A Conversation with Erin Boheme – HuffPost 2.5.13

Mike Ragogna: Erin, “What A Life,” huh?

Erin Boheme: You know, it’s definitely interesting. I’ll give it that much.

MR: Tell me about all the things that have been happening to you lately.

EB: It’s been an interesting road, but we’re just trying to make the best of it, and that’s what I’m trying to do with What A Life. I’m kind of letting everyone know that you’re not alone. We all get our hearts broken, we all cry, and we’re all excited. That’s kind of the excitement for me.

MR: It sucks when you get into a relationship that seems perfect and then, BAM.

EB: The thing of it is–and this is sometimes a great attribute and sometimes it’s not so great–that I’m an absolute romantic, and I really do believe that everything happens for a reason. So even when things that you think are so wonderful fall apart, it’s only happening because better things are starting to fall together.

MR: I like how you say that. I guess sometimes, we should just cross our fingers.

EB: That’s what I did.

MR: You have that theme running through the album, and there are a couple of songs like “I Missed You Today” that so nail it. Obviously, that came after the break up, right?

EB: You know what’s funny–and I’m going to be real and break it down for you for a second–is that I’ve had a series of incredible relationships, but I’ve never been the girlfriend or had a boyfriend. I’ve just never found someone that I really wanted to attach myself to like that, and I’m very blessed now and have an incredible guy in my life. This was after one of those relationships where it was all going well, but then life got in the way. It just didn’t end up working out, and I was reflecting on these great times that we had–and we did–but it ultimately didn’t end up being the situation. So, I took it, I learned from it, and I was grateful for it, and I got a nice little song out of it, I think.

MR: I also find it interesting that you have your cover of Coldplay’s “In My Place” leading right into “In My Shoes.” And it seems that there are a couple of ways to interpret “In My Place” in this context.

EB: Actually, my mom and I have just been talking about it. I’ve been working on the record for six years, and she’s been living with it for six years. She and her friends were familiar with the original Coldplay interpretation, but the way that we interpreted is was that it’s a woman seeing a gentleman who is not quite done with another relationship–he’s in the process of moving on. This is my plea, saying, “How long do I have to wait for you to be ready?” In the first chorus, it’s “how long do I have to wait for you?” Then the second chorus is “how long do YOU have to wait.” So, that was kind of how I looked at it. Michael Bublé was such an integral part, as the producer. We kind of put our heads together because we’re both huge fans of Coldplay, and particularly this song. We kind of wanted to do justice to the song, but give it a little different treatment, particularly from a woman’s perspective.

MR: Tell me about your relationship with Michael as producer, like how did you guys get to work together, and what was the dynamic like in the studio?

EB: Well, Michael and I have actually been friends for about nine years now. I just admired his work, and we had a mutual friend in Mike Melvoin. Michael had worked with Melvoin on his first album. Also, Mike Melvoin, who has since passed, was from my hometown, Oshkosh, Wisconsin. When I first came to LA, I started working with Melvoin and he said, “You’ve got to meet Michael Bublé. He going to be a big star. He’s going to do nice big things.” So Michael Bublé and I met after one of his shows one evening, and we just hit it off. One night, Michael Buble was in LA and he called and said, “Hey, let’s meet for dinner. I’d love to catch up on your career.” This was a little bit after my first album was released, so he and I were catching up, and I told him that I was looking for someone to produce my next project, and he said, “Well, I’d like to produce your next project.” I was taken a little bit aback–even though he’s my friend, he’s still Michael Bublé, come on. It ended up working out. I contacted my label and let them know that he was interested in producing this project, and they got in touch with his people, and the thing ended up happening. It was great. It took us a couple years to get done, but it was worth it because Michael’s career was just blooming at the time and he was touring, so I was blessed with time to occupy. You know, when we began this project, I was nineteen, and now I’m twenty-six when it’s coming out, so there was a lot of life in those years. I was going from being a girl to a woman, and finding who I am as an artist. So, I would do a lot of writing in those years, and we would get to the studio, add song after song, and for me, journal entry after journal entry. It really became this great book of my journey so far. It was great how Michael helped me narrate the journey throughout, and now here we are and it’s coming out.

MR: The album ends with “I’d Love To Be Your Last.” In it, you’re wishing that for not only for the other person, but for yourself.

