Ariana Grande | "eternal sunshine" Track By Track Breakdown [Part 2]

Zach Sang Show Interviews
12 Mar 202453:24

Summary

TLDRIn this heartfelt conversation, Ariana Grande discusses her new album, the challenges and triumphs in love, and the profound impact of her relationships. She shares her creative process, from writing lyrics to producing music, and the significance of astrology in her life. Grande's appreciation for her collaborators, especially Max Martin, is evident as she reflects on the transformative power of art and the beauty of creating something from nothing.

Takeaways

  • ๐ŸŽถ The conversation begins with a discussion about love and relationships, highlighting the significance of the speaker's first real relationship.
  • ๐ŸŒŸ The speaker expresses pride and happiness for a friend's recent achievements, indicating a strong bond and support within their circle.
  • ๐Ÿ’” There's a reflection on past experiences with love, including the challenges and growth that comes from navigating relationships.
  • ๐ŸŽต The creation of music, particularly songwriting, is discussed as a deeply personal and emotional process, with the hardest song to write being one that seeks to avoid harshness while acknowledging the end of a relationship.
  • ๐ŸŒˆ The importance of self-awareness and empathy in art is emphasized, with the speaker striving to create songs that are kind and empowering.
  • ๐Ÿ‘ฉ The influence of the speaker's mother is significant, with her strength and example serving as a role model and inspiration for the speaker's own life choices.
  • ๐ŸŽถ The album 'Eternal Sunshine' is mentioned, with the speaker discussing the process of creating the album and the collaboration with producer Max Martin.
  • ๐Ÿ† The speaker's gratitude for their fans and the significance of their debut at number one is expressed, showing appreciation for the support received.
  • ๐ŸŽถ The role of astrology in the speaker's life is discussed, with the interlude 'Saturn Returns' being a pivotal moment in the album's narrative.
  • ๐ŸŽต The song 'Boy Mine' is highlighted as a favorite, showcasing the speaker's love for '90s music and their desire to create something that resonates with their listeners.
  • ๐Ÿ’– The conversation concludes with a reflection on the power of art and music to create something from nothing, and the beauty in the ability to share these creations with the world.

Q & A

  • What is the significance of the album title 'Eternal Sunshine' for the artist?

    -The album title 'Eternal Sunshine' is significant because it represents a journey of love and self-discovery. The artist was inspired by the movie 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' and the concept of cycles in relationships, as well as the idea of capturing a moment in time that didn't exist before and making it beautiful.

  • How does the artist describe their relationship with their parents in terms of learning about love?

    -The artist admits they didn't learn much about love from their parents, as their parents' example of love at home was different and not the fairy tale they craved. They had to learn about love from other human experiences, which contrasts with the example their parents set.

  • What was the hardest song for the artist to write on the album?

    -The hardest song to write was 'By You' because the artist wanted it to sound self-aware and not like a typical love song. They wanted it to reflect the reality of moving on from a situation and the accountability that comes with it.

  • Who is Max Martin to the artist and how did he contribute to the album?

    -Max Martin is a highly respected producer and a close friend of the artist. He helped the artist ensure that the songs were not watered down and maintained their emotional honesty. They worked closely together, pushing each other creatively and supporting each other throughout the album-making process.

  • What does the artist mean when they say 'Yes' is the right first single to introduce the story of the album?

    -The artist believes 'Yes' is the right first single because it stands on its own and sets the tone for the album by acknowledging that everyone has their own journey and experiences that others may not be aware of. It also reflects the artist's feelings about their career and the constant scrutiny they've faced.

  • Why did the artist choose Mariah Carey to remix the song 'Yes'?

    -Mariah Carey was chosen for the remix because she is the artist's number one vocal inspiration and they consider her the queen of music. The artist has admired Carey since they were young and felt her involvement elevated the song significantly.

  • How does the artist describe their experience working with Max Martin on this album?

    -The artist describes the experience as intimate, productive, and incredibly special. They spent a lot of time together, working long hours and even going to shows and dinners. The artist feels grateful for the opportunity to work with Martin and to become closer friends after 12 years of knowing each other.

  • What is the significance of the song 'Saturn Returns' in the context of the album?

    -The song 'Saturn Returns' signifies a wake-up moment and a pivotal shift in the album's narrative. It represents the astrological event where Saturn returns to its original position at 29.5 year intervals, prompting deep self-awareness and confrontation of patterns. The artist uses this concept to express personal growth and change.

  • How does the artist view the role of astrology in their life?

    -The artist sees astrology as a tool that helps them hear what they need to hear, look forward with hope and awareness, and sometimes provides tough love. They believe in the power of astrology to provide guidance and make sense of their experiences.

  • What was the last song the artist wrote for the album, and why is it their favorite?

    -The last song the artist wrote for the album was 'Imperfect for You,' which is their favorite because of its unique sound and personal connection. The song has a trippy, 60s feel that the artist had not explored before, and it captures a special moment of being one's truest self.

  • How does the artist feel about the song 'We Can't Be Friends'?

    -The artist loves 'We Can't Be Friends' and considers it their second favorite song on the album after 'Supernatural.' They appreciate the emotional impact of the strings in the song and the way it resonates with them personally.

Outlines

00:00

๐ŸŽถ Reflecting on Love and Personal Growth

The speaker discusses their journey through love, highlighting their first real relationship and its significance. They express pride and happiness for a friend's love experience, reflecting on the different forms of love they've witnessed. The conversation touches on the impact of parental love, personal readiness for relationships, and the growth that comes from navigating love and life's journey with chosen partners.

05:00

๐ŸŽต Embracing Empathy in Songwriting

The speaker delves into their approach to songwriting, emphasizing the importance of kindness, empathy, and self-awareness. They share their fears of replicating negative cycles and the lessons learned from their mother's strength and decision-making. The discussion also explores the interconnectedness of songs on the album, the complexity of human emotions, and the process of creating music that resonates with listeners' experiences.

10:02

๐ŸŽผ Collaboration and Evolution in Music Production

The speaker recounts their collaborative experience with Max Martin, a renowned producer, during the creation of their album. They discuss the iterative process of refining songs, the vulnerability and intimacy of the studio sessions, and the impact of working with someone they admire. The conversation also touches on the role of curiosity and humility in the creative process, and the significance of learning from experienced artists.

15:03

๐ŸŒŸ The Power of Idols and Astrology in Art

The speaker expresses gratitude for the support and respect from their idols, such as Mariah Carey, and the surreal experience of working with them. They discuss the role of astrology in their life, using it as a tool for understanding and hope. The conversation also highlights the significance of the album's title, 'Eternal Sunshine,' and the interlude that serves as a pivotal moment in the album's narrative.

20:04

๐ŸŽง The Joy of Creation and Artistic Expression

The speaker shares the joy of creating music, from the initial spark of inspiration to the final product. They discuss the excitement of bringing a song to life, the emotional connection to their music, and the fulfillment that comes from sharing their art with others. The conversation also touches on the complexity of emotions involved in breakup songs and the importance of capturing the full spectrum of human feelings in their work.

25:06

๐ŸŽถ The Art of Vocals and Layering in Music

The speaker describes their meticulous approach to vocals, emphasizing the emotional honesty and the strategic layering of sounds. They discuss the use of technology in their creative process, the influence of their idols on their vocal style, and the satisfaction of transforming a simple idea into a fully-fledged song. The conversation also includes anecdotes about working with Nona, a close friend, and the potential for future creative projects.

30:08

๐ŸŽต The Influence of '90s Music and Personal Pen Pals

The speaker talks about their love for '90s music and its influence on their work, including the interpolation of a favorite song from that era. They share a personal anecdote about their correspondence with Jim Carrey, whose art and ability to transform personal experiences into creative expression have deeply impacted them. The conversation concludes with a reflection on the album's theme of strength and the beauty of turning life's imperfections into art.

