There’s nobody giving it more in the world
Hey Tara, welcome back to DMC towers. A really important week for you with the release of your FIRST solo single, ‘Give Me More’ working with producers Deekly and Eighty Six. Wow. Talk us through the single…
“Yes, its crazy at the moment as I just signed my album to Mercury/Universal it’s a dream come true and to have this opportunity is something I have worked really hard for over the last 10 years but for some reason or another it didn’t happen. This is my chance now and I feel the timing is right. “Give Me More” is a really fun record, I haven’t left my dance roots behind, I have tried to make something that was a good mix for the radio and the dance floor. The lyrics are cheeky, trashy and Fun (with a capital F! ) I have the coolest dub step break in the track. I love it of course. The artwork for the single is my way of having the last laugh as McDonald in the UK is a pretty common Irish/Scottish name but in Europe I always find people laughing and comments like “mmm you make me want to eat a hamburger” this doesn’t bother me really, I find it sweet but thought ok this is a good idea for my shoot. I made a crazy world of neon techno clowns and want everything I do to have a real sense of humour about it as life’s too short to take yourself too seriously!”
The single is hot off your album which has been signed to Universal Music / ULM Mercury. Tell us about the album…
“Well, I have to complete and deliver the album by July so as you can imagine there is a lot of work to do, it takes so much longer than I thought it would as before when I was a featured artist there’s so much you don’t get to see behind the scenes. I have a bunch of great songs but I haven’t completed the track list yet…knowing me I’ll probably write something I want to include at the last moment…the album is gonna be fun, sexy dance beats, a little touch of dub step and I’m aiming at very catchy pop melodies. I want to also have so me out and out dance tracks that are more club and less radio, I really want to keep a foot in both worlds as I love both pop and dance music…my album is for people that love to club and want to have a song they can remember too.”
So why so long? Just a case of being too busy, you must have been storing ideas/lyrics/melodies for ages for this?
“You know what even though I have been releasing records for a long time getting a company to see me as more than a featured vocalist was tough, almost like starting from square one! I wanted a solo deal for so long and was close many times. I even signed a deal to Hed Kandi two years ago and it just didn’t work out. Instead of giving up I just kept doing my thing, trying to build on what I had already achieved and looking forwards instead of at the past. I have hundreds of songs, melodies and lyric ideas but I wanted a fresh approach to this project and only a few of my old ideas have slipped through the net as I always write from experience and I want the album to be relevent to my life experience. I want everything I do to have my truth in it.”
You have written and co-written some incredible songs over the past few years. There are thousands of people out there who would love to be in your shoes writing songs, you once said that “their can seem to be a formula for songwriting…”verse, pre, chorus, 2nd verse, pre chorus, bridge and then chorus but it’s so much more than that, it needs that little sprinkle of magic, that secret ingredient.” Firstly, did you pour over song writing books to learn your trade – and what have your co-writers taught you – if anything?
“I’ve never been coached to write songs, I have always just followed my heart and just sang what felt natural to me. This is how I have always approached songwriting, but I like to work with other people as they seem to approach writing in different ways. For example, as I don’t play an instrument I use my voice to work out what I think sounds cool, but if I had a guitar I would write in a different way. It’s really nice to have artistic freedom now and have the final say for a change, but of course when I am co writing I am influenced by the other writer as it’s a joint effort and its fun to share ideas. I have loved making featuring’s on records and will continue in the future as it’s my passion, but I have to admit I’m loving being the main focus. Being a featured artist can feel like always the bridesmaid and never the bride.”
What piece of writing are you most proud of?
“I have loved them all to be honest. Axwell’s first commercial radio record “Feel the Vibe (til the morning comes)” was also my breakthrough track as I co write the song and sang it too. This was a great moment as it was a way to prove to myself that I could do this and gave me a reason to believe in myself during the tough times. I can’t believe that track was released in 2005, it’s so long ago but feels like yesterday. When I look back I see how much I have learned along this journey. But I’m also aware that I still have so much to learn.”
You have worked with the likes of David Guetta, Sidney Samson and Axwell, all incredible talents at the top of their game. How did these three differ in how they work?
