Fresh off the release of her sophomore album, ‘Timebomb,’ we chat with Canadian songstress Alyssa Reid about music, touring and more!
What can fans expect from your new album?
Well, it’s definitely a little bit more urban than my last album. My first album was a big learning experience for me. It was my first time really diving into songwriting and I got to work with a lot of amazing people. This album is very personal and bring some cool new sounds to music.
You recorded your new album in Los Angeles, Miami and Toronto. What was that like?
It was really fun! I spent a lot of time at the studio in Toronto, but when you spend every day in the same room, it starts to hinder your creativity. It was really nice to be able to get away to some nice warm places and get a change of scenery. It was really inspiring to be in L.A.
What are some of your favourite hangouts in Toronto when you’re not working?
There’s this Mexican restaurant called Playa Cabana and if I could eat there everyday, I would!
What was the inspiration behind your video for “Satisfaction Guaranteed”?
It was a treatment that I wrote– I actually had a dream about it! I envisioned a restaurant and something really funny and quirky. I passed the video idea onto the director and he took it to a whole other level.
Your debut single “Alone Again” is still a fan favourite. What was it like getting so much attention for that track?
It was overwhelming! I went from working at Tim Hortons and being a 15-year-old kid in high school to travelling across the country. Then it got bumped up to travelling across Europe and then travelling with One Direction. It was just amazing thing after amazing thing and I wasn’t really prepared for it. I am happy it happened on the first single because it really helped me learn very quickly how the industry works and how to be successful. I am very grateful for that song.
I am sure you’ve encountered your fair share of dedicated fans. Do you have any crazy fan stories?
There was one fan from Germany who actually sent me a letter that said he was leaving his girlfriend and coming to Canada to find me so we could finally be together.
How do you handle something like that?
If it’s something that I am actually worried about, the label will get involved for security reasons. But if it’s something outright creepy but I don’t feel my safety is compromised at all, I just don’t respond. You don’t want to add fuel to the fire.
You’re about to go on tour with Hedley. What are you most looking forward to?
I’ve met Jacob a couple times and we worked on a song called “True Colours” together. He was amazing, so fun and very talented. I am really excited to get to tour again and that it’s with someone as great as him. The band is going to be really awesome to be with.
Do you have any pre-performance rituals before you go on stage?
I have to drink tea before I go on because I get freezing cold because of my nerves. I;m good after the first song. Then it’s just a party on stage! That’s the only weird thing that I do. You think it would be for my voice, but it’s mostly to warm up my entire body so I’m not shaking on stage. You never know what’s going to happen. I think the day that I stopped getting nervous, I should have something to worry about. I should always be nervous because I should always want to impress people who support me. I want to make sure that every single show is amazing.
If you could work with anyone in the world in the future, who would it be and why?
I would really like to do a song with Drake. I’m a big fan and I really like his flow. I have a bit of that in my music as well, so I think it would be a good pairing.
You got your start on YTV’s THE NEXT STAR and YouTube. What advice would you give to a young musicians looking to launch their career in a similar way?
I think it’s very important to get yourself out there and to let people see what you can do. A lot of people don’t know where to start. I would just start by making videos and sharing them with your friends and asking your friends to share them with their friends. Eventually it becomes a chain and if you’re lucky, it will end up in the hands of the right person.
Thank you, Alyssa!