HELLO! Magazine (Oct. 8th 2012)

Half Hour with… Gwen Stefani

Back with her band No Doubt, the singer and style queen talks candidly about music, marriage and motherhood

After a successful decade as a solo artist, fashion leader Gwen Stefani has returned to No Doubt, the band with which she found fame.

The four-piece’s new album, Push and Shove, has taken four years to put together, but it’s everything Gwen - 43 this week - wants it to be.

“I love everything I do - the music, the clothing and accessories of my fashion label and, of course, my family,” says the singer, who has two songs - Kingston, six, and Zuma, four - with her British husband, Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale. “They’re more important to me than anything and having children is fantastic. It’s just that the challenge is huge and I constantly feel inadequate. Many of the songs on Push and Shove revolve around this balance between motherhood and career. It’s a very grown-up album.”

What’s the biggest difference between No Doubt in 2001 and No Doubt in 2012?

Eight children! All four of us have become parents. The kids are between one and ten years old.

Do they come along to your gigs?

When it’s possible. Three years ago, during our North American summer tour, Kingston became really close to Ace, the son of our guitarist Tom [Dumont]. They’re totally best friends now, like a couple of cool rock buddies.

You were pregnant with Kingston when you toured with your alum, Love. Angel. Music. Baby…

What a drama that was! Here I was, with my super cool CD, wanting to really make noise - and suddenly and totally unexpectedly, I was pregnant! Almost every night I had to throw up.

Was it easier with Zuma?

Nope. We were about to start writing songs for the new [No Doubt] album. I got nothing done because I was sick all over again, but this time I couldn’t even lie down because I had this two-year-old running around. 

Was it you who brought the group back together?

No, we are all equal in the band. Doing solo stuff ran for longer it should have because i was so successful, but Tony [Kanal], Tom and Adrian [Young] have shown me a lot of consideration,

You say you were songwriting for the album as far back as 2008…

Yes, but then when Zuma was first born, I was always tired, exhausted, unmotivated. I had this guilty conscience all the time - towards the band, because I felt it was wasting their time, and towards my boys, because often I didn’t come home to dinner. Over time it got better, but to make this album was a super strenuous struggle for me. I didn’t want to disappoint all those people who are looking forward to new songs from No Doubt. 

Do you want more children?

Not really, no. Two kids is enough. I’m done with having children. I’m tearing myself up every day as it is.

You’re been married for ten years. Is it hard when you’re both working?

We have found a way to handle it. Of course things are sometimes running better and sometimes not so great. But we’re already very happy that we’ve been together this long. We stick together and on the main things we agree. We both wanted a family, for example. Gavin is a fantastic father. I could never record a song with him, but the guys are our great common passion.

You always look so perfect. Do you style yourself and the kids in case the paparazzi are waiting?

No, those aren’t staged. They don’t let us tell them what to wear anyway. Kingston has this grunge look going on and Zuma would prefer to run around as Spider-Man every day. And I’m still a teenager. Never went outside without make-up. Seriously, I never look sloppy, not even at home. I also like it when Gavin says I look cute. Yes, I want him to think I’m hot!

So you’re never in joggers in front of the TV?

When I watch TV, it’s almost always in bed. And there I’m very lightly dressed.