Nelly Furtado, singer songwriter with Portuguese-Canadian roots, discusses expanding her sound with Timbaland, touring with her 3-year-old daughter. She reflects on facing challenges in the music industry and the influence of her background on her music. The podcast also covers the racial draft in the music industry and the controversy surrounding her song 'Give it to Me'.
Nelly Furtado embraced a different sound and direction with her album 'Loose', taking inspiration from pop icons and achieving global success.
Nelly Furtado faced pressures and expectations throughout her career but remained committed to her artistic vision and creativity.
Nelly Furtado emphasizes the importance of musical diversity, not wanting to be confined to a specific genre.
Nelly Furtado discusses her desire for artistic freedom, including potentially exploring other mediums like playwriting or theatrical productions.
Deep dives
Building a Collaborative Partnership with Timbaland
Well Nelly and Timbaland had worked together on several songs before the album Loose, establishing a creative connection. Their collaboration process involved dancing and creating music based on the vibe and motion. They worked together in a vibed-out environment, focusing on the flow and crafting catchy hooks.
Challenging Herself to Make a Huge Pop Album
Well Nelly wanted to prove to herself that she could make a big shiny pop album. She set the goal of creating a record that would translate well to larger arenas and festival shows with a more broad-sounding album. The collaboration with Timbaland and other producers resulted in an album where every song made the cut, and it was all done in a short period of time.
Dealing with Expectations and Perceptions
Well Nelly faced pressures and expectations throughout her career. She experienced pushback and skepticism when she tried to break away from the image of her debut album. She wanted to express her truth and explore her identity on subsequent albums, often feeling conflicted about the criticism and commercial success. However, she remained committed to her artistic vision and creativity.
Embracing a New Sound and Direction
With her album Loose, Well Nelly took a risk by embracing a different sound and direction. She wanted to make a pop album that was big and shiny, drawing inspiration from successful pop artists like Madonna and Janet Jackson. Loose aimed to showcase a new side of Well Nelly's artistry and appeal to a broader audience. The album ultimately achieved global success and solidified Well Nelly's status as an innovative artist.
Nelly Furtado's musical evolution
Nelly Furtado discusses the evolution of her music career, from being inspired by Janet Jackson to working with various producers. She expresses the importance of musical diversity and how she doesn't like to be confined to a specific genre. She reflects on the success of her album 'Loose' and the pressure that came with it. She also talks about her experience in the Latin music community and the collaboration on her Spanish album. Finally, she shares her satisfaction with being independent and exploring new artistic endeavors.
The significance of Nelly Furtado's album 'Ride'
Nelly Furtado explains the backstory and creative process behind her album 'Ride', including her decision to change her logo and work with alternative producer John Congleton. She mentions the freedom and opportunities that come with being independent, such as releasing music on cassette and collaborating with local artists for an art installation. She also mentions her love for Toronto's music scene and recommends emerging Canadian artists.
Reflections on the music industry and future aspirations
Nelly Furtado reflects on her long-term record contract and the significance of gaining artistic freedom. She discusses her desire to do a Portuguese-language album and potentially explore other artistic mediums like playwriting or writing arrangements for theatrical productions. She emphasizes the importance of staying curious and asking questions throughout her musical journey.
Singer songwriter Nelly Furtado talks about her Portuguese-Canadian roots, expanding her sound and reach with Timbaland and what it was like touring with her 3-year-old daughter at the height of her success.
