Neon Limelight Interviews: Indie Darling Anjulie Talks VMA Nomination, Songwriting, And Being A Little Bit Crazy

Every year an awards show will have a nominee that makes people go, “Who?” For this year’s MTV Video Music Awards, that artist is indie darling Anjulie.

The Canadian singer/songwriter received a nomination for Breakthrough video for her single, “Boom.” One look at the video and you’ll know exactly why she got the nom even without the star power of a major record label and previous hit records.  The video, directed by Andria Petty,  is dark, it’s animated, it’s emotional.

Anjulie as an artist is as captivating as the visuals in her video. She leaves her heart and soul in her music. No topic is safe from the strike of her pen and pad, no experience is too small to turn into a record.

Her self-titled debut album arrived in stores in August to sweeping acclaim. Critics praised the openness of her lyrics and swooned for her Nelly Furtado-ish voice.

We chatted with Anjulie soon after the release of her album to get the scoop on her debut, how she felt about her surprising VMA nomination, her secret career as a songwriter, her need to meet Russel Brand, and how she’s just a bit crazy.

Neon Limelight: Your album is finally out. That has to be exciting!

Anjulie: It’s really exciting for me. This record has taken my whole life really to make. I’ve been thinking about my first record since I was like 12 years old, so it’s a relief and it’s great to finally have it out there.

NL: What does release week look like for you? What’s your schedule like and how is it different than before?

A: It’s the same, you know, I hang out. [laughs] No, it’s been kind of hectic but it’s good. It’s been a lot of press, especially with the whole MTV [VMA] nomination. That’s kind of raised the profile a lot which is good.

NL: That’s huge! When you found out your video was nominated for a VMA, what did you do? Who told you first?

A: I got a voice mail from the director and she was like, “Hey, you got nominated for an MTV Video Music Award,” and I deleted the message because I thought it was a joke. I told my manager and he thought the same thing, so we looked online and it was true!

NL: The video is incredible! What was the process of making such a video because it’s not like the cookie-cutter, first for an artist type of video. It’s really creative and it pretty much lays out the roadmap saying, “I’m here. This is how awesome I’m going to be.”

A: Yeah, totally! It was really Adria Petty, the director of the video, who came up with it. We had a bunch of video treatments submitted and there was talk of maybe doing something with Michel Gondry and all this stuff. And then [Petty] sent the treatment in and I was in love. As soon as I read it I was like this is the video. We ended up shooting it in the backyard of her house.

NL: Wow! She must have a huge backyard!

A: She doesn’t even. She just put up all these green screens. She’s just really amazing.

NL: You said it took your whole life to think up this record, but when did you actually sit down and start working on it and how long did that process actually take?

A: Probably about three years ago. I wrote this song called “Jamba,” that isn’t on the record but it kind of started the whole process of the record. Then I moved to Toronto and started working on the production and developing the sound with Jon Levine, who is one of the producers on the record. Then we came down to [Los Angeles] to finish up. So, it took the span of three cities — New York, Toronto, and LA — and a lot of years and a lot of heartache.

NL: Did the direction of the album ever shift while working on it through these three cities and three years or was it pretty much the same thing from start to finish?

A: No, it definitely changed. It morphed. I have a really small attention span, so if I’m working on even a genre of music, I get really bored of it quickly. So it kind of is a little bit schizophrenic of a record but it works.

NL: A lot of new artists don’t really start out with the self-titled thing. What made you decide against an actual title?

A: It wasn’t so much of as me not wanting to have a title. I actually did try to think of titles. I spent like a really long time going through every lyric trying to think about what would be a really cool title for this record and it ended up that I just couldn’t think of anything. [laughs] That’s the truth. I couldn’t think of anything all encompassing because it does go all over the place emotionally, lyrically, conceptually. So this is the only title that really encompassed all these things.

NL: So no huge spiritual meaning. You just couldn’t think of anything.

A: Yeah. [laughs]

NL: You cultural background can be heard a lot throughout your music. Was it important for you to capture that in your sound?

A: No, and actually, I wasn’t even aware that it was incorporated into my music until people started saying that.