Mindmap

Keywords

๐Ÿ’กLove

In the context of the video, love is a central theme that is explored through personal relationships and self-reflection. It is defined as a deep, tender, and affectionate feeling towards someone. The video discusses the complexities of love, including first love, the beauty of being in a real relationship, and the challenges of navigating love. For instance, the speaker mentions their first real relationship and how it's their first and probably last love, indicating the profound impact this experience has had on them.

๐Ÿ’กRelationships

Relationships are a key concept in the video, referring to the connections between individuals. The speaker discusses their own experiences with relationships, including their first real relationship and the emotional depth it carries. They also touch on the idea of learning from every human being who is going through love, suggesting that relationships are a source of personal growth and understanding. The complexity of relationships is highlighted when the speaker talks about the different types of love they have experienced and the lessons learned from them.

๐Ÿ’กSelf-Awareness

Self-awareness in the video refers to the speaker's conscious understanding of their own emotions, thoughts, and experiences, particularly in the context of love and relationships. It is demonstrated through the speaker's ability to reflect on their feelings and actions, as well as their recognition of the need for growth and change. An example from the script is when the speaker discusses wanting their song to be rooted in self-awareness and not wanting to sound harsh, indicating a deep level of introspection and consideration for their emotional expression.

๐Ÿ’กGrowth

Growth is a recurring theme in the video, signifying personal development and emotional maturity. The speaker talks about growing through experiences, especially in love, and the transformative power of these experiences. They mention learning from every human being going through love and how it has contributed to their personal growth. The concept is also tied to the idea of moving forward and making healthier choices in relationships, as seen when the speaker discusses their desire to be more like their mother, who embodies strength and the ability to make tough decisions with kindness.

๐Ÿ’กVulnerability

Vulnerability in the video is depicted as the willingness to expose one's emotions and inner thoughts, especially in the context of creating and sharing art. The speaker expresses vulnerability through their open discussion of personal experiences and feelings related to love and relationships. An example is when they talk about the intimate process of creating their album, which involved sharing very personal aspects of their life and emotions, highlighting the courage it takes to be vulnerable in such a public forum.

๐Ÿ’กArtistry

Artistry refers to the creative process and expression of the speaker as a musician and songwriter. It encompasses the crafting of songs, the emotional content within them, and the technical aspects of production. The video showcases the speaker's artistry through their discussion of songwriting challenges, the importance of empathy in their music, and the joy they find in creating layers of sound with their voice. The speaker's collaboration with Max Martin is also a testament to their dedication to artistry and the impact of having a strong creative partner.

๐Ÿ’กInfluence

Influence in this context refers to the impact that other individuals, particularly artists, have on the speaker's life and work. The speaker mentions being inspired by figures like Max Martin and Mariah Carey, who have shaped their approach to music and songwriting. The concept of influence extends to the speaker's own music, which they hope will resonate with and influence their listeners, as seen in their discussion about the potential of their songs to connect with people on a deep level.

๐Ÿ’กEmpathy

Empathy is a significant concept in the video, defined as the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. The speaker emphasizes the importance of leading with empathy in their songwriting, ensuring that their songs are kind and connect with listeners on an emotional level. This is evident when they discuss wanting their music to be empowering and kind, reflecting their desire to create art that is both emotionally resonant and socially responsible.

๐Ÿ’กTransformation

Transformation in the video represents the process of change and evolution, particularly in the context of personal development and artistic expression. The speaker talks about the transformative power of love and relationships, as well as the evolution of their music and the growth they've experienced as an artist. An example is the speaker's discussion about their journey with their music, from initial ideas to fully realized songs, and how these experiences have shaped them into the person they are today.

๐Ÿ’กAuthenticity

Authenticity refers to the quality of being genuine, true to oneself, and not pretending to be anything else. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of being authentic in their music and their persona. They discuss the need to be honest and true to their feelings when creating art, as seen in their commitment to ensuring their songs reflect their genuine emotions and experiences, rather than simply conforming to external expectations or trends.

Highlights

The discussion begins with the host expressing happiness and pride for a friend's first real relationship.

The host shares a personal anecdote about a traumatic experience involving unrequited love and a misunderstanding.

The host talks about the importance of learning from every human experience, especially love, and how it differs from the love experienced at home.

The host's mother is mentioned as a strong, inspiring figure who has taught the importance of self-awareness and accountability in relationships.

The host discusses the process of songwriting, emphasizing the importance of empathy and kindness in lyrics.

The host and the guest bond over their shared history, including a humorous story about a past crush.

The host talks about the vulnerability and intimacy involved in creating music, especially when working with trusted collaborators.

The host expresses gratitude for the opportunity to work with Max Martin, a renowned producer, and the impact he has had on their growth as an artist.

The host shares the significance of the album's title, 'Eternal Sunshine,' and its connection to personal growth and self-discovery.

The host discusses the role of astrology in their life, particularly how it provides guidance and helps make sense of their experiences.

The host talks about the importance of creating art and music as a form of self-expression and the joy of seeing it resonate with others.

The host reflects on the complexity of emotions involved in breakups and how their music aims to capture this nuanced human experience.

The host shares their excitement about a remix of their song 'Yes' by Mariah Carey, expressing admiration for her as an artist and inspiration.

The host discusses the process of selecting the right single to introduce the story of the album and why 'Yes' was the perfect choice.

The host talks about the significance of the song 'Imperfect for You' and why it's their favorite track on the album.

The host reflects on the phenomenon of creating something from nothing and the beauty of art taking on a life of its own.

The host shares a personal story about recording the song 'I Wish That I Hated You' and the emotional process involved.

The host discusses the importance of including various types of vocals in their music, emphasizing the emotional honesty behind each choice.

The host talks about the song 'Can't Be Friends' and its significance in the context of the album's overall narrative.

Transcripts

00:00

[Music]

