Kidsday interviews singer Colbie Caillat

We interviewed singer Colbie Caillat at the Sirius Radio Studios in Manhattan recently. Before she spoke with us, we watched her perform three songs for the radio station.

Who did you write “I Do” about?

I wrote it about my boyfriend; and if you noticed, at the end of the song, I say, “I do love you.” It’s about taking the relationship to the next level and wanting to spend the rest of your life with someone.

How did you feel when you first heard one of your songs on the radio?

It was such an amazing feeling because I know I’m working hard to get my songs out there for people to hear them, and you never know if it actually is and that was the one time I was at a random restaurant; I heard it playing, and I was just like, “Oh wow, it really is just playing around the world. That’s so cool.”

Why did you say “Would you count me in?” at the beginning of the song “Bubbly”?

Well, that’s a good question. I didn’t mean to. My guitar player had played the guitar instrumental for “Bubbly,” and it was different from how I had it written. So I kept coming out at the wrong part, I was “oh, would you count me in,” and he was like, “OMG, it was so cute I want to just keep it for MySpace”; and then that’s the song that stayed.

What was the process of becoming famous?

Well, challenging definitely. There’s so much work that you have to put in to it. Your schedule is crazier away from home than if you were doing interviews and TV performances and playing shows live for people. So you just have to remember what you love and what you feel good and comfortable in doing and stay true to who you are.

What is your favorite thing about being famous?

I don’t know. I guess certain places if they recognize you and know who you are, you get treated really well. Maybe other times, you wouldn’t. That’s nice, even though I don’t agree with it, but it’s like, “OK, that’s kind of nice. I appreciate that.”

How does it feel to work with fellow artists like Jason Mraz when you recorded “Lucky?”

It was so cool because I was a huge fan of his, and so when I got the call from him that he wanted to write with me, I was just like a fan: “OMG, Jason Mraz is calling me.” It was so cool, and I felt honored that he wanted to work with me.

Why did you choose “All of You” to name your album?

Because I named it after the title track of the album, and the song is about wanting honesty from someone and wanting them to give completely all of themselves, and I realized that I should give all of myself to the people around me and that everyone else should, too. And it’s a freeing feeling to be comfortable and confident in showing who you are.

Most of your songs are mainly love songs, so why would you write about going green?

The song isn’t about that, but when we did the video, because I really want to go green, and I know everyone’s trying to go green and help the environment . . . we thought it would be a really cool gesture, to show in the video, of bringing the outdoors inside and living a more green lifestyle.

Are you ever nervous before a show?

Yes, I’m always nervous before a show. I’ve always had stage fright, but the thing I’ve learned is that the more I do it, the easier it gets. So I try to tell people if you are scared of doing something, don’t let it stop you. Just keep doing it, and you’ll overcome it, and you’ll master it.

What are the differences between the songs in your first album, “Coco,” and your newest one, “All of You?”

I think lyrically, “Coco," I wrote from a more general point of view on the situations I was going through in life; and on this record, I actually wrote from specific moments and recalling every moment that I lived, happy, sad and I put it into a song.

Does your family go on tour with you?

Sometimes, they come. They don’t, like, stay on the tour bus or anything like that, but they’ll come out for a couple of days and see shows, and I’ll drive up, or they’ll fly to certain locations. My dogs and my parents and sister. It’s fun.

Are all your love songs based on your relationships?

Yes, all of them are. Either what I’m going through or my friend is going through. My best friend, on this record, a song called “Shadow,” I wrote for my best friend. And other songs are about family, friends or about a person I’ve broken up with or about what I’m actually going through.