NL: Wow, really?

A: Yeah, I really wasn’t thinking about it at all. It wasn’t a conscious decision. I guess I do love live instrumentation. I do like percussion and horns and strings and beautiful instruments, so I guess that kind of added to these multi-cultural aspect of the record.

NL: Oh, OK. You said once that if people wanted to get to know you, they should just listen to the album. Do you still believe that?

A: Yes, absolutely. I mean, it makes it difficult for me to date, though, because everyone thinks I’m a freak. [laughs]

NL: [laughs] Why would they say that?

A: Because if you listen to my lyrics, I’m a little bit scary. In “Fatal Attraction” I’m writing this suicide note to this dude and I’m saying to him I’m gonna kill your girl and then I’m gonna kill myself.

NL: Wow…

A: It gets pretty crazy. But it’s all fun. Well for me it’s like making a movie and why not make it as intense and as dramatic… I was actually reading this letter I had written — sorry, I have like no media training, so I’m completely random in interviews. [laughs]

NL: [laughs] Don’t worry. I love that the most. The cookie-cutter answers are so oh God you’re boring, please stop! So go ahead and be yourself.

A: Oh, good! I was reading this email I have saved after this really bad relationship I had with this guy. You know how you write those letters and you’re like, “Dear so and so…” I did that and the letter was so insane. I knew when I started writing it that I was never going to send it. I was going off. It was so filled with jealousy and anger and obsession. I went back and read it and was like ‘Oh, now I get why that record is so crazy.’

NL: What song would you say is your most personal?

A: They’re all very personal. The one I would say is the most vulnerable is “Crazy That Way.”

NL: Love that one! How did that record come about? What was the experience like that made you write that record?

A: This guy I was seeing left town and he let me stay at his place and when he left, I was just so into everything in his apartment. It became like really crazy because I could feel his presence there, so that’s kind of where it stems from.

NL: Lets get a little personal really quickly since you are a new artist and many people don’t know a lot about you. What was your childhood like?

A: It was great. I grew up in a complete and total suburb outside Toronto called Oaksville. But I grew up feeling a little bit isolated because it was completely white, like the area that I lived in and I’m Guyanese and that was really different. I was definitely an ugly duckling. I wasn’t that pretty to look at. I was overweight, had glasses and braces, and the whole thing. So, I always felt like a bit of an outcast. The only place that I really had to feel good was when I was singing songs or dancing to music or just through expressing myself. I developed a total infatuation with the arts scene. I started writing a lot all the time and started dancing and doing acting lessons — anything to just become someone else and escape on stage is where I wanted to be. That’s how the obsession started.

NL: How old were you when you reach that turning point where you kind of found your own thing?

A: I was really young. I’d say around 10 or 11.

NL: So, you’ve performed a few places already and had a big showcase at Joe’s Pub. That’s kind of the place singer/songwriters go to break their music. What was it like performing there?

A: It was amazing. My last show there was unbelievable. I remember playing a show there when I was first starting out and there was like one person in the audience so it was really cool to play there and have the show so well received.

NL: What was the response like?

A: It was love. It was total love. It was just amazing for me to like experience. People were just really accepting of the music and really feeling it, so it was great. It was definitely a successful night.

NL: Have you’ve run into a frustrating comparison that makes you just want to say stop it, this is me? I’ve read a lot on you and the first thing that comes to mind for critics to compare you to is an Amy Winehouse or Nelly Furtado. Are those comparisons frustrating or do you welcome them?

A: I don’t mind the comparisons because it’s not like they’re comparing me to Paris Hilton. They’re comparing me to people who are fucking dope. Like Amy Winehouse and [Nelly Furtado], I totally respect them as artists and as songwriters and singers, so yeah. I’m not offended by those comparisons. It could be much worse.

NL: You mentioned Paris Hilton. Do you pay attention to blogs and the whole gossip scene or is that something you really want to stay away from?

A: I think they’re funny. I think it’s like kind of a different industry. I know that those girls kind of do music, but it’s kind of a different thing. For me, it’s more entertaining like American Idol.