EB: Yeah, that’s totally true. As human beings–man, woman, gay, straight, black, white, whatever–the greatest thing is that we can all relate to the human condition. We all hurt, we all feel love, and we all go through these cycles. Not only as a songwriter and singer, but also as a listener, that to me is what makes an album so wonderful and makes me gravitate toward it. We can all relate. You can still put on a Cole Porter song, regardless of which decade you’re in because we’ve all been through it. That, to me, is what makes it so exciting to be a songwriter–to be able to share that with each other.

MR: If you were to tell somebody that they must listen to just one song on this album, what is that song and why?

EB: I would say “What A Life.” I would say that because it’s a dream for me–again, the dream of a hopeless romantic. I love the idea of finding someone and realizing that you want to spend every single day together. It’s not saying that every single day is going to be perfect, but it’s going to be wonderful because regardless of whether it’s good or bad, you’re going to be doing it together. Finding the person that you want to do that with, I think, is the most spectacular thing that you can have. Careers come and go, money comes and goes, but if you have that person to do it all with, that’s the most amazing thing in the world. That’s what I’m trying to say in “What A Life.”

MR: Have you been influenced by other artists?

EB: Yeah, absolutely, though not necessarily in very clear ways. I’m influenced by the story people are telling. I like Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon and Carole King because these woman tell stories that are so incredible. In the writing process and in the recording process, that’s what is so exciting, because I could feel a sense of connection with them. I was very blessed to grow up with parents who have, in my opinion, exquisite taste in music. My dad raised me on Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Dean Martin, and then blues singers like Aretha Franklin, Muddy Waters, and all these different people. Then my mom got me into Al Green and Earth, Wind & Fire, so I clearly was very influenced by all that stuff because that’s where I started. That said, I’m a twenty-six year old woman in ’13 who listened to Alicia Keyes and Coldplay. I try to reflect and do justice to all these people, no matter what genre I’m in. Just tell the story. Getting to work with Bublé’s touring band, who are incredible and made this record with me, some of his stuff ended up in there for as beautifully as Michael interprets a song, he’s a great songwriter too. So, it all kind of came together.

MR: What advice do you have for new artists?

EB: Be true to yourself. We live in a world and a time that can be so complicated, and it can tear you in a million directions. But the most beautiful part of you is that you’re the only one. You are the only “you” there is ever going to be. So, just be grateful for it, appreciate it, and celebrate it.

MR: You spoke earlier about Mike Melvoin. What did you think about Wendy and Lisa’s music?

EB: I love Wendy and Lisa’s music. When I first started working with Mike, I was sixteen, and he was so proud of them and would play me their music with Prince. They’re great, alternative, witty, and they’re soulful in their own way. I think they’re wonderful.

MR: I’m a big fan of Mike’s, so I’d like to take this moment to ask you if there were something you could say to Mike Melvoin, what would that be?

EB: Thank you. I mean, he had such belief in a kid from Oshkosh, and I think it helped that he was also a kid from Oshkosh. Thank you for taking a chance on me. We would sit in his studio for hours making demos. He’s the one who brought me to Concord Records. I’m just overwhelmed with gratitude towards his kindness. He did it not to advance himself in any way, but he did it because he loved music. I’m so grateful for his love of music because it touched me and made me want to be better. He lived an incredible life, and we should all be so blessed. It was cut short, but he had so much life in him for years that if we should be so lucky to have that, then we would be very fortunate. I’m very grateful to have had the honor to get to know Mike.

MR: What would you tell Michael Bublé?

EB: I’d say, “We did it, Bud!” We have had quite a ride with getting this whole thing done. There have been high highs, some low lows, and we’ve laughed about it and cried about it, but we did it. I couldn’t be more proud or thrilled to have had him as my partner.

MR: Erin, why do I love “Do I Do” so much?

EB: [laughs] I don’t know. Thank you for loving it. It’s a fun song, and sometimes, you just want to be silly and fun and bright. The record is a little bit deep and a little bit dark, and sometimes it’s nice to have that relief of “this is just awesome and I’m going to have fun.” I think that’s part of the charm and appeal of “Do I Do.” You can brood and be deep and all that, but just take a minute and be loving.

MR: What is on your horizon?

EB: We’re launching the album, which is very exciting, my music video is out, we’re setting up different television shows, and we’re getting ready to set up tour dates. People can peek into that on my website, http://www.erinbohememusic.com. Hopefully, we’ll be in your neighborhood so you can come see us, hang out, and have some fun with us.

MR: Erin, this has been fun. I appreciate the interview and your chipperness.

EB: Well, I’m from Oshkosh, I can’t really hide it. Thank you so much for having me.

Transcribed by Ryan Gaffney