00:06

we're

00:07

rolling yes I love you clapping Zach

00:13

say guys can we finally talk about I

00:17

mean I just I know that this is how we

00:19

started the last one but I might have to

00:20

start this one like it too I used to

00:23

tell you suck a dick Zach Sayang in

00:25

hopes and pray that you would do it and

00:28

you do it now they did

00:30

I so happy for you thank you so much I'm

00:34

so proud it's a big deal it's a big deal

00:37

it's my first real relationship and like

00:39

first love and probably my last love God

00:42

willing no yeah I mean yeah absolutely I

00:45

thought of that at a I got scared I

00:47

don't know what you meant I was like is

00:48

this are you guys jumping together what

00:50

is it no yeah it lasts first and last I

00:52

hope so I really gosh I mean that's so

00:56

beautiful it's special I'm really happy

00:58

for you it's really I mean it's like uh

01:01

yeah love is wild like yeah watching

01:03

friends experience it and navigate it

01:06

and so many times yeah it's true yeah I

01:11

but I learned a lot from every human

01:13

being who is going through love I didn't

01:15

learn much love from my parents just

01:17

being honest like and my parents can

01:19

watch this and be angry at me for it but

01:21

like it was just different like the

01:23

example of love I got at home

01:25

was it's just different it was different

01:28

it it's it's interesting

01:30

you know happiness hits different in

01:33

this year yeah and I think moving

01:35

forward and uh a lot of it I think has

01:38

to do with who I choose to live with and

01:39

share my life with and take on this

01:42

Journey with I think so too but

01:44

also because you yourself were ready for

01:48

it so don't not give yourself credit

01:50

please no you're 100% right because you

01:52

you you can't take on you're a different

01:55

person I am right I have to say yeah

01:57

thanks and you know me for yeah makes my

02:00

heart really happy Liz and I talk about

02:03

it we do we're very proud of our little

02:07

son you so much we love you it is your

02:10

mommies love you thank you thanks Mom

02:12

thanks Mom I went through like a whole

02:15

like year period where I just

02:16

exclusively called you Mom yeah two of

02:19

us we are that's what we are it's true

02:21

that's our most important role you know

02:24

it was so funny this morning I was

02:25

thinking about Liz as like an Italian

02:26

mother she's recently given Italian

02:29

mother more than ever before more than

02:31

ever but she's given it since she was 12

02:33

totally but now it's oozing out of her

02:35

100 well I mean it's like Among Us it's

02:37

coming it's it's right here you think no

02:40

but but not at all but sorry sorry

02:43

no it's not but also like it's that it's

02:47

she you know what I mean she treats all

02:49

of her friends like children she treats

02:51

which she has for a while she treats her

02:52

dogs like children I mean she treats

02:55

like her very old friends like kids

02:57

she's very maternal but is not pregnant

02:59

just so everyone just to make it extra

03:00

clear yeah know um no thank you for for

03:03

for acknowledging though that love

03:04

because it's been like this weird thing

03:05

in my life that I don't know like my

03:08

relationship world like been stunted a

03:10

little bit I've seen them I've seen it

03:12

we've seen each other's oh my God we've

03:14

both seen a lot of each we've both

03:16

helped each other through so much I mean

03:17

I remember I called you the first night

03:19

I thought I was going to lose my

03:20

virginity mhm oh my God this was like

03:22

five years ago no long I mean longer

03:24

than that seven yeah could be no could

03:26

be nine wa yeah I've known you 15 years

03:29

oh my God was so long ago long ago and

03:32

it was to a girl that's how long ago it

03:34

was and then didn't you walk in and she

03:36

was like your brother or

03:37

something somebody else in my

03:39

sister's room you you were close it was

03:42

crazy I literally was like oh yeah I'm

03:44

definitely going to like I've had this

03:45

crush on this girl she's totally giving

03:46

me signes nightmare that is deeply

03:49

traumatic I go to deliver her a cup of

03:51

water a cup of water and I just see of

03:55

water her on top of this other guy and I

03:57

dropped the cup and I just walk away

03:58

that is so traumatic yeah I can I yeah I

04:02

hope you can forget it one day Eternal

04:06

Sunshine that'll be one that we erase

04:09

doctor hook him up work on me yeah we

04:13

have an album to go through yes and an

04:16

album of Eternal Sunshine yeah yeah what

04:21

was the hardest song to write and what

04:24

was the easiest song to write on this

04:25

album oh God I

04:28

I

04:31

hardest I think by honestly it's a very

04:35

simple and silly lyric and it's

04:39

not but it was hard for the reason that

04:43

I desperately didn't want it to sound

04:45

like a you I wanted it to sound

04:48

like I need to leave so by you know like

04:52

I wanted it to be kind of rooted in

04:53

self-awareness and like not you you

04:57

go but with love

05:00

I'm immigrating from the situation

05:02

that's why I put it after the intro end

05:05

of the world because it asks a question

05:08

that is sort of takes accountability and

05:10

is self aware and then going into buy is

05:12

like prefacing it because I think my

05:15

biggest fear on when it comes to

05:19

songwriting in general is just kind of

05:23

um even if the concept is strong and

05:25

even if empowerment is important and I

05:28

want to empower people making sure that

05:30

it is kind and that it leads with

05:32

empathy and that it has that it's still

05:34

fun but it's like I just wanted to make

05:37

sure it wasn't like any sort of

05:39

harshness that isn't in My DNA but also

05:41

beautifully aware and I think like dude

05:44

it's not the first time that I've been

05:45

Hostage to these tears acknowledging

05:48

that another relationship is over again

05:50

I mean it that is awareness yeah yeah

05:54

this

05:55

song and I hope I hope that this is okay

05:59

to say I might go on a little bit of a

06:01

deep dive and I hope that it's all right

06:03

to say of course is it okay if I talk

06:06

about my mom my mom a lot she's here in

06:07

the corner listening but is it

06:10

okay are you sure I might like air your

06:13

out a

06:16

little I got to air she said she's

06:19

wearing a purple lip today she's fine

06:21

yeah okay okay um but no I think like

06:25

the reason why I felt okay to go there

06:27

is because of my mom honestly

06:33

and

06:40

whoa

06:47

sorry almost there almost there okay I

06:50

think a lot of um I think growing up

06:53

kind of you want what you don't have

06:56

like you my parents got divorced for all

06:58

the right reasons

07:00

they weren't supposed to be

07:02

together and um you kind of crave when

07:05

you grow

07:06

up the happily ever after the one is the

07:09

one is the one so you ignore all these

07:11

issues and you you kind of um you cling

07:14

on to that fairy tale you kind of self-

07:17

abandon and I think um my mom is a

07:21

fierce example of not doing that and um

07:26

a massive thing that I learned in my

07:29

year of Saturn return is um that my

07:34

fears of replicating a certain

07:38

cycle was actually the

07:41

opposite I was like oh

07:43

wow I want to be so much more like her

07:46

than I am I want to have the strength to

07:49

say bye kindly when something

07:54

isn't right it's as simple as

07:58

that and she's the strongest most

08:00

brilliant person I know and it's also a

08:03

disco track which is my mom's favorite

08:05

thing in the world so it kind of feels

08:08

like my mom's song or like something

08:09

that I wrote from my mom's perspective

08:11

almost um because that's something that

08:13

I I watched her do a few times and um

08:17

and yeah that's kind of like I watch my

08:20

mom do the same thing and there's

08:21

strength and goodbye yeah because it's

08:24

it's hard to it's it's hard especially

08:26

when the most is invested yeah

08:28

especially when you do have so much love

08:31

you know um so yeah that's a kind of a a

08:34

pattern that I realized I don't need to

08:36

be afraid of because it means doing the

08:40

right thing it means listening to

08:42

your

08:44

soul and not being afraid to be

08:48

uncomfortable don't want to break up

08:49

again follows by and they are coupled

08:52

again like these songs are connected so

08:54

when you listen the best way to listen

08:56

is in totality and to I believe so I

08:59

believe believe so I prefer it that way

09:00