NL: We already talked about your VMA nomination, but are you attending the show?

A: Oh yeah. Definitely.

NL: What are you looking forward to seeing? Is this your first big, huge event?

A: Yeah! I don’t even go to parties! I get like really nervous before I go out and I get a lot of social anxiety, so like even talking about it I’m feeling kind of…slutty. [laughs]

NL: [Laughs]

A: So, I think it’s going to be kind of difficult for me. I might have to have a glass of red wine before I go. But I’m looking forward to meeting [VMA host] Russel Brand. I think he’s so fucking gorgeous and hilarious.

NL: [Laughs] Are you looking forward to anyone who’s performing or meeting a lot of people?

A: No. I’m really just like forward to Russel Brand. [laughs]

NL: [Laughs] Are you hoping for a love connection — or is he married?

A: I don’t know. I don’t want a love connect. I don’t know what’s going on. You know how you know people and you kind of idolize them, but then you also respect them like they’re a really cool person to hang out with or they’re really smart, that kind of respect?

NL: Totally. That’s like my Gavin DeGraw moment.

A: Ooooh yes! He’s very sexy! Is he straight?

NL: Oh my gosh! Are you serious?

A: I don’t know!

NL: He’s completely straight!

A: Oh! He’s has this style and he’s cute so you never know! [laughs]

NL: [Laughs] That’s hilarious! So, I really wanted to ask you about this: you said in a video interview with MTV that you never had a boyfriend. Why is that?

A: I don’t know! Maybe I freak people out too much! I’m really like…I’m really focused on music and that’s like a difficult thing for a guy. I think it’s much easier when — I think it’s much easier for dude who are like rock stars to date chicks and stuff, because for me I find it so difficult. I’m really, really ambitious and my focus is constantly on my career, so if like I’m hanging out with someone and I get a call to be in the studio, I’m like ‘OK, I gotta go.’ So, it’s really difficult for guys to be in a relationship with me I think.

NL: Just a little music talk… What kind of music are you listening to currently?

A: I just got Crystal Castles’ record. I am looking forward to Fefe Dobson’s new record because I wrote five songs on it.

NL: Really?

A: Yeah, I wrote the first single and a bunch of others for the record. She’s an awesome artist, so I’m looking forward to that, her doing her thing. And, yeah. I’ve been writing a lot. I’ve been writing with Chris Brown and Lil Jon and Christina Aguilera… That’s definitely something that’s a huge part of what I do. In terms of writing, I kind of keep that more anonymous. I don’t think anyone would know I wrote the Fefe Dobson record or this song for Canadian artist Kreesha Turner who has a huge international hit called “Don’t Call Me Baby.” It was originally called “Don’t Call Me Anjie” but I changed it for her to sing it. I don’t think anyone sees me as being a songwriter other than writing my own stuff.

NL: Is that something you want to continue to grow or is your career as an artist top priority?

A: Simultaneously, because I really like to be in the studio and I can do that all the time. Like, I don’t have to be in the studio just working on my own record. I find it a lot of fun to write for other people, because like, I’m not a dance artist but if I’m writing a song for Lady GaGa, I can live vicariously through that. I don’t have to wear a one piece body suit. I can just write it and be done with it. [laughs] It’s kind of fun.

NL: That’s awesome! When people listen to the record, what’s the one thing you hope people take away from it when they’re done?

A: The realness that it has. You know, I think… I remember when I first heard “Jagged Little Pill” by Alanis Morrisette and I just thought, like, it was so refreshing to hear a girl speak so truthfully. Even with Fiona Apple, I was just watching the video for “Criminal” last night, and it was just…It’s liberating when you see women kind of acting in a really kind of real way with their emotions as opposed to…there’s a lot of artists that come off like they’re super sexy and they’re super swag and confident and independent and strong and that’s great, but I also feel there’s a whole underbelly. There’s a passionate, feminine, vulnerable side that is not really glorified. That’s what I’m trying to do, just kinda keep it real.

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More on Anjulie: www.anjuliemusic.com www.twitter.com/anjulierocks

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