19 Magazine (May 2002)

Rock Steady

Hip chick and No Doubt’s front woman Gwen Stefani gives us the lowdown on music, marriage and what it takes to get the flattest stomach in pop.

[via nxdscrapbook]

Who didn’t have Hey Baby stuck in their head for, like, weeks? No Doubt’s number two smash (their first biggie since 1997’s Don’t Speak) is so hip-swingingly addictive that it’s still being played like crazy on the radio. And as for Gwen Stefani’s smash collaboration with Eve (Let Me Blow Your Mind), well, it just goes to show she’s one of the hottest divas around. With bags of talent, a shiny, new ghetto fabulous look and fiancé (she’s getting spliced to Bush lead singer Gavin Rossdale), she’s poised to take on the world, despite her protests that she’s just “a normal girl from Orange County.”

To kick off, let’s talk about the new album Rock Steady. Do you think it’s the kind of record people want to hear right now?

“Well, I think we were just in a really good mood this time around. And the mood we were into was something that you could dance to, a little sexier, a little Jamaican dancehall-ish. So it was just a fun record to make, and the chemistry as far as the band goes, couldn’t be better. Although I had a fight with Tony [Kanal, No Doubt's bass player] yesterday. Just a little one – we made up afterwards.”

Why did you fight?

“Cos we were exhausted and had a rehearsal at 10pm after all day working, after working for seven days straight! Time zones and all that. But we’re doing awesome.”

And the new sound surely coincides with the new following you’ll have since working with rap artist Eve?

“It’s weird how it’s such a coincidence, cos the Eve thing was so separate from what we were gonna do on the album. Except maybe for working with Dre [who produced Let Me Blow Ya Mind] where, production-wise, I tried a couple of things with my voice, cos he really worked me in that studio! But the thing was fun cos it was like a cultural collision that turned out great.”

How do the other guys in the band feel about you doing solo work?

“They were the ones who said, ‘Do the Eve thing’! We’re best friends, so if they see me do stuff and, not only that, be successful, they’re really happy for me. We’ve been through so much together and we’ve made so many commitments to each other. It’s weird how we don’t realise it at the time but No Doubt was always number one, and the girlfriends and boyfriends came second. Now the first one to get married is Adrian [Young, drums]. And I’ve got engaged. I don’t know if you heard?”

Of course we’ve heard!

“It seems everybody knows, which is, like, so weird. But I’m the second one to go and it’s obviously going to change things for the band cos the band is like we’re married to each other, y’know?”

Did Gavin’s proposal come as a surprise?

“Well, no. I think we always wanted to get married. The idea of going out with each other was that we were gonna have a family together at some point, but there was always distractions with work and living in two different countries. But we’re very excited it’s got to this point. It’s been a long journey and hard work, but it’s been totally worth it. I feel so different! I didn’t know it was going to feel like such a relief, y’know?”

Have you set a date?

“No. I wanna do it this year and so does he. But we both have records out and it’s going to be difficult. But you know, it’ll probably be over here somewhere. [Rumour has it they may wed on London's Primrose Hill!] One thing I do know is that your wedding is either big or small – you can’t have a medium sized one.”

Which way are you veering at the moment?

“Probably big – there are too many people I wanna share it with. It’s funny, but last year was a great year for us, and people that I’ve talked to are really into the vibe. And to go back to your first question – this record is definitely a good diversion to life. It’s not saving the world, but it’s a throw-it-on party record. The band’s always been about fun, y’know?”

But you lyrics have always been quite heart-on-sleeve. Does it feel weird having people know so much about you?

“Well, when I first started writing on Tragic Kingdom [the 1997 album], I went out with Tony for eight years, then he split up with me and I had this story to tell. I never thought anyone would actually hear it! Then, for two and a half years, everyone asked about these lyrics and us. It was very exposed and we really used our sense of humour to get through it. But I try not to censor myself. I’m not writing about anything weird. I’m just a normal girl from Orange County. I have nothing to hide – I’m trying to be a good person!”

Do you enjoy being a style icon?

“It’s cool! I always made my own clothes and did my own thing in high school and it’s lasted. Being in the band is a good excuse to play fancy dress every day. If you spend a year making an album, it’s really fun at the end of that to get all dressed up and say ‘Look what I did!’ It’s just another creative outlet, but it’s the music that really drives me.”

You wouldn’t set up your own range then?

“I would, but it wouldn’t be just do a t-shirt and put a label on it, or have a some company launch a ‘Gwenline’. I’d have to do it myself and, currently I don’t have time.”

Does being the band’s front woman mean you’re conscious of keeping in shape?

“Yeah, I’m very normal in the sense that I get fat really easily. I come from an Italian background and my whole family history is, like, large women [laughs]. Then, when I was in sixth grade, my mom put me on a diet.”

What age is sixth grade?

“Right before you hit puberty. The doctor said ‘She could go either way – watch her!’ So I did all the exercising and dieting, but I think as I grew I kind of stabilised.”

Did it ever get serious?

“Oh yeah, I think everyone goes through that at some point. And I think in the last few years I’ve been able to maintain a healthier lifestyle. I’m very athletic because my stage show is all about moving around, so I work out a lot on tour. But I have the same issues as everyone else. Whether people were looking at me or not, I’d still feel the same way, but I think there’s more pressure, like, ‘Oh shit, that’s coming up, I wanna be able to wear this…”

Like a wedding?

“A wedding, whatever.”

Or an awards bash. Do you enjoy that whole celebrity party circuit?

“It’s fun to meet other artists, and talk to them.”

Which artists do you admire most?

“I really like Bjork and I’ve copied her look loads. I think she’s amazing, very talented, creative and totally unique. I love Outkast, as well. We were lucky enough to work with so many of our idols on this album and Outkast did the remix of Hey Baby, so I guess they like our vibe, too. I kind of see our bands as in some way similar as I don’t think either of us would fit into one kind of a genre. Ours is really just like a fruit salad of music – so many influences and everything just folds together.”