and then when you have your favorites

09:01

once you once you know you can do it

09:03

want but yeah they are coupled in an

09:05

interesting way because it's kind of

09:06

like don't want to break up again is

09:07

kind of like The Hangover of by in a way

09:11

it's like okay that that this has

09:13

happened but I'm

09:15

reflecting and there are so many

09:17

polarizing feelings that we experience

09:20

as human beings kind of with regard to

09:22

one situation and that's what I like

09:25

about these two being back to back

09:27

because in by I say at least we know we

09:29

tried didn't we the two of us we did

09:31

good and then in don't want to break up

09:34

again it's like well you didn't even try

09:35

till the end you like both feelings

09:39

exist at different you know what I mean

09:40

so I like the humanness of that I like

09:42

that they are layered and complicated

09:46

and all of the different emotions that

09:47

come with loving and leaving are kind of

09:50

showcased I guess it it is

09:53

a it's a it's a it's a process right

09:57

like it's not just a one andone

09:59

situation it is something that is felt

10:02

and experienced

10:04

and it's over time so yeah a song I

10:08

don't want to break up again and then

10:11

buy how long or how many different

10:13

versions of those songs exist before you

10:15

got the version that we hear

10:16

today

10:20

uh I think there are a few of by and I

10:23

think there's one of don't want to break

10:25

up again what are the biggest

10:27

differences between them is it lyrical

10:28

differences

10:29

yeah I think

10:31

by I wrote on a day when I was very

10:33

upset and emotional so it was a little

10:36

bit

10:38

more reactive and I and it just wasn't

10:42

representative of like how I actually

10:44

feel so I I like filtered it through and

10:47

I combed through a bunch of times and it

10:49

was important to me to make sure that it

10:50

wasn't just

10:51

like that for that exact reason because

10:55

I it's like important to me that yeah

10:57

but there's something you capturing that

10:59

song In the Heat of the Moment right

11:01

we're capturing any song In the Heat of

11:02

the Moment abely and that's where

11:03

honestly that's where Max is so so I

11:06

mean he's the most brilliant producer in

11:08

the entire world and like the greatest

11:11

guy and great dad and the best person

11:13

the best human being on the planet but

11:16

as a friend he's like a friend to me on

11:18

a personal level but also on an artist

11:21

level like he will make sure that I

11:24

don't water down my truth too much or

11:27

that I don't like make things

11:29

too accustomed to how others will you

11:32

know what I mean like he's just he he's

11:34

very protective of me as a human first

11:35

and foremost but then also secondary to

11:39

that he's very protective of the body of

11:40

work how do you know he was the right

11:42

person to bring this story to oh my gosh

11:45

I mean he's Max Martin but also just how

11:47

he makes me feel yeah he knows you yeah

11:49

he knows me so well and he

11:52

um I don't know we really we push each

11:54

other in such a beautiful way that is

11:56

like we're both so so supportive of one

12:00

another and

12:02

excited I don't know it's just beautiful

12:04

we're both like like I'm such a happy

12:06

student to be in the room with him you

12:08

know I'm just so grateful to be in his

12:10

presence we'll just sit there together

12:12

and kind of just it happens very quickly

12:15

sometimes that was the thing that we

12:17

did uh that was really productive this

12:20

album was if it wasn't there we would

12:22

kind of Jump Around go to a different

12:24

idea and see if it was there and then if

12:27

it wasn't we'd come back to it and

12:28

bounce around but everything just poured

12:31

out so you

12:34

know yeah I don't know it was it was

12:36

very interesting once The Melodies were

12:38

there maybe he would go work on a

12:41

different track or something and then

12:43

come back and check on me and be there

12:45

with my laptop scribbling away and then

12:48

you know it was just it was very

12:50

intimate it was very intimate two of us

12:53

for most of it just really you him and

12:56

Ilia right yeah Ilia came for the very

12:58

last trip and it was so much fun um they

13:01

give me goosebumps yeah Ilia and

13:03

shintaro had been sending us beats stuff

13:07

like that so they were they were kind of

13:09

like virtually there with us but in the

13:11

room it was mostly just me and Max for

13:13

most of the time andara who come alone

13:15

and and Max was would call him and

13:17

FaceTime and check on me and whatever

13:18

but he was here for a week in September

13:21

a week in October and a week in November

13:23

and in between I was coming every day on

13:24

my own so it was really vulnerable it

13:26

was really naked it was really fun yeah

13:29

another memory that I'll keep with me

13:30

forever is when I walk into the studio

13:32

to hear this album you are sitting

13:35

behind this ginormous Monitor and

13:38

there's this F like a thousand audio

13:40

files in front of you and you're just

13:42

finishing the last song on the album

13:44

you're literally doing it all yourself

13:46

yeah well not all but but you that's

13:48

very kind but I do like to there's a

13:50

real hand in this process yeah yeah yeah

13:53

but but but I also had the privilege of

13:55

working with the most incredible

13:57

producers in the entire world

13:59

blessed what what do you learn from him

14:01

that's made you into a better producer

14:02

and artist just to be who he is and be

14:07

so curious and so hungry still there are

14:09

so many codes left to crack in his

14:12

opinion it's really crazy like he is one

14:15

of one and his generosity his curiosity

14:19

it's like when you spend time with him

14:21

you learn very quickly why he is who he

14:23

is he has no idea that he's Max Martin

14:27

and it's the most it's my favorite thing

14:28

in the world world because it's the

14:30

thing that he lives for he loves it so

14:34

much we spent so many long long long

14:39

days working on this album together just

14:41

he and I and um it's just such a an

14:45

honor to get to know him in that way and

14:47

also even become closer as friends after

14:50

12 years of knowing each other this is

14:52

like the most time we've spent together

14:54

we went to shows we went to like little

14:57

dinners we would walk to work every day

14:59

in the morning we walked the the high

15:01

The High Line oh that's so sweet yeah

15:03

all the way like it was so much fun we

15:05

walk together every single day those

15:08

moments make their way into the body of

15:10

work absolutely yeah oh I'm glad it's

15:14

you do have a relationship with him

15:15

that's unlike I mean anything I've ever

15:17

seen with a produ I mean like any artist

15:19

produc it's really special he's

15:21

incredible and the way he he treats

15:23

people is the most important thing like

15:26

he could be who he is and be sorry

15:29

ignore her oh no thanks

15:36

yeah thanks thank you so

15:39

much he could be who he is and be any

15:44

type of way he could be like other

15:46

people like he could be you know you

15:48

never know and and he's just the best

15:51

human being and he's the most incredible

15:53

producer in the world and curiosity is a

15:55

way I rest my case like like curiosity

15:58

is so on the nose as a way to describe

16:01

him because yeah I haven't spent much

16:03

time with the man at all most time I

16:05

spent with him was we went to Disneyland

16:07

together oh my God that's the best story

16:10

it it's really a lot it is a lot but he

16:14

just asked a ton of questions and was

16:16

really fascinated with everything yeah

16:18

the business of Disney incredibly

16:20

curious but also beautiful soul yeah and

16:23

like a really special person yeah and

16:26

it's so crazy like the best yeah but

16:29

there's something to that humility that

16:31

allows him to be the best Creator in the

16:33

world exactly he's

16:36

so brilliant because there's no ego in

16:39

it for him does that make sense 100%

16:42

you're allowed to grow and learn so much

16:44

more when you're not obsessed

16:47

with Optics and being right you know he

16:50

doesn't even know he's just curious yeah

16:53

he's just brilliant that's really that

16:55

being said what does going number one

16:58

mean to you oh my God that is an

17:00

Accolade that's a feat that's the first

17:03

time done this year going direct to

17:04

number one having a number one debut

17:06

yeah I mean it's

17:07

like such an incredible honor and my

