Brie Larson – Interview

Growing up on California film sets, Brie realized at an early age that she wanted to be a performer. Having the opportunity to star in Disney Channel’s most watched original movie Right on Track , the WB’s Raising Dad, and MGM’s feature film, Sleepover, Brie learned that she was heading in the right direction. But her pursuit of a musical career was really infused by her love for musical theater and was further cultivated by collecting vintage vinyl and attending massive amounts of rock concerts! With every live performance she consumed she would go home late and scribble down lyrics to join a melody the following morning.

We talk to Brie Larson and learn a little more.

HIP: You’ve done the whole press thing before so it’s not entirely new.

BRIE: No, I’ve been here before. (Laughs)

The difference is that it’s all about you now.

That’s the hard part. I have a hard time talking about myself.

Was music something you always knew you wanted to do?

I started taking singing and acting lessons at the same time, when I was six. So I always thought about doing it but thought of it as a hobby. It’s so beyond me that it’s happening now. It’s so weird to see my picture in Billboard. It still freaks me out every time.

Did you approach it or did someone approach you about singing?

It was one of those things that just fell into place. I was doing a television show at the time and fell in love with the guitar and writing songs. I was twelve and I didn’t think about it that much. We had a musical guest on the show and their manager gave my mom a card and one thing led to the next and I started doing my demos.

They always say actors want to be rockstars and rockstars want to be actors. What works is that you are so early in your career that you are still establishing yourself.

Yeah, and I’ve always wanted to stress that I’m a creative person and I love anything that is creative and where I can express myself. I try not to get put in the same category as everybody else. But there is nothing you can do about it. I’m different. I think once you meet me you realize that.

Did working on the record take away from anything else?

I guess I could have done other things while I was working on it but I wanted to focus on it and make it the best product I could. I took some time from acting, and the real world (laughs). All you can do is eat, sleep, and do music. I lost all contact with the outside world.

Has it taken time?

Yeah, this has been going on for three years. I think that the label wants to make it successful so they have been holding on to it.

You wrote some of the songs?

I wrote eight out of the twelve songs on the album. And the songs I didn’t write still tell a story about me. I have an attachment to them. I’m only fifteen so I was willing to put my ego aside with the great writers and producers out there.

It’s amazing that some of the songs on the album you wrote when you were twelve.

I know. I still can’t believe it.

Did you tell them you had to write songs for the record or you wouldn’t sign?

Well I got signed off a song that I wrote so they knew going into it. So they always wanted to put my stuff on the album, but they were open to taking some songs from other writers.

Which song got you got signed?

“Miserable Girl.” That is also on the record.

That is pretty good. That doesn’t usually happen.

It’s so weird because I had no idea what I was doing. I had written poems before but didn’t know it would translate. When the producer said the song was really great I had no idea.

Was there any pressure with writing new songs?

I think they really just liked the stuff and the idea that I came up with. I only write about stuff I know. I don’t have a lot of experience with boys and stuff so I write a lot of songs about interesting and strange subjects that people wouldn’t write songs about.

It really seems like a fun process.

It was. It didn’t feel like work.

What music do you listen to?

I have a vinyl album collection with bands like the Cure and Violent Femmes. Carole King was a big influence. I love Maroon 5 and the Killers. Gwen Stefani is a huge inspiration. I think she is awesome. I listen mostly to alternative music. I love jazz and some R&B. I’m all over the place.

Is there anything you like about music more than acting?

Yeah, you get to start later in the day. You have a call time at three in the morning but with music no one starts until like noon. They like to work at night. I’m a night owl too.

Did you get more time with family or friends?

It still took a lot of sacrifice. I had to be home schooled, but it was nice to see my younger sister in the morning.

Some people may not recognize the sacrifice—they see only the fun parts like being on stage or MTV.

That’s so true. Some people have a warped perspective on what the entertainment industry is like. They show the premieres and photo shoots. That is the fun stuff, but it takes so much to get to that point. I would never crush anyone’s dreams but I would let them know its more work than you know. But the pay off is worth it.

+ Charlie Craine