“It’s strange sometimes when you write a song for someone you haven’t even met. This is what happened with Axwell and David Guetta. With Axwell it was at the beginning of his career and I never met him till a long time afterwards. With David Guetta it was different as we toured together a lot and we did a lot of promotion together on TV and radio and that was such an amazing experience, he was already really established and loved to have the vocalists he worked with involved in his shows so all the vocalists on the ‘Pop Life’ album became really close so it’s a very special memory for me. JD Davis, Cozi Costi and Chris Willis are all amazing talents and it was a real pleasure to share the stage with them and David. With Sidney Samson (my Dutch brother) it was different again as we decided to hook up and wrote together so spent time in the studio and I actually prefer that as you make a real connection when you vibe off each other and as a writer its less complicated as you can write something and spend days on it and the producer might not like it, when your in the same room it makes the process much easier I find. Sidney and I have made 2 records together so far ‘Set Me On Fire’ and my favourite ‘Dynamite’ which we released last year through Spinnin Records and Nicky Romero made a killer remix for that track.”
The last time we spoke you were saying that you would one day like to open a boutique hotel chain as you spend so much time in the bloody things. So, where around the world do you love returning to because you know you are going to be looked after so well?
“Good question. Well since starting work on my album over the past year I haven’t been touring as much as I needed to focus all my energy into getting the deal and writing some killer tunes…I have a hotel in Paris where I actually leave my stuff, its like when you start to get comfy in a new relationship and your boyfriend gives you a draw for your bits, well I have that now in the “Hotel les Jardins de Neuilly” and I always have the same room. I do still want to make my own hotel chain but it’s not the right time now…give me 10 years!”
Just before you modelled for Playboy France you admitted…”I have been asked to be a cover model for French Playboy last Saturday and after having 24 hrs to think – OMG can I really do this, what will my mother say?” So, what did she say?
“Well, it was the strangest thing, she was really pissed off at first. I think she was more worried about what people might think of me and her as a parent. My Dad’s family are all Irish Catholic and conventional and she was concerned about that. But when I showed her a copy of the magazine she was actually really pleased…I think she thought it was gonna be really hardcore and the pictures were much more fashion and funny than porn so it was all ok in the end. It actually put to rest some of my body issues too as it was the best selling edition of that year so maybe I’m not so bad after all.”
What did you want to be when you were a little girl?
“Not a Playboy cover model Dan!! My first memory was wanting to sing, it sounds cliche but it’s true. My Dad had a terrible microphone and when he first let me sing into it it became my favourite game. Although because it wasn’t a toy I was only allowed to use it at certain times so I guess I always thought of singing into a microphone as a treat. I did at one point want to be an archaeologist after seeing Raiders of The Lost Ark as I was obsessed with the movie and I liked the idea of being a fashion designer too, but singing was always my main passion and l still is.”
What is the bravest thing you have ever done?
“Going to perform for the UK troops in Iraq during the war. I told my parents I was working in Paris and told them the truth about where I really was when I got back as my mum would have been so worried. I used to sing for a charity called CSE and the role was to provide entertainment to the armed forces around the world, it was a great job as I got to perform and go to places where no civilian could go and even though I went to many war zones it never really felt that dangerous as I was always so well looked after by the troops.”
What is your biggest regret?
“I don’t have one. Every mistake I have made in my life although hard to face up to at times and painful, I believe the after effect of that was something I needed to learn. I haven’t always been an angel and have been reckless at times but I have learnt a lot about myself from those experiences and now hopefully will never repeat the same mistake again…”
What is the best thing your parents taught you?
“My parents taught me everything. I am extremely lucky to have such amazing people in my life and am very grateful to them. My father taught me the importance of hard work, he used to work around the clock and did everything with almost a saintly attitude of never complaining. He allowed and encouraged me to follow my dreams. My mother taught me to be grounded and is one of my best friends, I have no secrets from her at all even though some moments of my life have been pretty wild. She allows me to be myself and loves me no matter what, although doesn’t always agree with me. My parents also taught me the value of money, that credit cards should only be used in an emergency or if you actually have the money to pay for something and not to get into debt. The best lesson was how to share, after the birth of my amazing sister Anna, I could never be without her! She’s simply amazing!…I could go on. Basically I have been blessed and hope I can be just as great a parent if I have a child in the future.”
