"NATALIE IMBRUGLIA WORLDPOP INTERVIEW "

March 2002

Natalie Imbruglia has been away for over three years after the amazing success she had with Torn. The Aussie superstar has finally re-surfaced with a new album White Lilies Island and a great new single and video, Wrong Impression. worldpop caught up with Natalie to ask where she has been hiding, her plans to make a return to acting and the new love in her life, Daniel Johns from the rock band Silverchair …

Writers block?
worldpop: Why did it take so long to record your second album?
Natalie: I don't know. I took too much of a break, I took six months off. It was hard for me to get back into it because there was a fear and a big build up. I put a lot of pressure on myself. I probably made three or four albums of music in that time but they weren't good enough for the comeback that I wanted to do.

worldpop: Did you suffer from crisis of confidence?
Natalie: Absolutely! You always hit a wall if you try to better what you are doing creatively. You have to go through that dark phase of thinking, 'I'm not good enough,' to push yourself to the limits. I probably went through this feeling more than I needed to. In the end I just let go. I decided to just go with the flow and have some fun.

worldpop: The video for your new single Wrong Impression is bright and breezy...
Natalie: I wanted it be a really happy video and show the other side of me. Usually I'm seen as being really serious and I don't want people to think that I'm a miserable cow! I wanted the video to make people feel good when they saw it. It was shot outside in the sunshine and hence California.

Natalie, the Pop Idol?
worldpop: What's more important - huge sales or critical acclaim?
Natalie: What's more important to me is to be liked by my peers, rather than big record sales. I've had lot's of positive feedback on this new record and people saying that it is a more mature album and more focussed and that it is a better album overall. That's really encouraging.

worldpop: Is a lot of pop music too manufactured?
Natalie: I think that there is a place for manufactured music. I wish that there was more variety and that some of the underground music scene got as much coverage as the boy bands. I don't think either is better or worse - there's a place and a market for each. I was offered the manufactured route. I wouldn't have signed a deal if I was going to be manipulated in that way.

The live stage and the big screen.
worldpop: Any live shows coming up?
Natalie: I haven't got any dates confirmed yet but I definitely have strong intentions of touring this album in the UK. If I had my way I'll be on the road for a long time. I've performed a few acoustic sets, nothing longer than 25 minutes, but as far as actual touring goes, that will be in a few months.

worldpop: Do you still enjoy playing Torn?
Natalie: I love it! Absolutely! I go back to the original emotional place when I sing Torn - there's a timelessness to that song so it doesn't feel dated to me when I sing it. The best thing about music is when a song can reach so many people and mean different things to different people. That's what I love about the communication between an artist and the audience.

worldpop: Any plans to return to acting?
Natalie: The door's open, I'm reading scripts but I haven't come across anything of interest just yet. I'm looking more at the directors - Baz Luhrmann would be great! I like romantic comedies, I don't think that my first role has to be anything full on or dramatic. It's been such a long time since I last acted. It might be nice to ease myself back into something so I don't have to carry it.

worldpop: Who would be your leading man?
Natalie: Ed Norton. There's a rumour about a script that he's involved in but I haven't read it yet. I love Vincent Gallo, I think he's great. Kevin Spacey is awesome - I'd love to work with him!

Making sweet music together.
worldpop: Would you like to collaborate with anyone musically?
Natalie: I think I'm more sceptical about collaborations in music because it's such a personal thing. I feel that the music is about me and the acting is about playing roles. I feel that I need to focus on my own music for a few more albums before I feel confident enough to say that I want to work with that person. I would love to work with Bono one day though!

worldpop: Did you get any advice from your boyfriend, Daniel Johns (Silverchair) while recording the new album?
Natalie: We keep it really separate as we make very different music. Although writing about personal issues and the people around you is obviously going to filter through during the songwriting.

worldpop: Any plans for marriage
Natalie: Oooh, I'm afraid not - far too busy working at the moment!

Talk is cheap
worldpop: How do you cope with all the tabloid interest?
Natalie: I'm used to all the gossip now and I expect to get hassle from the press. What's really frustrating is that when I return back to Australia, all the guys there pick up on what the UK press report and just assume that it's all true! The UK tabloids are the worst in the world and unfortunately the Australian press pick on all these false stories about me.

worldpop: Do you have close circle of friends around you?
Natalie: I did have a group of Aussie friends living over here in the UK who I use to hang out with but they've all left me and gone back Down Under! We did have a big birthday party for me recently at my house, which was great. Lot's of stuff got spilled, a few rugs got ruined, but it's all back to normal now.

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