Rolling Stone (Oct. 1st 2004)

Gwen Stefani Makes “Love”

No Doubt singer collaborates with her idols on solo debut

For her solo debut, Love, Angel, Music, Baby, out November 23rd, No Doubt frontwoman Gwen Stefani cast her net wide, seizing the opportunity to work with a vast array of artists.

“The whole idea was to collaborate,” says Stefani. “To do a solo record means trying to pour my heart out, which I feel like I already do in No Doubt. This is more of an art project. I wanted to play different roles and work with a ton of people.”

Expect hip-hop beats from Dr. Dre and the Neptunes, as well as OutKast’s Andre 3000. Dallas Austin (Pink, TLC) and Nellee Hooper (Massive Attack, Soul II Soul) give some tracks a dance feel, and the album’s New Wave sound comes by way of Depeche Mode’s Martin Gore, ex-Eurythmics Dave Stewart and New Order.

“I knew exactly what my influences were — Club Nouveau, Lisa Lisa, Prince, New Order, the Cure, early Madonna,” says Stefani. “Everybody was under strict instructions.”

The album’s first single, “What You Waiting For?,” is set to hit airwaves this month. And Stefani will make her Hollywood debut in December, when she plays Jean Harlow alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in Martin Scorsese’s Howard Hughes biopic The Aviator.