MC: With This Is a What Theproducing Truth Feelswhich and duction I like, whether I’m it Like or I get and dealing with packed schedule the tour,I your personal lives a beat, can usually goand andprofessional retrace mygreets, steps, includes shows, interviews, meet and have some ways become and same. find ainlittle thatbasis. I wrote, and I canthe build off etcetera onblurb a daily I’mone basically travelHow you balancing two? of there. Or Ihandle canevery just write the spot. ing todo a new city day on andthe it can beI can very Stefani: been part of“speaking my journey. go in the That’s booth always and this kind exhausting––but it’sdo also part of of the adventure Tragic Kingdom was allget about my personal in tongues,” you will, melodies off the life, top and thrill of itifall. and single songand I’vechoose pretty much ever It of myevery head, and pick from there. written has been about my personal life,aspect? andI’m I depends on what I feel orsurprising the producer MC: What has been thelike most feel okay sharing that. The only place where I working with, what he’s comfortable with. Daya: The most surprising aspect is that social become oflike it is really when Some of theprotective me to just go itoff media is more such aproducers huge part of my life. I’m happy comes to the children, because atand thewith end of the of do theittop. That’s Dre works, Cookie to because ithow means interacting my day, you don’t want them beI to a teenager and go, Monster just with what fans, but and I justsome didn’tothers. expect berock constantly on“Oh, my God. Mom, why did you say that?!” or feels right. But I definitely always have lyrics to line like I am now––I was never that way before. “Why didI am theyalways say that about It’s you?” That’s where go, and writing. important to me itMC: to get tricky for me. tostarts keep it sharp. I’m trying to stick tofrom a cadence What’s it like being a teenager Pittsand find the melody. bigLos onAngeles cadencetoand burgh who’s whisked I’m off to make MC: Who were some ofthese yourwriting early female music tone. I’m a drummer so I’m from a druma record, resulting in all amazing things? heroes? mer’s Daya:perspective. It was entirely my decision to go to Stefani: The first concert that I remember Los Angeles to pursue this dream I’ve hadgoing for to was Emmylou atlife. theI’ve Palomino Club MC: What youHarris tellmy someone who is out the past 10do years of believed in up in L.A. For me, to wants get taken by myan parents to there hustling, who to make impact?
L.A., to Ifrom go tothe a weird bar andbreathing. watch .Paak: just say it’s got toclub, be like myself start, I’m ambitious and Ithis don’t most beautiful I I’m knew her they music A lot of people want to who doso this thing, and back down for woman anything, notallcompletely growing up, it was just…I will never forget that think there’s a it’s shortcut, but they for don’t any surprised that all happening metake now. moment. risks andvery, theyvery don’tgrateful put both the water. I’m just forfeet theinsupport funny, but I remember halfway They devote all of this tothat some jobpeople that I’veIt’sreceived from the time hometown and through herreally set, I’m keeps going they don’t want to do“Okay. and only a littleto bit of everywhere. It’s she whatsaid, fuels me and me take break now, because I need to go nurse time for their so-called passion. goinga for more. my With new anything––relationships baby.” So now, today, I want a mom or music––you to take her daughter to her first concert have to be wiling to be all-out 100 percent, be MC: Any advice for other artists who areand striving it’s going tomusic be my concert, This is What willing toabe humiliated, broke down, putThe everyto forge career, beyond the usual “go Truth Feels Like, and the energy that I have thing have into this. for it,”you “follow your dreams” cliches? and purity I have just to Atthe the endMake ofand thethe dayintention you have to you beisfocused. Daya: Sure. the decision that want give them that moment, you know? That’s my You have to trust that it might get really shitty to go for it and then treat it as if that’s the only responsibility and I’m taking real seriously and before it gets really good. At itthe end thekind day, option you have. Don’t leave room forofany Ithe so grateful. who didn’t 100 out percent is make going offeel aperson back-up plan. Put give yourself there, to have regrets. theyyes, know could connections, andBecause then––and I’mthey going to Contact Stein, have harder. say it gone six times becauseErik that’s how strongly I estein@solters.com believe in it––work work work work work work! Contact Christina Lo Duca, FYI Natasha.Desai@pmkbnc.com Brand Communications, Contact Christina@FYIBrandComm.com
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think different now isdon’t I’m able tothat sound ridiculous––that was my main thing. putI into awhat’s situation where they have express myself inIthat way and not beor held Once I started had to own put production, or back freedom, can’t in write their songs, they playing by for a songs punk rock rule. Ithat think therapping attitude drumming different people, orthey just are handed to record don’t like. is there. onstill the backburner. I wanted really good The material I release needsto tobe beatrue to who vocalist. I spenton a lot time developing that. I am, centered myof own feelings and points MC: Sophie didinvolved the visuals for the tour as of view. I willMuller also be in everyday deciwell thedid three from the album voice? so I’m far. MC: as How youvideos develop your singing sions around doing shows and touring. So What isSo your creative connection her? .Paak: many recordings. I’mone awith studio rat.what I very grateful for everything. No knows Stefani: Sophie is one of my best friends, and think that’s the only way to develop your singing I experience but me, and drawing from that that she’s been honestly through aAlso, lot this voice is tomy get in there and just record, record, will keep music authentic. theyear, small which has been so crazy, and there a lot of record, record. comfortable. See what team Gino and Get Steve put together atwas Artbeatz darkness. She was there for me, whether she works you and doesn’t.about Trial and error. is hardfor working andwhat passionate what they was in Spain or London or whatever, we were It took me some time. do. It’s a great situation for