INTERVIEW: Cody Simpson on His New Album, Song-Writing Process, Lyrics, and Advice on Promoting Music
Australian singer and songwriter Cody Simpson, who quickly went from YouTube covers to selling out stadiums, is set to release his new album this summer.
Glitter interviewed Cody last Fall (Go! Read! It!) about his new found fame and all about Prom in our new Glitter Magazine Prom Issue (On stands now!). As our Cover feature for this issue, we wanted to learn more about what goes into creating an album, what fans can expect from him in the coming months, and what his ideal collaboration would look like. Read our exclusive interview below to find out more!
GLITTER: Tell us about your new album.
CODY: I am working very hard right now in studio at Atlantic Records in LA to finish my first full-length album. There will be a few surprises and a few sounds that you haven’t heard from me before including my single “So Listen.” I continue to have a strong creative involvement in my music and have been working with some great writers and producers to create a sound that I hope is truly my own. We have a couple of potential singles on the album that I think my fans, old and new, will love. My voice and style are evolving constantly and the songs on this album are an expression of that. I want to keep bringing new elements to excite and inspire my fans.
GLITTER: What inspires your lyrics?
CODY: Girls of course! Haha. I am only 15 years old but like to write about things that people can relate to. Real-life experiences and my impressions and opinions of real-life experiences and events going on around me. I have written a lot about Angels! (my fans), about intense feelings, some serious stuff and some fun stuff. Life is good; Life is short; so Live it!
GLITTER: Do you have a song-writing routine?
CODY: Sometimes producers bring us beats that inspire melody and lyrics concepts. Sometimes we just love the beats and have to write to them! Also, I write songs around guitar arrangements that I come up with. Occasionally a concept will inspire the beat and we work from scratch on the music and melody. I have also had a few great songs written for me by great producers and songwriters and I get together with them to put my own spin on things before we get in the recording session.
GLITTER: We cannot wait to hear your new lyrics! We know your new songs are closely guarded secrets, but could you share with us a favorite lyric from a previously released track?
CODY: “You’re the jam, baby I’m the toast… it’s so sweet when we’re together.” – from “Angel”
GLITTER: What part of the album creation process do you like most? And why?
CODY: The release! It is so rewarding to feel the culmination of all the hard work and to finally see it released for everyone to hear. And then to get out and perform these new songs live! As soon I am finished with this album I know I will be immediately thinking about the next one and how I can make it bigger and better again.
GLITTER: If you could perform with any singer from any time period, who would it be? And why?
CODY: I would do a massive collaboration with Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Drake, and Jack Johnson. How crazy would that be?! I feel like I draw different elements of artistic inspiration from each of these amazing artists so to put it all together in one song would be pretty special!
GLITTER: Will you be making more TV appearances in the coming months? And, if so, what can you tell us about them?
CODY: I believe I will do a few talk-show spots around the release of my album but haven’t locked any of these in yet. I will be featured on a TV show pretty soon that may surprise; it was a load of fun to do. At the moment I can’t tell you about it until it gets closer. We have also had some preliminary discussions around movie ideas but for now, I am really focused on my music and on things that embrace my music career.
GLITTER: Describe a great day in the life of Cody Simpson.
CODY: Any day you wake up breathing is a great day! Haha. I awaken, look outside and the sun is shining. I check the surf report on my iPhone (after checking Twitter of course!) and the swell has jacked overnight. I grab a quick bowl of cereal, or two, and head straight down to one of my favourite surf breaks. A few of my best mates are there; we have the place almost to ourselves, and we kill it together for a couple of hours. We head to the local bakery for an Aussie meat pie or a hamburger or both! And a vanilla milkshake. Then it’s off to the studio for the afternoon to cut a song that I think could be a hit single! I finish at the studio by late afternoon and I meet up with someone special to go to a movie. Home in time to play a quick game of Modern Warfare with my little bro Tommy before he goes to bed!
GLITTER: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
CODY: 5 years older and 20 years wiser! So far in my life, I have been blessed with the opportunity to make a career doing what I love. I hope that in 5 years time I am still doing that.
GLITTER: What advice can you offer readers who are wondering how / where to start promoting their music?
CODY: Look for every opportunity to perform your music live or on the web. You have to live on Youtube and Twitter. It costs nothing and allows access to a worldwide audience. Do what you love; be your unique self and do it your way, no-one else’s; show the world via Youtube and pray that somebody likes it! If you are talented and stay true to yourself, the world will feel it and you can do it long term because you love it.
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