Colbie Caillat

Colbie Caillat – her surname rhymes with "ballet", pronunciation fans – is arguably the biggest MySpace success story since Lily Allen. After becoming the most popular unsigned singer on the social networking site-turned-popstar breeding ground, the Californian guitar-strummer was hastily snapped up by the good folk at Universal Republic Records. Their faith paid off: Colbie’s debut album Coco has already shifted 200,000 copies in the States. We hooked up with the effervescent singer-songwriter to discuss her music, her unexpected success and her new-found fondness for the UK.

When did you start writing songs?
"Well, I started writing songs about three years ago when I learned to play the guitar, but I've been singing since I was eleven. When I turned 19 I kinda realised that I needed to write my own songs instead of singing songs written by other people. About 18 months ago a friend made me a MySpace music page and told me it was a really cool way for people to hear your music. He uploaded my songs for me, showed me how to use it and it just kept on going from there. I just kept getting more friend requests and more plays on my MySpace player."

Are you surprised that your songs became so popular so quickly?
"I honestly wasn't even expecting it. I had no idea that putting my songs up there was going to do anything. I'm really very lucky that it happened - I didn't even know how to use a MySpace page!"

What can we expect from your debut album?
"It's very sunny and optimistic music that will hopefully put you in a good mood. It's music that people can relate to. John Mayer, Bob Marley, Lauryn Hill and Fleetwood Mac are my top influences, but I listen to every kind of music, so I think lots of things have rounded my music to how it sounds today."

What's your single 'Bubbly' about?
"I wrote 'Bubbly' last summer and it's about having a crush on someone and the way someone makes you feel when you like them. It's about, you know, when someone gives you butterflies and makes you smile."

Is it about anyone in particular?
"It was just a general feeling actually, because I didn't have a crush on anyone at that particular time. I was just missing those feelings so I decided to write about them."

A lot of your songs deal with very intimate feelings. Do you write alone or with co-writers?
"Well, on the album I have two co-writers - my producer Mikal Blue and my friend Jason Reeves - but when I write, I write by myself. I just go to them when I need help on the songs. It's really hard to open up in front of people and express what you're feeling, but I can do that with Jason. He came to LA two years ago to record his album with Mikal, our producer, and the first day we met each other, we wrote a song together. We're like brother and sister - we really have a special bond."

Your dad co-produced albums for Fleetwood Mac in the seventies and eighties. Did Stevie Nicks and the gang hang out at your house while you were growing up?
"They were around. I've been with all of them on lots of different occasions. It was cool knowing them and experiencing that growing up."

How does your dad feel about your decision to pursue a musical career? Is he supportive?
"He's warned me about lots of things in the business and tried to prepare me for them, but he's also been really encouraging and supportive of my career. He's happy for me."

Do you ever ask him for musical advice?
"I play him my new songs but only once they're done. Because he's very musical and he's a dad, he's always going to have his critiques and opinions about my music, so I have to wait until I'm ready. I have to know a song is ready and that I don't want to change it."

How did you feel when your album debuted at number five on the US album chart?
"It was a great feeling. I was so proud when I heard that, but I don't get to see the success that much because I've been touring so much. I've been out of the States for most of the summer so I haven't really been able to experience it first-hand. I've been in the UK actually."

Are you a fan of British music?
"Yeah, I love Coldplay and Amy Winehouse and James Morrison - those are probably my top ones."

How are you finding it over here?
"It's a huge culture shock, but the more I come over here, the more I get used to it. I've been really, really liking it a lot. Everything's so different - the food in particular. Whenever I order something, it's never what I expect it to be, and I can't plug anything in when I'm in the bathroom. I'm looking forward to playing some gigs over here, because I've only played a couple of press showcases so far. I'm looking forward to meeting the fans."

Colbie's single 'Bubbly' is released on September 24. Her album Coco follows on October 8.