17:11

fans are to thank and they are the most

17:15

incredible people in the entire world

17:17

and I'm just like I'm so grateful I I

17:20

try not to put too much weight in those

17:21

things we've talked about that a lot but

17:24

when it happens it's really special and

17:26

I like will always celebrate it when

17:28

it's does happen even though it's like

17:30

not of course at

17:34

all what matters but it's special and I

17:39

just am grateful because it also just

17:40

speaks to how many

17:42

people it resonated with yes and and

17:46

also to just my fans and how incredible

17:49

they are it's because of them and also

17:51

I'm glad because then now they have that

17:53

and that matters a lot to them why was

17:56

he say in the right first single to

17:58

introduce this entire story

18:02

um I think yes and is the one that lives

18:05

on its own and I also think it just kind

18:08

of sets the tone by saying everyone has

18:11

going on that you are you don't

18:13

know about and you and

18:15

we you know that too you know totally so

18:19

just sh does that make sense 100% in the

18:23

proper tone for this album yeah it's

18:25

really funny cuz like that is the

18:28

message of the song and

18:31

then people share things on Instagram

18:34

like inspirational quotes that are like

18:36

you never know don't judge a book by the

18:38

cover and you know it's just such a

18:40

funny Duality with the internet how

18:42

people can be

18:43

so toxic positive and then the next

18:46

tweet is the meanest thing I've ever

18:47

read in my entire life or the next

18:49

whatever it is it's funny it's a funny

18:51

time so I thought I think yes end is the

18:52

right thing to just say hey we're all

18:54

experiencing the same kind of Journey on

18:56

in a different way on a different level

18:58

on a different this and um I liked it

19:01

because it's also just expressing a

19:03

whole bunch of feelings that I've had

19:05

for the past forever of my career

19:08

there's always been a conversation about

19:10

my body my face my hair my voice my

19:13

everything and it's like if you change

19:16

it and correct it it's then it's wrong

19:18

again for different reasons it's

19:20

like all

19:22

right it's I'm done it's done I'm just

19:26

going to be that's all you can do I'm

19:28

just going to going to be cuz I

19:30

love being I love it just be and I want

19:33

everyone to feel that way as well oh

19:36

resonates with literally everybody bless

19:38

and release and yeah

19:42

shimi why was Mariah Carey the right

19:44

person to remix this song or feature it

19:47

oh my God because she's the I mean the

19:50

queen of my life the reason I sing is

19:53

that true absolutely she's my number one

19:56

vocal inspiration obviously she's my

19:59

she's mother that is that is mother

20:01

that's real mother I remember I'm pretty

20:04

sure I had a CD a physical SE of CD of

20:07

Ariana Grande covers emotions and

20:09

emotions was one of them 100% uh

20:12

diamonds was another one but uh that's

20:14

great we're only girl in the world there

20:16

shut I remember this yeah Joe

20:18

Knows yeah I remember this CD no

20:20

but I mean it's I bumped it it's almost

20:23

it's like the dream come true if you're

20:25

going to have anybody do a remix crazy

20:29

it should be the queen of a remixes and

20:33

of 9s music and of all music but also of

20:37

my life like Queen of my life and I love

20:39

it so much it's so good it elevated it

20:42

so much she's the queen when did you

20:44

write her verse and like I didn't she

20:46

did what I was like please if it's not

20:48

too much to ask just go do whatever the

20:50

you want think she did the intro

20:53

like all the high whistles in the intro

20:55

she did the pre Harmony she did the hook

20:57

she doubled the hook

20:59

I was like serban can you please make

21:02

her vocals louder than anything else in

21:04

the song I want to only hear the

21:06

harmonies I want to only hear her adlibs

21:08

I want to be in the background as quiet

21:10

as humanly possible it's my heaven she

21:12

the whole Bridge all these adlibs oh my

21:15

God I'm it's just so surreal what an

21:17

honor my God that's really special it's

21:19

so special and I feel like a song that I

21:23

don't know I mean every it resonates

21:25

with everybody but also yeah to have

21:28

someone who

21:29

oh my gosh has probably felt this way in

21:32

her

21:34

career I would imagine so many times you

21:38

know the queen of just kind

21:41

of rising above it all and to have her

21:45

grace it oh my God can you genuinely

21:48

tell me what it's like to have respect

21:49

from people you have idolized in this

21:51

lifetime because it's not it doesn't

21:53

stop with Mariah Carey like and this is

21:56

not the first time you've worked with

21:57

Mariah Carey like it Christen chenowth

22:00

being another just off top of mind dude

22:02

artha Franklin when she graced this

22:04

planet there's so many incredible

22:06

artists that show you respect and

22:08

appreciation that's it's something we

22:10

never talk about because again it's like

22:12

our relationship is mostly rooted in

22:13

human Ari yeah but it's what is is that

22:18

validation is it what is it

22:22

it's validation it's it's surreal it's

22:27

like it doesn't compute like I can't

22:30

really hold it all it's very

22:33

surreal um and it's just like I don't

22:38

know I I I'm very grateful I'm very

22:39

grateful for so many of my idols and

22:43

Inspirations to embrace me or to have

22:47

embraced me the way that they have and

22:50

it just feels very surreal I don't know

22:53

real recognizes

22:55

real like the greats have the ability to

22:58

recognize

22:59

that in somebody else I ah it's crazy

23:03

it's real It Is by The Way remix of

23:06

yesan with Mariah Carey

23:08

came it's wild okay back to the album

23:11

Saturn returns is really what's next on

23:13

my list because it goes end of the world

23:16

where you're questioning things and to

23:17

buy and to don't want to break up again

23:19

and then there's this change this shift

23:22

sonically too to a certain degree but

23:24

there's still disco elements that come

23:25

through the rest of the album why was

23:28

that moment the right place for an

23:30

interlude to

23:32

shift um for an interlude yeah because

23:35

that's what s returns really is yeah

23:37

yeah yeah it's a really tiny interlude

23:38

but I I think it just sort

23:41

of Saturn Eternal Sunshine feels like a

23:45

wake up moment sort of like a pivotal

23:48

moment in the story uh and the Saturn

23:51

returns coming right before it just kind

23:53

of with the wake up it tells you to wake

23:54

up um I don't know it just felt like

23:58

setting up the rest of the album in a

24:00

way I don't know who is speaking Diana

24:05

Garland she is an astrologist my dear

24:08

friend will Loftus who choreographed yes

24:10

and um who I met on Wicked he's uh one

24:14

of the associate choreographers when we

24:17

met it was like the most Cosmic

24:19

collision and uh he sent me that vocal

24:24

that he like chopped and put together

24:27

and he was like this made me think of

24:28

you

24:29

um and then Ilia put orchestrations

24:33

under it and I was like this is I hope

24:36

it's okay that this is going on my album

24:38

and he was like crying what does

24:40

astrology and I was crying too the role

24:42

of astrology in your life has meaning

24:44

right yeah for sure I mean even tarot

24:48

cards when I was in the studio you gave

24:50

me a reading you've been doing readings

24:51

on set yeah yeah

24:53

yeah what do you look to astrology for

24:57

is it understanding of what you're going

24:59

through is it an understanding of what

25:01

will be yeah I think it's kind of a a

25:05

tool to help

25:07

us hear what we need to hear sometimes

25:10

and kind of

25:12

look forward with hope and awareness and

25:17

also reads us for Filth sometimes

25:20

sometimes we need to hear it and just

25:22

looking to something bigger than us to

25:25

kind of help us make sense of it does

25:26

that make sense totally by the way if

25:28

you don't know what it is and we

25:29

explained it you know in part one I'm

25:31

sipping a hidden coffee go ahead go

25:33

ahead it is when you're born Saturn's in

25:36

a certain position and it takes 29 and a

25:39

half years for Saturn to return to that

25:41

position and when it returns to that

25:43

position you are faced with deep

25:46

awareness of oneself and a confronting

25:49

of patterns

25:52

correct yes and a wake up course

25:54

correction one would say course

25:57

