April 8, 2008

Colbie Caillat: Sunny Side Up!

By Lennat Mak

Life is all sunny and rosy for 22-year-old Colbie Caillat. The Southern California native has been paying her dues since she was 11, singing her little heart out after hearing Lauryn Hill's "Killing Me Softly." Despite having a dad who co-produced Fleetwood Mac's Rumours and Tusk, Colbie never pulled any strings. The only thing she took from her dad was simply a piece of advice: Learn an instrument and be a songwriter.

At 19, Colbie finally took those words to action. She picked up the acoustic guitar and wrote her first song titled "Some Day." The good times started rolling when she became a hit sensation on MySpace with her song "Bubbly." A couple of major labels flirtations later, she finally signed a deal with Universal and released her stunning debut, Coco.

Sounds like a fairy tale? Well, it did happen. Previously a shop assistant working at a tanning saloon, Colbie now tours the world with her music. The sassy yet laid-back singer/songwriter recently breezed into town for a short promotion tour and spoke more about her background, music, love life and more at a media roundtable. Read on to find out what it takes to sweep Colbie off her feet!

You were practically born into show business since your father is a record producer. Why didn't we hear from you earlier?

For me, I was only a singer. I wasn't a musician or a songwriter. I was really shy to perform in front of people. I wasn't ready or prepared for this career. My parents knew that and they didn't want to get me involved in it if I wasn't ready for it. (I started to get ready) by taking vocals lessons for a couple years, learning how to play guitar, writing my own songs, starting to perform live and just getting into the whole thing, 'coz you can't get into the whole thing blind.

What's the most helpful piece of advice your dad has given you regarding your career?

My dad told me to learn how to play an instrument so I can write my own songs. Up until that time, I didn't do anything. Now I'm a songwriter, I play guitar and I have a career out of it. Because my parents are in the business, they know everything about it -- whether it's the business side, the recording side, the writing side - and they just gave me advice on what to do and what not to do.

There are a lot of singer/songwriters out there like you who would like to battle stage fright. Now, you've already conquered that. What tips would you give them to conquer stage fright?

The first thing is that you have to make sure that you are confident of yourself. That gives you the boost to be comfortable on stage. For me, I warm up my voice by doing vocals warm ups before every show, just so that I know I have control over (my voice) and I'm not going to mess up. If you mess up, you are going to get nervous and it just makes you not want to be up there. So warm your voice up, take deep breaths when you are on stage to calm yourself down, remember to smile, look at your fans in the audience and just prepare yourself on what you are doing up there. This one person told me one time, "You are not up there to prove yourself to anyone. You are there to make them feel good." When I recite that to myself, it kind of calms me down.

You wrote your first song after your first guitar lesson. Do you still have that song today?

I still have the first song. It's called "Some Day." I didn't put on the album but I'm going to do something with it eventually, or I'm going to give it to another artist. It's more folksy, so maybe a country artist can sing it.

You also did a duet with Jason Mraz called "Lucky." How did that come about?

He emailed me many months ago, saying that he loved my music, that he's heard my album and he has a song on his album that he wanted me to help him finish writing and collaborate with. We finished writing through email. When he was in London recording his album, I was over there doing promotions for my album and I went over there to do vocals. And now the song's ready!

Having toured quite a lot, have you prepared for your next album?

We actually recorded six to seven songs for the next album. And we have 13 options for the next album. But I have another year to keep writing.

Your songs have this breezy, feel-good vibe about them. Do you think where you come from defines your sound? And would you have sounded different if you are from someplace else?

I think that where you grow up, the lifestyle you live and the music you listen to, all affect the music that you write. For me, living in Southern California, I live a laid-back lifestyle and I like being in sunny weather. Everything is kind of worry-free and happy. You look at the bright side of things. My music comes out that way. But when I was on tour in London, it was a rainy day. I was sad and I missed home so bad! And I wrote this song that's really melancholy and bluesy. I think if I lived in a place like that and I'm always depressed, then yeah! Your music is going to come out the way you are feeling.

Do you still write songs in your bathroom?

Now I write songs in my hotel bathroom! [Laughs]

You used to work in a tanning saloon. What things should we bear in mind when we go into a tanning saloon?

You should tan in moderation. Don't over tan yourself and become that "fake and bake" look. I don't really recommend the fake spray tan either, when it comes off, you get scaly skin and an uneven tan that doesn't look natural. If you are going to tan, tan every once in a while. Use lotion, use moisturizer!

Have you ever felt star struck?

I felt star struck once and it was with John Mayer. He came out on stage with me. I was performing and he came out and played guitar. I was just up there watching him play guitar and I was just like, "Is this for real? He is up here playing guitar with me? This is unbelievable!"

Would you date a pretty boy or do you go more for character?

I go for both. Obviously, everyone goes for looks. But if the personality isn't there to keep you with that person, you are not going to stay. If you've went for the person who's not that good looking but you found out that his personality is amazing, that person becomes good looking to you. It just depends on that person.

Do you have a guy in your life right now?

No, I don't have a boyfriend right now. Career comes first until I meet a guy that knocks me off my feet, and I think about him all the time. I had a boyfriend when I was on tour and I don't call that often and I don't think to call. Obviously, he's not first priority and it's not fair.