93 replies to this topic

[Shamrock_1982]

Interview for www.celinedionforum.com


She started her career as a songwriter and as the lead vocalist in the band, '' 4 Non Blondes '' in the early 90's,
which had incredible international success, mainly thanks to a song she had written '' What's Up '' for the album entitled
'' Bigger, Better, Faster, More '' which went on to sell over seven million copies worldwide.

She has even toured the globe with many of music's superstars, from '' The Who ''  to '' Prince''.

Now a days her main focus is writing and producing songs and albums for today's biggest recording artists, and has even managed to form her own record label '' Custard Records ''.
  
The wide variety of artists she has worked with over recent years, range from; Christina Aquilera to The Dixie Chicks, Courtney Love to James Blunt and Pink to Celine Dion. She is in huge demand, with many other artists queuing up in the hope to work with this amazing lady....

She is the incredibly talented, and unique, Linda Perry.
  

******************************


Linda : Hey Darren

Darren : Hi, Linda thank you so much for taking time out of you're hectic schedule to talk to me today....

Linda :  That’s cool.    

Darren :  I must say you have had quite an interesting life looking back... you started off performing in clubs and small bars,
and then suddenly after writing you're first professional song, you found yourself in a band and being signed to a major record label.

Then years later, here you are, one of the most successful songwriter/music producers on planet with you're own music label.
Do you ever wake up in the morning and pinch yourself... as most people would say this kind of thing would only happen in a movie or a fairytale, what’s you're take on it all?

Linda : I don't think about it, but yeah, a rags to riches story...I had odd jobs in San Francisco and played clubs and small bars.
The group came to me to be their vocalist.... and over the years I tried to basically take the knowledge, the money and connections I had in San Francisco and started the label ''Rock Star Records'', to help local artists out.
But I didn’t have success as a record company owner....I was just trying to help the community.

So I later moved to Los Angeles and started ''Custard Records'', and my first signing was James Blunt.

I'm as happy now, as I was then...My life was good in rags, I would never change one thing... it is part of who I am.
What I can pride myself on, is that I am no different, my personality has not changed, when I had nothing I thought I was a rock star.
I love music. I am so lucky and so blessed, it makes me happy, I love my job.
Here I am today working out on a treadmill with my best friend and talking to Darren in London at the same time...

Darren : What would you say you enjoy most now a days, singing, writing, or producing?

Linda : For me they all go together, I love music. What ever makes music is what I love....
I couldn't just choose one.

Darren : When you are working on a song, what tends to come first, the lyrics or the music?

Linda :  It all just comes together...
I have never written a lyric before writing the music, I add lib.
I just sit at a piano and it comes to me.

I wouldn’t know what a hit is, all I can write is a good song.

Darren : You have worked with a number of huge recording artists over the years, but are there any artist/artists that you would really like to work with in particular?

Linda : I feel blessed and lucky that, I do what I do, I am not looking for anyone in particular to work with.
If people want to work with me I'm like wow! I have to basically get a connection though...
After I meet them, I connect with them..... I just let it happen.

Some artists who wanted to work with me came as a surprise though....Celine being one of them. [ laugh].

Darren : Yeah last year, you worked on two songs for Celine's ''Taking Chances'' album, how did that come about?

Linda : Celine is a good one, I was aware of her, but I would have never put me and Celine Dion together. [ laughs ].
When I heard that she wanted to work with me, I left every option open, as you never know what will happen.
So when her people called I was like ok alright.... So I flew to Vegas saw her show, and met her afterwards.
I loved the show...We base our reaction of how much heart you put into it....  
Celine had a lot of heart and alot of emotion in the show.

When I met her after the show, she’s like... she’s crazy [laugh].
She’s like, you know she wants to sing, to perform, that’s what see does!  
So after talking with her for a while, I went home and wrote ''My Love'' on the Piano.  

Darren : ''My Love'',  is a huge hit with fans.... and will be released as a single worldwide later this month, to promote her new greatest hits album ''My Love - Essential Collection.'' Can you tell me the story behind this song please... did you research her life to write the song, as it seems to be about Celine and Rene in the early years...

Linda : My love is all about Celine. When I went backstage at A new day, I got to hang out with her.
I gathered knowledge on her, she’s gives freely... to her fans, husband, record company......but I wonder are they doing the same for her.
  
''My Love'' comes across as a love song about Celine and Rene, but its not. It is actually about her and everyone in her life; family, friends, fans etc.
  
This woman works hard, she really gives it her all, and gives it freely, and the song was meant for her to understand and feel her own, for her to stop and say hey wait a minute...

Darren : I watched a short video on the recording of ''My Love’’ with yourself and Celine at the Palms recording studio.... I found it amazing and so interesting how you sat Celine down and explained to her in detail, exactly what the song was about.
She got incredibly emotional, but it made her realise alot... Is this something you do alot with artists before recording to get the best of them or....?

Linda : I need artists to completely understand what is going on, give the emotion, and tap into it.
I have to get artists I work with to understand where the song is coming from.
I have to give them the emotion...

Everyone that works with me feels like they are having a therapy session. [ laugh ].

What I am tired of is artists that are singing with no emotion, who sing a certain song, but who just don’t care about the meaning of it. My job and responsibility is to give songs emotion.
  
I need to explain to some artists that don’t write their own songs....
Celine understood this and it touched her, as sad as it made me feel, (she cried a lot) and it was the biggest compliment she could pay me!
I told them this song would be a big hit.....
I believe her when I hear her sing, it is important to me as a listener and music lover, that I believe her.
  