correction you you think when do you

26:00

know for certain that it's the title of

26:01

the

26:02

album well I I kind of I've always loved

26:05

that movie since I was a little girl um

26:08

I am a huge Jim Carrey fan I always have

26:11

been and

26:14

um

26:15

I was always sort of attracted to the

26:19

idea of writing a song around that but I

26:21

think once I realized that the rest of

26:24

the songs were kind

26:25

of forming a story that felt kind of

26:29

similar to Eternal Sunshine where

26:31

there's sort of this like cycle this you

26:33

know that everyone's trying to break I

26:36

kind of it just fell into place do you

26:39

believe in that like is there something

26:41

to when you're making music just letting

26:45

go to the universe and or wherever your

26:47

brain will go and just seeing what

26:50

happens because we have like artists

26:52

come on the show and like there's a few

26:54

different schools of thought but like

26:55

one artist may say like I write a 100

26:57

songs and that's how I become a good

26:58

songwriter and then Chris Martin comes

27:01

on a bunch of times and preaches about

27:02

how the universe gave him Viva Lita and

27:04

he just like opens himself up and it

27:06

just beams from the Sky I love

27:08

that but there has to is there an in

27:10

between anywhere where like craft meets

27:12

the universe abely yeah yeah yeah I'm

27:14

somewhere in between I've learned I

27:17

don't know I sit somewhere between being

27:20

a literal witch literal witch I'm not

27:23

kidding and being like the most

27:27

realistic

27:29

cut dry

27:31

like you know yeah totally I don't know

27:34

I feel like I'm my most productive when

27:37

I am open and uh also when I pretend no

27:42

one's ever going to hear it that's when

27:44

I'm my my my best I think at what point

27:47

in the process do you have to be

27:48

reminded that people will hear it when

27:50

it's over got it and then I backtrack

27:52

many steps and I clean things up and I

27:54

figure it out just kidding Supernatural

27:57

m

27:58

MH this song

28:00

really there's two songs I feel the most

28:03

understood by on this album mhm it is

28:06

Supernatural the the horniest one I mean

28:08

a little bit yeah very much connected to

28:10

my current life really like it is so

28:14

connect that's so funny you're like the

28:16

one I align with the most the what about

28:21

that's sweet alignment I am so happy for

28:24

you yeah yeah thank you yeah thank you

28:27

again thank thank thankk you thank thank

28:30

do you

28:31

believe that the right love is actually

28:33

Supernatural what the are you

28:35

talking about that's where I'm at right

28:37

now in life that's beautiful thanks I

28:39

love that thank you it's really special

28:43

yay it is a special place what was the

28:45

last song you wrote for the album

28:47

imperfect for you which is my favorite

28:50

why is it your favorite I love it so

28:53

much I love it so much I don't know why

28:55

it's my favorite I think sonically it's

28:56

my favorite it's very different for me

28:58

it's very like trippy Rubber Soul Vibes

29:03

and that is kind of my my favorite music

29:07

to listen to and I don't think I've ever

29:10

really explored it for myself but it

29:12

just felt really fun

29:15

to um lean into it and make something

29:20

like super trippy 60s organic feeling

29:24

you know just capturing that kind of

29:26

thing there's something special about

29:29

being able to be your truest self with

29:30

someone yeah no matter how imperfect

29:32

that that person may be at that time or

29:35

I am yeah totally that's right yeah

29:37

totally I'll be the one you love to hate

29:40

oh moving on yeah go on oh wait no no

29:42

move right on go on no no no moving

29:44

moving moving no no I want to talk about

29:45

one of the lyrics everyone is everyone

29:48

over there is tired let's

29:50

go I don't think that's true oh maybe

29:52

they're all on their phone I see you all

29:54

Jesus Christ no they're done they're

29:55

done they're all done they've all

29:56

checked out they've all out of it

29:58

no but what is the most fulfilling part

30:01

about making an album when you write a

30:04

song that you love so much and you are

30:07

driving home or walking home and you

30:10

have your headphones on and playing the

30:12

bounce over and over and over again and

30:14

just not being able to sleep because

30:15

you're so excited about it and like

30:17

waking up with it stuck in your head and

30:19

like yesterday this didn't exist and

30:21

today it exists and it's like this crazy

30:24

I talk to Max about this all the time

30:26

he's like isn't that the crazy

30:27

CEST thing in the world it will never

30:29

get old to me he's like it will NE Jesus

30:33

oh that one was that one was near and

30:35

big that was giving train that one was

30:36

near and near and big are we should we

30:40

are we in the way no something come

30:42

through here something come through

30:44

something's got to come through that was

30:45

here oh I have lipstick all over my chin

30:48

come in Michael but I think that's the

30:50

most crazy thing can we do this while we

30:52

talk yeah it's giving Mimi it's giving

30:54

Mariah thank you there Michael

30:58

everyone we were the same shoes and same

31:01

pants we really do I complimented your

31:03

shoes when you came in and you were like

31:04

you talking to me you I'm talking

31:06

to you there is something though to

31:08

being able to create something from

31:09

nothing and the beauty involved in that

31:11

no it's the craziest thing you

31:14

said yesterday or not yesterday but we

31:16

said many times during this process when

31:19

we became obsessed with these songs

31:21

thank you I love you may I have a lipy

31:23

really quick I'm so sorry I have been

31:26

making out with this microphone it seems

31:28

but there's this thing

31:30

where um where you can't believe a thank

31:33

you where like you come in

31:37

and oh my God Michelle shamas is gonna

31:40

love this thank you I love you thank you

31:43

I love you um but there's this

31:45

phenomenon it's like the craziest thing

31:47

in the world where you leave you go to

31:48

work and something happens and the next

31:50

day like this thing is there that was

31:52

never there before and it's just you can

31:54

hear it and it's beautiful and you're

31:55

proud of it and you love it is like one

31:58

of the many things but maybe the

32:00

strongest thing I respect about artists

32:02

is this creation of nothing into

32:05

something and that's something being so

32:07

rooted in their identity and they put so

32:09

much of them themselves into something

32:11

yeah and you never know where that's

32:13

going to go and then the idea of sharing

32:15

it and then it becomes for other people

32:17

to enjoy and it wasn't there the day

32:19

before and then it's there the next day

32:21

and they may like it and they may

32:23

resonate it may resonate with them or it

32:25

may not and that's like such a beautiful

32:27

thing art art we can't be friends one of

32:31

my he just describing art

32:33

yeah as if it's the first time anyone's

32:35

ever thought of

32:38

Art and we have to go go on we can't be

32:41

friends's second favorite song next to

32:43

Supernatural it's been in my head I can

32:45

I it's the strings at the end are

32:47

flawless thank you they make me really

32:50

emotional those strings I love those

32:52

strings who are you talking to in this

32:53

song wouldn't you like to

32:56

know

32:58

I don't know I I wanted it to

33:02

be something that everyone could relate

33:05

to they can it can be whoever you want

33:07

it to be about but I know for me what

33:10

it's about I don't know I have a hard

33:13

time going into specifics because I feel

33:17

like that's not the point of it it's the

33:19

point is to leave it up for people to

33:21

make of it what they will interpretation

33:23

it's really interesting because to me

33:26

again like I take a song like this and I

33:28

apply it like to my own life I give it

33:29

my own meaning yeah right and I apply it

33:33

to somebody I hate like I apply it to

33:35

somebody that I know hate yeah that I

33:37

like there's no friendship here there's

33:39

or have given up on yes hate done yeah

33:43

hate is the wrong word I'm sorry that's

33:45

all right but no for you I'm just saying

33:47

you know yeah it's bad to Harbor

33:52

that it's such a great song why were the

33:54

strings needed and whose idea was it I

33:56

don't remember but Max and I both love

33:58

strings so we are probably very both

34:00

excited about that but they're just the

34:02

