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Interview: Colette Carr

Images: Jared Thomas

Colette Carr

Usually, Malibu is linked to beautiful skies, scenic views and sailing beaches so when I had the moment to sip smoothies with Interscope’s newest signee Colette Carr, a lot of misconceptions and stigmas were addressed. Our time together gave me a little more insight — not only to her music — but to who she is as a person. In this interview, Ms. Carr describes self-perception, musically, as well as being inspired by one of Hip-Hop’s rawest talents: Eminem. She also discusses working in the industry, in general.

After freestyling at a Game concert, she caught the attention of Nick Cannon, who signed her to NCredible Records. Soon after, she released a video for “Bitch Like Me” directed by Jonathan Singer-Vine. In addition, she has a feature with Bay Area’s king E-40 on her single “Cant Touch This”. In a fulfilling way, Colette Carr is free with her words and she loves to have fun while making music. Not caring what a hater has to say, Ms. Carr’s records and demeanor exhibit why she is built for this game. Without giving specific dates, she keeps on us on edge about her new album. We’re looking forward to it.

Colette Carr

How do you feel you about the music that you’re putting out?

I’m putting out music as fast as I’m making it so, it’s very hectic but I think the best part about is, I don’t really have time to over think the tracks which is kind of like raw material. Almost like your getting demos from me except they’re mixed by the best mixer in the entire world, Robert Orton. Thank God for him. It’s just like my personal diary. I can’t even want to message my thoughts to where it’s a little more discreet. The guy I’m writing a song about knows exactly who I’m talking about. He’s like “You wrote that about me?” And I’m like “No.” I didn’t even have time to disguise you know, the realness or the rawness.”

But no, that’s a good thing. We want to see the realness and rawness. It let’s us know that you’re human. There’s no one sitting behind a computer, writing for you. We enjoy that.

I’m writing all of my own stuff and working with some of the most incredibly talented producers ever. Because we’re working so fast, because it’s so urgent, and were making material, putting it out. I mean, it’s just so different from what I feel like is going on. I don’t even know what I’m trying to say.

As far as, musically, what’s going on now?

I guess, but it doesn’t feel like it’s… What’s the word I’m looking for? I don’t know man, what’s the word I’m looking for? It’s not over produced or… I don’t know.

It’s all good.

You see what I said about articulation? Like my brain is tired right now. It’s just real, you know? It’s raw! It’s like fucking shredding a carrot onto a salad. Get what I’m saying?

So personally, what do you like to do in your spare time? And who’s your favorite rapper of all time?

My favorite rapper of all time is Eminem. Just cause he inspired me above and beyond, and I think he’s a genius. I really do. I just love his style. You could tell he just writes it as it is coming to his head. He doesn’t overthink it. He’s not thinking like “How do I sound clever?” You know? He’s just like himself. He’s telling his stories. You feel like you know him and I really try to translate that via social media sites like Twitter, Instagram and all that. I want my fans to feel like they know me, like I knew Eminem and his situations… His daughter Hailey, like Kim, you knew everything by the end of the album.

Is there a transition from rapping to singing?

Is there a transition?

Yeah, is it something that you need to get into? Or is it an automatic flow?

I have yet to get into that whole warm-up-before-stage grind. I just do jumping jacks. (Laughs) I think that’s good enough. Like “Alright, I’m going to do a 100 jumping jacks.” But I don’t get nervous. It’s weird. I’m like, “Should I be nervous? Everyone else on tour is nervous right now? Why am I not nervous? Am I an alien? Am I a bunny rabbit? Are there ears underneath my beanie?” (Laughs) Yeah, there are.) I don’t know. It’s just a very natural experience. I used to perform for people all the time when I was younger. It wasn’t even on my mind that I could be doing this professionally. But we had a little stage at one of our houses’ balcony and up there was a stage. And we would perform for my grandma, all of her friends and my mom. I just performed a lot when I was little and performed for the neighbors. [I] embarrassed myself a lot. And now, it’s so much fun.

It’s like second nature to you.

Yeah, if I mess up on stage, that’s the worst thing that can happen.

If you could collaborate with any artist, in any genre, who would it be and why?

I got the question asked to me and I said E-40 and made it happen. So that was pretty crazy. “Can’t Touch This” featuring E-40 was definitely like a bucket list check mark and just the compliments that I got from him about my work and my raps were insane to me.

How was that? Working with him, actually, in the studio?

It was like [working with] a legend, a Bay Area legend. [The Bay] is like where my heart’s from so it was just kind of crazy to me. He just you know thinks I’m dope and thinks the song is dope! So that was definitely ill. I think that If I could pick anyone to collaboration with that’s so far from my reach is Missy Elliot.

Nice! That’ll be dope just to hear Missy. I like that!


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