everyone. always Skype, and she helped though WhenonI was working on the Yesme Lawd project this And so to be able do How a on with whole Knxwledge when I got intotoworking MC: What thing. is yourand songwriting process? do music video now aboutthat a joyful love song was I Compton, I was okay this was the pocket you approach collaborating with others? beautiful. liked it was with the Daya:and I want to resonating give Gino credit forproducers. being my I like songwriting a muse for me. I always want to knew it was worth developing. “in”She’s into the world and introducing impress her, great because she’s so artistic, andallshe’s me to some collaborators. They’re so different from with me. She leadswilling avocal life of being MC: Is it people a challenge to maintain talented no egos tohealth work an artist, but she’s not married and she doesn’t with the constant touring? hard with us. Lyrically, the stories we develop have children, she’s all about artinand .Paak: Absolutely. I tell my management, depend on theand session. Ijust usually come with traveling and she’s insane. “Don’t book forand three andhelp fourme gigs in a a concept inme mind they articulate The second video was a one-take live morow story and expect me toBut have a voice.” the from there. I also have aSomevast ment for thethink Grammys foracreating “Make You,” times they I’m like rapperMe who can do musical background and theLike music which was incredible thing for usI to do,voice. both a of an shows in athing row and keep my is bunch definitely the main for me. contribute of us,oftotally outside our It wasn’t like That’s not the case. I’m upelement. here notes. a lot melodies andof work on thesinging lyrics as making music in the traditional way. It’s exhausting. Ifvideo you see our live show I’manot well. Buta the music is my main strength as phoning it in. I definitely had to learn the hard songwriter. MC: “Misery” is acouple bit more of a traditional video, way on my first of tours, how to take right? care The of my voice. I got with the hang of it––next MC: collaboration the Chainsmokers Stefani: “Misery” we had the of year I’m With not as many shows as Ihappen? did on “Don’t Letdoing Me Down”––how did luxury that doing a two-day shoot, which is totally luxurious this year. I don’t think I will ever do that many Daya: Artbeatz and their label are both affiliated these days. Andsomeone we tothere do what weless love the shows. (Laughs) I’mgot planning to shows with Sony, and letdo them hear most, which just before fashionit and beautiful for triple the is money! “Hide Away” even wasmaking released. They images, not having any out rules. It was very liked my and voice and reached and asked me much on the fly. We went downtown to the MC: Your current release, Malibu, is released if I wanted to do a feature on their new track. I abandoned Sears building; it’s destroyed and through Steel Wool/OBE/Art Club/EMPIRE but fell in love with it immediately. Iall was a big fan of creepy innow there. We there for Dr. two days and you are signed to Aftermath, Dre’s these guys and so itwere was a dream come true. itcompany. was like an art project. How does that work? Is there a new project comingoffor MC: In terms livethem? performance, how have .Paak: We startyour nextstage month. But I’ve already you developed moves so that you’re been workinginwith what he’s working comfortable yourDre ownonbody? on. Ty Just (Tyhiem Cannon), A&R overand there, Daya: by doing a lot the of practicing, is really good helpingand outmoves with whatever doing choreography over andI need. It’s Everyone thereway is really wonderoverdope. again, which is over the best to learn and ful. It’sOver interesting with mesince and Dre. grow. the past year, all ofWe thishad hasa lot going onI’ve before I signed them,asand happened, really grown with so much a he was great about just letting us rock with Malibu, performer. I’m proud of my stage presentation because we dropped it at top the of the yearand and I’m looking forward tothe taking stage and we’ve much been on the road ever playing for pretty people. since. We’re doing a lot with Malibu and now we’ve got thehave othera project out,plan Yesfor Lawd and MC: Do you long-term where rocking with that. Dre to has veryfive supportive, you want your career bebeen in, say, years? like “Just do your do. thing, a rock And Daya: I definitely Myyou’re main goal is star.” to keep he’s veryhard hands-on working the next working and putting outon music that project. people love and relate to––and potentially touring the MC: collaboration Knxwworld.NxWorries, I dream of your playing arenas andwith stadiums. ledge that resulted in Yes Lawd, is superdeep,How short songs, lots of changes, like an MC: much professional vocal coaching aural collage. have you had? .Paak: Knxwledge that together and made Daya: That’s what Iput was doing with Christina it an album. We a bunch of classically songs and a [Chirumbolo] for had six years. She bunch of files everywhere J. Cole mixed trained me and I also took and musical theatre trainit. knowher. at one point Knxwledge was hating ingI from me because he was trying to get this album together and Iback was to gone. I think it came out MC: Looking the very early part of amazing. was a couple of years the makyour musicIt development, what hasinbeen the ing. proud of it.done It’s some my professional best stuff, bestI’m thing you’ve to getof your and thecareer way he it was really cool. I like that music ondid track? it’s short, to the point; a great Daya: Thesweet threeand years I spent taking jazzstart. piano. I’mwas working more with the future. It the hardest I’ve him everinworked in music, and to be honest, I didn’t love it at first, but it MC: With yourthe output songs, you writeIt was definitely mostofrewarding in must the end. constantly. What the technique? taught me how toisimprovise, think on my feet .Paak: I hardly everunique write with mywithin hand.music. I’m a and create my own style horrible speller, so it’s easier to put it on the iPhone withhas auto-correct. I canchallenging work with beats. MC: What been the most I get a lot of information aspect of your career sofrom far? conversations, or movies,The or other songs and talking people. Daya: most challenging aspecttohas been I write everything down.getting Whenlittle I findtosome prostaying healthy while no sleep,
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