.

08:53I'm always just a little bit of a disaster on the road.

08:56So I'm like, really prepping this time.

08:58I'm going to bring like all my vitamins, my, you know, my ginger shots to keep my immune

09:04system up.

09:04There's like a bunch of things.

09:05I'm going to get like a playlist for the bus, a bunch of books.

09:09There's like things that I need to put in place to really just like stay healthy and

09:12good.

09:14But I'm I'm very excited.

09:15I think it's going to be super fun.

09:17And my brother, my brother is going to come out with me.

09:20So we've never toured together.

09:21So that's so cool.

09:24Yeah, he's awesome.

09:25He's like a videographer, editor, director.

09:26So he's going to be on the road with me capturing all the moments.

09:29Oh, that's so much fun.

09:30I'm looking forward to Philly.

09:31Do you have any fun Philly memories?

09:33Or is there any like spot you have to go to see?

09:37Reminisce.

09:38Reminisce.

09:39There is.

09:40I love Philly.

09:41Honestly, I love being there.

09:42The food there is always so good.

09:43I mean, not to be cliche, but the cheesesteaks absolutely spectacular.

09:47Unfortunately, my favorite place, I believe, burnt down.

09:51It's back.

09:52It's back.

09:53It's back.

09:54James, they just they heard you were coming back.

09:57And they're like, we got to get our affairs in order.

09:59Oh, my gosh.

10:00It's back.

10:01I love that.

10:02Oh, my God.

10:02They did it for me.

10:03Thank you, James.

10:04Thank you so much.

10:06That's such great news.

10:08Because I was asking about it the last time I was there.

10:10And then like just after my last tour, like after COVID, I was I messaged Keith,

10:16who used to work at Def Jam, who took me there the first time.

10:18I was like, what was the name of that place?

10:20And he said it burned down.

10:21I was so sad.

10:22So I'm so glad that I just what a roller coaster of emotions.

10:25I know it's been a long, cold two years with them shutting their doors.

10:29But they're back and like they're better than ever.

10:31Like they've expanded.

10:32So they've come prepared for your arrival, for sure.

10:35Glad they did that all for me.

10:37I really appreciate that level of support.

10:40We're excited to have you back in Philadelphia.

10:42And just so excited to have your music out in the world again.

10:46Love and Hyperbole.

10:47This album is special.

10:48Fire is such a great song, too.

10:51Thank you so much for hanging out.

10:52And we can't wait to see you in a few months here in Philly.

10:56Oh, my gosh.

10:57I can't wait.

10:57I can't wait to be back and have the new and improved gyms.

11:01You guys play the show.

11:02It's going to be so fun.

11:03So thank you so much.

11:04Awesome.

11:05Thanks so much, Alessia, for some time.

11:07Appreciate you catching up.

11:08Good to see you again.

11:09Yeah, see you soon.

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