most emotional sound in the world I love

34:04

them so much there's a song that I I I

34:09

sounded like you were crying while

34:10

recording it probably was I wish that I

34:14

hated you mhm yeah what does that song

34:17

mean to

34:19

you um it's like it's one of those that

34:22

I I'm so glad

34:25

that feeling is captured on the album

34:28

but it's it's one that I won't listen to

34:31

probably or sing live probably but I

34:34

think it's like a very important color

34:35

to exist within the album because it's

34:38

yeah just an important piece of the

34:39

puzzle to me but I'm happy to

34:42

acknowledge the goodness I really am and

34:45

the efforts and that it just was not

34:49

correct and I don't need to pretend that

34:52

you're a monster to make peace with this

34:54

ending that's what that song is see and

34:57

it would be easy easier if you were but

34:59

but it's just you know what I mean it

35:01

can have not been right and that person

35:03

can still be a good person and I think

35:06

that's like a really important song to

35:07

write why was it needed on the album why

35:11

what part of the puzzle did it complete

35:13

well I think it completed the

35:15

songs the the family of breakup songs

35:19

where I wrote from a more hurt or upset

35:23

place and it's from a more

35:28

aware and

35:30

grieved place where it's like oh I can I

35:35

can I can give credit and you know make

35:38

peace with this and not carry that

35:41

version of you that I had when I was

35:43

upset I don't need to carry that version

35:47

yeah it's beautiful it's a beautiful

35:48

thing and it's like to terms with yeah

35:50

it's like grieving would be so much

35:52

easier if we hated a

35:55

person it's like good riddance but no

35:59

capturing the complexity of like what

36:00

happens if I

36:02

don't is imperative I think it's

36:05

protective as well how so but exactly

36:08

what you're talking about I think people

36:09

perceiving it and thinking something

36:11

about these are just songs but the way

36:14

people sensationalize things you know

36:17

it's protective as well was there a

36:19

moment where you realized that this

36:21

album has the ability to take on a whole

36:23

life of its own that you can never even

36:25

really imagine cuz it does like every

36:28

part every piece of art has the ability

36:29

to be bigger than one person right mhm

36:32

and live a life of its

36:33

own that's kind of happened to me many

36:37

times in my life with art um I don't

36:41

know I feel like a lot of the times

36:43

things have become so much bigger than

36:45

me as a human and kind of gotten ahead

36:47

of me and and a lot of when I was

36:49

younger was me trying to like chase

36:50

after and catch up and I don't know so

36:53

maybe it's I I I don't know it's

36:55

something I try not to think about

36:56

anymore in order to continue creating

36:59

otherwise if I think about it I will

37:01

stop yeah because it's Stabila over it's

37:03

Stabila absolutely I try to keep it from

37:05

my brain as much as possible so that I

37:07

can

37:09

continue thank you just pick things up a

37:11

it it's getting a little heavy in here

37:13

I'm sorry it's all right not your fault

37:16

you didn't write the album go

37:18

on I'm aware go

37:21

on I can take it oh boy's mine I made

37:26

this bed I will lay in it it's not true

37:30

go

37:32

on you talk about imperfect for you

37:34

being your favorite song on the album

37:35

yeah is there a song that you wish

37:39

wasn't needed to tell this story no I

37:43

love him perfect for you so

37:45

much I

37:46

love yeah sorry no tell me why I I I

37:50

just I think that there's in this day

37:52

and

37:53

age am I 900 in this day and age uh uh

37:58

we do a lot of like boiling things down

38:01

to a 10-second Tik Tok or a or a

38:04

headline or a little cherry-picked quote

38:07

from something we do a lot of like

38:09

stripping of humanness and Erasure of

38:11

context and I think that

38:15

even a simple lyric like happy disaster

38:18

is like making space

38:20

for all of that to exist

38:23

within one song and one idea and one

38:26

thought and every moment of Our Lives

38:28

contains multitudes of of feelings of

38:31

thoughts of good and bad and wicked and

38:36

goodness and you know that's also kind

38:39

of what Wicked is about as well it's an

38:42

example of how people become what they

38:45

are and how things get to where they are

38:46

there's a lot of erasing of the how and

38:49

and why these days totally so is true

38:51

story a bad next like song to talk about

38:53

or no it's fun because it's a it's a

38:56

true story it's an untrue story story

38:57

based on all untrue events so go on a

39:00

true story about all the lies you

39:02

fantasize yeah yeah yeah and the games I

39:04

know you play yeah I actually had that

39:06

hook from the batch of songs that um max

39:11

and I were working on for the Seth mic

39:13

Farland TV show that never happened so

39:15

that was like a sister song to fantasize

39:17

a couple of these little seedlings

39:19

existed before this album and um I

39:24

actually in the moment was like

39:28

we might have to save some of these for

39:30

when we do an album so that was

39:32

something that I even though it there is

39:36

a version of it out there already on Tik

39:38

Tok I was like I don't I it feels so

39:41

important I love it that much that I I

39:43

kind of want to reclaim it and uh make

39:47

out of it what I wanted to originally I

39:49

I didn't want to like let them win in

39:50

that way I guess what are the biggest

39:52

changes between what people have heard

39:53

of that song and what we're getting now

39:55

oh my goodness everything the production

39:57

the vocals the lyrics the everything it

39:59

was just like a shell it was a Seedling

40:01

back then it was a song about something

40:03

completely entirely different I don't

40:04

even remember that one anymore can you

40:06

explain to me your strategy and process

40:08

when it comes to vocals and what songs

40:11

require what types of vocals yeah well

40:15

I'm very picky when it comes to

40:18

everything no but um when I'm writing I

40:21

literally am writing sitting there with

40:23

like a mic like this and I'll just

40:24

mumble in and there's a demo version

40:25

that exists for a while until all the

40:28

songs are written and then I'll come

40:30

back with the

40:31

proper like expensive beautiful perfect

40:35

microphone for whichever vocal we're

40:37

cutting sometimes we'll switch depending

40:39

on what I'm singing if

40:41

it's but this one we actually use the

40:43

same thing the whole time I think it was

40:45

a tunkin something something I don't

40:47

know tunkin yeah yeah good microphone go

40:51

yeah I use one of those for a second

40:53

definitely not the one you use but yeah

40:55

no no but yeah and then I don't know I'm

40:59

very Discerning and weird when it comes

41:02

to my vocals because I I often don't

41:04

sing as much as I can sing on something

41:07

cuz for me it has to feel emotional and

41:10

it has to feel honest I don't like to

41:12

just like sing for the sake of singing

41:16

um but I am singing a lot more on this

41:18

album than I was on the last like three

41:20

so that's that's really nice I I enjoyed

41:22

singing more but then again it it felt

41:24

honest too so yeah I think that's like

41:26

really interesting singing for the sake

41:28

of singing and not doing that and

41:30

matching the emotion that the the song

41:32

gives right yeah I'm not like an

41:34

embellisher for the sake of embellishing

41:37

but you spend a lot of time manipulating

41:39

is the wrong word but like layering and

41:42

texing favorite things that to me cuz

41:45

it's not like it's not like just singing

41:47

That's The Voice as an instrument so

41:49

that to me is separate because I don't

41:52

feel like that's singing that feels like

41:54

music to me I love adding so many layers

41:56

in and stacks and pads even if you can't

41:59

even really hear them or even if we put

42:01

like a filter over them so that it

42:02

sounds

42:03

like a an instrument or a chord that's

42:06

played on a something it's like I just I

42:08

love that that's my heaven I feel like

42:09

that's something that not many people

42:10

know about you is that you will sit

42:14

behind a computer and layer and do all

42:16

these oh that's all I do well and you

42:17

have since I met you in like 2009 yeah I

42:22

remember the first song I ever heard of

42:23

yours and it was just that like yeah

42:27

only that I mean dude I remember the

42:29

song I use yesterday I was I mean I i'

