Dido Interview

What happened? I thought you were going to be at the awards last night.

I fucked up my back, so I couldn’t go. I couldn’t fly in time so I’m still in New York.

What did you do to it?

I don’t really know. Last week I fell over and I think it took a day to materialize. And then I was packing to come over here, bent over, and, vaboom, I fell over.

Is that going to screw up a lot of your plans?

I’m fine now. I’m feeling much better today actually. I’ve been to a hundred chiropractors, so I’m mobile again.

How has life been since the record?

It’s all been a lot of fun, and naturally, really, everybody keeps asking how my life has changed and I answer, ‘Not much.’ It’s actually been really nice because it’s been gradual, which has given me time to get used to the idea.

Has it been a lot different than touring with your brother and Faithless because you are the focus?

Yes, completely. I mean, before I was never really a part completely. The Faithless thing was such a good experience, but I knew that had really nothing to do with me. I was just singing backup vocals. It’s such a different thing when I went on stage alone. I was like, ‘Why is everyone looking at me?’ (laughs)

It had to have helped in the sense of understanding the industry.

It completely helped. That is sort of why I did it, because it gave me experience onstage and within the industry. So it wasn’t a complete shock when I went out on my own.

How much did your background as a classically trained musician help or hinder your new career?

I didn’t really have much experience with pop music. So when I started writing songs, I was working with no reference. This album is purely about songs without having experience, which is a good thing. I think it’s given me stuff I take for granted. In some ways it’s completely irrelevant.

Do you see songwriting as a craft?

Definitely. And it’s something I’m always trying to learn and get better at. It’s not like, ‘I can write songs. How cool.’ It’s more like, ‘I would really like to work with that person because they can teach me something.’

What do you write with? Guitar? Piano?

Yeah. Well, it’s always different. But I do write with guitar and piano, but I also write with a beat or samples.

You can tell, because your songs mix so many different sounds.

I know.

How does it feel to have so many people, not only fans, but industry people who put your songs on soundtracks, and then Eminem sampling you?

I just make music that I want to listen to. I just really want people to hear it. I don’t go into it with a wish for purity. It’s not about selling records; it’s about people hearing what I’ve done. When you get your song on a soundtrack and it’s a cool one and not really cheesy, then I’m up for it. It’s nice that people have access to it.

What do you like to listen to?

I listen to dance music and hip-hop. I’m not a huge sort of rocker. I tend to lean toward electronic music.

If you weren’t doing this now, would you have been still doing classical stuff?

Oh, god, no. I gave that up when I was seventeen. I’d be farming or something.

Farming?

(laughs) No, I’m only kidding. (we both laugh)

Since you say your listening leans toward electronic music, do you want to experiment more with music?

Yes. I love to experiment. I think that you have to keep it fresh when you make records. Or else, what is the point, really? It’s lovely, but I don’t want to keep doing the same thing again and again.

Not only does it bore fans, it bores you as an artist.

Yeah. You just can’t keep going on and on with the same stuff. If your second album sounds just like your first one, you have to wonder what you have done in the last four years.

What is the New Year going to bring?

It’s actually terrifying that I know everything I’m doing for the whole next year all the way up until next December [2001]. It’s awful. But then I’ll forget about it because I don’t always know what I’m doing from one day to the next. (laughs)

Lastly, when it’s all said and done and someone says Dido, what word associated with your name would make you happy?

I, god, I don’t know. I read a lot of words that people already say about me, I don’t know if they are all good, but how about Goddess? (laughs) That is a good one. (we both laugh) No, I’m kidding. Well, maybe I’m not. But as long as what they say isn’t mean, I’m happy with that.

+ charlie craine