What is your greatness weakness?
“Not believing in myself and being insecure. I’m still battling with that. Maybe that’s why I took so long to make the album too. It’s like I have to do things to prove to myself that I can do it! When I was starting out rather than think I need a producer to make my own songs I thought the long way round, like “I need recording experience” and got many jobs session singing and performing backing vocals for other artists and then touring with them, then after song writing for other people. It’s took me a while to learn to put myself first, not in a selfish way but just to push myself to take this leap of faith and give myself the chance to achieve my lifelong dream…”
What was the best day of your life
“Hearing my sister would live. When she was little she got really sick and we were told she didn’t have long to live. As I was very young too about 4 or 5 I wasn’t allowed to go into the hospital to see her, so I would wave at her from the window outside. It was a miracle that she survived and I’m so happy to say she has been in perfect health since.”
Have you ever been starstruck?
“Yes, many times, I’m actually quite a shy person. The worst thing I did (this was recently) was I had a meeting with will.i.am in a club in Brussels. He was DJing at the club and I actually have quite bad eye sight from a distance and when you add that to a dark club and the fact that he’s black it’s a recipe for disaster. So after waiting for an hour I was brought to wait for Will, I was wearing some sort of skyscraper heels with a big wooden sole, as I was brought forward I was still looking for Will then I thought I felt something soft under my wooden shoe, it was will.i.am’s foot and he was sitting down, I was standing up and my eye line was straight ahead so I hadn’t seen him at all…needless to say that meeting didn’t go too well…Will if you’re reading this I am still really sorry and hope I didn’t break a toe! That’s probably why some of my friends call me the Bridgette Jones of dance music!”
What are the big artists on your i-Pod at the moment?
“I have an ipod but I never use it which is crazy, I’m addicted to youtube as I’m a very visual person and I like to watch the music video at the same time as hearing the music. I was watching Lana Del Ray (her first videos) the ones she did herself before her song “Video Games” blew up. I found it really inspiring, how the music scene has changed through all these networks, its possible for an artist to be spotted like this. How the times have changed…this was impossible just 10 years ago!”
What has been the most exciting live show you have ever done?
I’m actually working on the new TV show The Voice in Belgium, where I’m an assistant coach. We have the live show tonight and there’s only 3 shows left. Being a coach on the show has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It’s amazing to share the knowledge I’ve learned over the past ten years of working in the music business. Tricks of how to sing when you’re really nervous, learning lyrics fast, mic technique , etc. Its been great as I’m also learning through them, I tell them things that I have learnt over time and the best thing ever is then seeing them perform and smash the song! I’m like a proud mum “mumma music”! I didn’t release by taking this job actually how much I’d enjoy it, I’m gonna be really sad when it ends in April.
What are the next studio projects coming up for you?
“Well now its all about my solo album, I’ve got a lot of work to do. “Give Me More has only just been released and has been so well received on radio already, I’m so happy for that and can’t wait to be over booked with all the promotion as it’s my first solo record. I make the music clip in two days and that is gonna be very colourful and the treatment looked amazing so I’m really excited! I’m blessed to be in this position now and giving everything 100%. I think I have the next 2 singles, so I’m lovingly developing them and of course coming up with some other ideas and crazy concepts for photo shoots and video ideas. I also have my own weekly radio show called “Shut Up & Dance” it started on FG Radio this January and now the show is broadcast in 10 over countries! I love doing the radio show as it was a new challenge and now I’m focussing on my own project I’m not in the clubs as much, having a dance radio show keeps me update with all the new records which is really important to me. In my free time now I’m finding new talent on soundcloud or promo tracks that have been sent over, its nice to discover someone you think is great and help them to get on the radio. It’s my way of giving back to the dance scene that has helped me so much in the past. My love affair with EDM is far from over….Were still madly in love with each other. Maybe that’s why I called my new single “Give Me More”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nuaCCfKfFg