42:32

like my idol is Mariah and image and

42:34

Heath yeah and I feel like I sit

42:36

somewhere in between the two of them

42:39

like that's where my brain learned

42:41

everything from imag on the production

42:43

side and Mariah from the vocal and

42:48

songwriting side and both of them I

42:50

don't know in a blender has always been

42:51

my sort of goal I suppose what first

42:54

pushed you to learn exactly how to work

42:56

these progam s and be more than just

42:58

somebody who comes in and lends vocals

43:00

to something well I loved watching

43:02

imagin like when I was a little girl I

43:06

fell in love with her I wanted to have

43:09

all of the technology that she used on

43:11

stage and I wanted to wrap leaves in my

43:13

hair and have like a looping machine and

43:16

a toron and all these weird things and I

43:20

wanted to produce and loop and write and

43:22

so I just kind of studied and

43:25

learned and yeah began you've gotten

43:29

incredibly incredibly good at it thank

43:31

you like it is again like my f one of my

43:34

favorite memories is walking into that

43:36

studio and watching you do your thing

43:38

look hella small behind this ginormous

43:40

monitor like with a thousand layers of

43:42

vocals in front of you thank you working

43:44

on the last song on the album that

43:47

features Nona yeah what was it like

43:49

playing the album for her I didn't play

43:51

the whole album for her but I did play

43:54

the song that she's on okay she was very

43:58

excited to be on the album and she was

44:00

very moved by it and she loved that she

44:03

was there and then she told many stories

44:06

about all the different times she's been

44:08

on my

44:09

albums she was like it's not the first

44:11

time it's there's been many more I was

44:15

on the first

44:18

one yeah it's interesting cuz the album

44:22

starts with a question and ends with an

44:24

answer from a person that I love and

44:27

Trust so implicitly I cherish what my

44:30

family has to share with me any advice

44:33

that I call upon in my own existence

44:35

like I listened to that you texted me

44:37

about it yeah I was like I need to hear

44:38

that voice memo I just need to

44:40

hear the reminder I need I need that

44:42

lesson not to like change topics but the

44:46

funniest thing about that voice memo is

44:48

that sometimes when I'm with nona I will

44:51

just record her for like hours because

44:53

she's the funniest person on the

44:56

planet and that tiny thing is in the m

45:00

is in the dead middle of like an hour of

45:03

her and Shirley like bitching about men

45:07

and about feminism and about how well

45:11

yeah just I it's It's the funniest

45:14

someday there'll be an Extended Cut of

45:16

the song and you'll hear Shirley her

45:19

best friend and Nona talking about all

45:22

their their craziness there was a in my

45:24

head version of the album where I was

45:25

going to interview like Nona and all of

45:28

her friends and like my mom and like

45:29

Lanie and like like everyone but really

45:33

strong women yeah and just like showcase

45:37

as interludes stories and like about

45:41

love and and learning and relationships

45:43

from just women that I love so much but

45:45

I didn't have time to do it but that

45:47

existed in my head for a while

45:48

understanding that this is this is a

45:50

story of strength

45:53

right you you tell me I believe so I

45:57

believe so I mean it starts with doing

45:59

something that's incredibly strong and

46:02

it ends with one of the strongest human

46:04

beings in your life giving you an answer

46:07

to a question you desperately need sorry

46:11

no

46:11

please please by the way if you haven't

46:14

listened to the album yet you should

46:16

there's going to be a link in the

46:16

description below thank you yeah this is

46:21

you should be proud of this one thank

46:23

you you really should how are you

46:25

feeling I feel good how are you feeling

46:28

I'm feeling great I honestly want to go

46:30

listen to we can't be

46:32

friends it's good it's really good is

46:35

that everything I think we've covered a

46:37

lot here what are we missing we look

46:40

through my

46:41

notes

46:43

um nothing actually hey dude we've

46:46

covered we've covered

46:48

everything we've covered we need talk

46:51

about the boy mine can you explain this

46:52

song to me yeah oh my God how do we

46:54

forget that's going to be everyone's

46:55

favorite and it is unfortunately why do

46:57

you say unfortunately no I think well

47:00

cuz I think it's just like naughty it's

47:02

the it's the version of fantasize on the

47:05

album that they wanted to have that you

47:08

know it's just like a sexier naughtier

47:11

one and I think it's a it's more

47:14

provocative than the rest but oh yeah

47:17

but it's um yeah it's not about what you

47:19

think it was about and it's also a song

47:22

that I've always wanted to interpolate

47:24

is that what the kids are calling now

47:26

100% yeah I have like many different

47:27

versions of it from like years ago that

47:30

I yeah but this is like not that hly who

47:33

are you what interpolations on it um

47:36

just the title oh the title The Boy's

47:38

mine that's it got it got it got it cuz

47:40

I remember there was an old song that I

47:41

love that you played me years ago and it

47:44

still comes up on Twitter every now and

47:45

then you sampled like TLC yeah because

47:47

everything yeah yeah sorry oh my God

47:49

that's right you yeah I love I I just I

47:52

just like that song

47:54

back yeah yeah yeah supposed to be

47:58

on was it thank you there's no sweetener

48:02

yeah supposed to be on sweetener mhm I

48:05

love that song really good I'm such a

48:06

'90s baby I have so many like '90s

48:09

interpolation ideas samples in my brain

48:12

but no this was one this one finally

48:14

found a home I wanted it to come after

48:16

true story on the track list because

48:19

that song plainly says like I'll play

48:21

the bad girl if you need me

48:23

to great I'll do it here and here's a an

48:27

example so I I kind of put it there for

48:29

that reason but it's just it's supposed

48:32

to be just kind of like instead of

48:34

fantasized you can have this cuz I think

48:35

this might be better you

48:37

know oh my gosh you're not only that

48:40

just broke my knee so sorry are you

48:43

you're going to bruise and you just take

48:44

me to the hospital no I am I'm going to

48:45

bruise I'm very fragile okay I'm anemic

48:48

I'm so sorry am I I don't can we get a

48:50

doctor I bruise like a

48:53

[Laughter]

48:55

peach

48:59

okay we'll move on right yeah yeah yeah

49:00

that' be great that'd be super

49:03

fun cool the Stars day align baby Stars

49:06

day align they did ah they did I feel

49:10

like we've covered a lot as Chris Martin

49:12

said can you do a tarot card reading for

49:14

me oh my God I wish I brought them yeah

49:16

what is what are you just walking around

49:19

set looking to do reading no no they

49:21

come to me oh interesting they come to

49:24

me you are a witch I am indeed the Wiest

49:27

witch something happened recently that I

49:30

actually couldn't wrap my head around I

49:32

need to remember it I need to remember

49:34

it to be fair you couldn't wrap your

49:36

head around it so it was the witchiest

49:38

thing yeah I couldn't and I didn't I

49:40

forgot it clear just keep going

49:42

something really witchy oh Jim car's

49:45

birthday thank you Mom I announced

49:48

Eternal Sunshine on Jim's birthday and I

49:50

didn't know it was his birthday

49:52

you Channel Jim Carrie in so many ways

49:54

and you had for so long you I mean his

49:57

movies and his art exist subconsciously

49:59

within you as you like just in my

50:03

vibe I was like all righty

50:07

then thank you no but there is his art

50:12

has had such an impact on you yeah

50:13

absolutely I also think I kind of

50:16

like I mean he's so brilliant I

50:19

love him so much but also I think like I

50:22

just am so enamored by his ability to as

50:26

he put it I'm quoting him take all of

50:29

these broken pieces of himself and apply

50:31

them to these different characters and

50:33

heal through them and make use of them

50:35

like it's just so beautiful do you I

50:38

love it do you take any of that apply it

50:40

to what you do I don't think I I I don't

50:42

think I would say I mean intentionally I

50:46

I don't know but that's what I guess

50:48

we're supposed to do is like make out of

50:50

what is here and like transform these

50:54

little like cracks and

50:57

scratches into

50:59

something more beautiful I guess there's

51:02

like yeah I don't know I guess it's just

51:05

he's just so beautiful he's such a

51:06

beautiful soul I emailed him I said

51:09

happy birthday

51:11

Jim and he responded with the most

51:14

lovely lovely response as always we're

51:16

kind of like pen pals but like it's once

51:20

every few like long I I don't bother him

51:23

often I don't ever reach out but

51:24

sometimes he'll I'll send but he always

51:27

responds which is the sweetest thing and

51:29

he's always so kind and then there was a

51:31

followup to the response cuz I didn't

51:33

want to answer again cuz I don't want to

51:34

like I I'm like very like whoa I'm

51:36

scared I don't want to do too much

51:38

you're I love you it's like you know but

51:41

he responded again and he was like I

51:42

just heard about the album title like oh

51:46

my gosh that's crazy and I was like oh

51:48

no he thinks I did this on his birthday

51:49

he thinks I'm so creepy and weird no

51:52

you're just a witch and then I responded

51:54

and I was like hey just you know yeah

51:56

how crazy right I promise I promise I'm

52:00

not that weird there's something

52:02

to making taking the cracks and the

52:05

scratches and all that and turning into

52:07

something beautiful and something that

52:09

is bigger than oneself and that is

52:10

what's happening with this album well

52:12

thank you it's really special stuff

52:15

thank you I hope so I love you thank you

52:17

I can't thank you enough for continuing

52:18

to create art that

52:21

is so present future but also rooted in

52:24

these beautiful parts of nostalgia that

52:27

really really really really really are

52:30

Timeless

52:32

and yeah you cloak really beautiful

52:35

stories in the most awesome Sonics and

52:38

yeah this is my favorite album so far so

52:40

thank you I love you so much it's mine

52:43

too I appreciate this I love you forever

52:46

I love you forever yeah go listen to

52:47

internal sunshine this is my this is my

52:50

favorite of of our of our interviews my

52:53

hand sweaty I don't want to that's okay

52:56

I love I love you too the is pretty

52:58

sweaty

52:59

right be honest not bad okay thank you

53:02

so much I won't do you like that in

53:03

front of the world Arana Grande

53:06

soaked love you AR Grande

53:09

everybody yay Zach sing you happy I'm

53:13

[Music]

53:23

happy

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Related Tags
LoveJourneySelfDiscoveryArtisticExpressionEmotionalGrowthMusicalTransformationRelationshipDynamicsVulnerabilityCreativityMariahCareyAstralInfluence