Mizz UK (Dec. 14th 2006)
Now and Gwen
She’s got a wardrobe of to-die-for clothes and gets to spend all day making music with Pharrell. We tracked Gwen down and demanded to know why she’s so cool.
[via nxdscrapbook]
Hey Gwen! How are you?
I’m good, thanks for asking!
You’ve been so busy. We love the Wind It Up video.
Thanks. It’s so cool looking. I remember when I was a little girl and I saw The Sound of Music. It was such an inspiration to me. My folks wouldn’t let me watch Grease when it came out… but I did see that and it changed my life. I was able to indulge my theatrical side!
We haven’t stopped playing your new album either…
Well, when I started thinking about this project, I was like, ‘I want to work with Keane, Akon and Pharrell.’ It wasn’t as hard as my first album. I thought that was going to be a really fun, easy project I could do and put out in a couple of months. But it turned into this super-hard, life-challenging, long, drawn-out thing. On the first day, I went to the studio and cried!
Aww! You’ve been performing Wind It Up on tour, so everyone has had a sneak preview of it. How come it’s a single now?
There were lots of songs that didn’t make the first album, because Pharrell and I just had so many tracks. I was going to put out two albums at the same time, but it didn’t work out. So, when it came to the second album, Pharrell and I went into the studio again to record some of them, and wrote some new ones too.
We hear you recorded this CD in no time?
It’s the quickest album I’ve ever done in my life! It’s the most modern album you’ll hear out there, because I literally did it so recently!
How’s it different to the last album?
Loads of Love Angel Music Baby tracks had attitude. The Sweet Escape is definitely more of an emotional album.
You’re a total style icon and we love your look. Tell us everything.
Well it’s easier doing media interviews on my own [without No Doubt] because if I want to talk about lipstick or fashion or girlie stuff, I can!
Go on, then, tell us!
Fashion is in my blood. My grandma made all my mum’s clothes and my great-gran always sewed. Then all through high school and in the band, I made my own clothes. I used to make corset-style drop-waists with a cheerleader skirt. I wore my boxer shorts, fishnets and Dr Marten boots underneath!
Sounds a bit mad!
It was cool to have my own style. I didn’t plan it. When I got started, I was like, ‘How can I compete with the boys, but not sweat?’ At the same time, I’m a girlie girl. I enjoy making myself up and all that stuff.
How did your fashion label L.A.M.B start?
My stylist Andrea and I were making so many outfits that we thought, ‘Why don’t we do a clothing line together?’ It’s every girl’s dream. We were going to do something really small and just selling our stuff at a few boutiques, and then I met this guy who said he wanted to do a clothing line with me and pay for it all. The best part was that he said I could do whatever I wanted creatively. I was like, ‘Are you kidding me? OK!’
Do you get loads of time to work on the outfits?
No at the moment! But I do spend a lot of my spare time designing. I’m passionate about L.A.M.B. It’s actually beyond a dream come true for me, Because I’ve always made clothes.
Sounds like you’ve been working really hard?
No kidding! Come January, I’m going to hibernate, eat pizza and sleep!
Gwen’s latest single, Wind It Up, and album, The Sweet Escape are out now!