Darren : How did you find working with Celine, are you a fan now?

Linda : Yes I am a fan now.... I think she is phenomal, powerful, wonderful, weak, funny and vulnerable!
I have to say I grew attachment to her and got protective over her. What you see is what you get with Celine.
She is strong yet fragile!

I hope she gets what she wants out of the record....and I think that I did a great job with her....

Darren : Have you managed to catch Celine on her current ''Taking Chances - World Tour'', or do you plan to..... to see her perform ''My Love'' live?

Linda : I planned to see her in Europe, but it didn't work out, but I do plan to see her during the U.S leg of the tour. I have seen a live version of the song though, and I have to say its much better, its more suitable for her.

Darren : Do you have any plans to work with Celine again in the future?

Linda : In a heartbeat if the opportunity arose.
  
Darren : Linda, again thank you so much for you're time, its extremely kind of you, I'm honoured to have had this priviledge..... and I know fans on the Celinedionforum.com, will enjoy reading this interview!

Linda : My pleasure Darren.


**********************


6.42pm - 7th October 2008 (www.celinedionforum.com) - Ire23

[Timster]

Thanks Darren! Great interview

[Nmj]

Nice!

[CelineTheBest5]

Very nice interview, and I like the way she talked about Celine and about the song!

[pat200]

You are amazing Darren! Keep up the great work!

[kathyc25]

AMAZING Interview Darren! You are so lucky you got to interview Linda! I`m a big fan of hers and her work...and she seems so respectful of Celine

[Shamrock_1982]

kathyc25, on Oct 10 2008, 10:27 PM, said:

AMAZING Interview Darren! You are so lucky you got to interview Linda! I`m a big fan of hers and her work...and she seems so respectful of Celine

Yeah Linda, and her people, were soooooo cool and really kind to me, she is a legend!

It was weird when my phone rang and she said ''Hey Darren, its Linda Perry, how are you doing..''
I was nervous, but after a few minutes, I was totally at ease, and she was amazing to talk to..... yeah she really does speak highly of Celine, and is a fan!

She also very kindly agreed to take part in another giveaway, I have lined up, which is amazing!
So a huge thank you to Linda and her team for all there help!

btw: I have another pretty amazing interview lined up! ......

Darren.

Edited by Ire23, 10 October 2008 - 03:40 PM.

[ashleylovesceline]

I almost guessed her!

Awesome interview, Darren! As I was reading, you were asking the exact questions I would have asked! I loved how she went more into detail about what the song was about... makes me love it even more!!

Great job!

[ce-line]

Thank you!  
Wonderful interview and glad to see that she captured Céline's "qualities".  

[I Surrender]

Darren, ur the best THanks, Linda is fab.

[fab]

Have you some picture ???

[Davey84]

oh darren u big teese!!!

I loved this!!! thanks a billion!!! I just love how linda got 'céline' and it's sad most of her people don't get that... I hope this song gets its message across and I also hope they will work together. I also love the fact that Linda knows about the new version, and that she likes it!

thanks a million Darren!!

[dj4celine]

Nice interview, Darren

So another converted fan, eh?

another interview Can't wait

Thanks

[nuts2you]

Great interview, I would like for you to get and interview with the one "CELINEDION next.

[LVCeline]

What an amazing thing to have!  I would have never expected this!  Thank you so much!  I think your questions are really something!  This is better than any average interview professionals give us, so kudos to you!

[Julian]

Wow, thanks a lot for the interview. Makes the song even more special    

[lita]

Great!! It's very coool  

[takeachance]

Thanks Dareen. you asked great question. Cheers

[Thecolourofmylove]

Great interview!!  I love her!! Thank you!

[Chellbie]

AWSOME AWSOME AWSOME DARREN! you did a great job! thanks so much for sharing that!

[stevo]

Darren- thanks a million Big Man! That really is so cool of you! How nice of Linda to talk so personally about Celine- that she felt protective over her. Aww- that made me all happy-sad! Thanks Darren

[ZoraSourit]

Thank you for this. Linda Perry is one amazing lady. I always loved her since 'What's Up!', and now, her work as song writer and producer is flawless.

[Xpresso]

Great work Darren!!    Thanks for representing celinedionforum.com and all of us fans!

I would love if Linda and Celine worked together on an ENTIRE album in the future.
She could be the American Jean-Jacques Goldman...     
I think they could make a very interesting project since they are both very talented, strong and human.
Perfect match for Celine!

[SarahJB5]

amazing interview Darren...I really enjoyed reading it and learning a bit more about My Love...thanks so much!!!  

[CelineRules!]

Great interview. She really 'got' Céline in that song. Is it possible to love it even more?

Linda about Céline: "When I met her after the show, she’s like... she’s crazy [laugh]."

Love that

[A New Day Has Come]

Darren your awesome thank you so much man, your da bomb.

[Love,]

I love you, Darren!

Oh... and a beautiful, comprehensive, personal, and awesome interview, too!

[Koolan]

Cheers Darren! I'd love for them to colloborate together in the future. So cool what she said about Celine, makes me love the song even more.

[Black Kitten]

aww that's a sweet interview.

she's a real talent... kudos to her for making one of celine's most personal songs.

Edited by dhena, 10 October 2008 - 07:03 PM.

[Costa Santos]

OMG! Thanks a bunch, Darren! You did a very good job...