Thursday, November 5, 2009, 11:09 AM EST
[General]
Fresh off a brief sabbatical, Nelly Furtado unveils a new album, record label and a penchant for belting ’em out en español
As stylists, make-up artists, managers, label reps, publicists and latte-wielding assistants mill around a cramped hotel suite, I can’t help but think the obvious: all these people are gathered here to realize one woman’s vision. And we’re reminded that she’ll be arriving any minute. Given that we’re talking about Nelly Furtado here, one can safely assume she isn’t holding us up because of any celebrity-induced affectation or to squeeze in an extra half-hour of full-body Shiatsu. The Canadian musician of Portuguese descent didn’t exactly build her eclectic, thriving career by indulging a larger-than-life persona.
Often described as “genuine,” Furtado first burst onto the scene at the turn of the century with the refreshingly folksy mish-mash of sounds that was Whoa, Nelly!, a timely counterpoint to the derivative diva ditties, nu-metal and pop-punk that had hijacked the airwaves. Nine years after “I’m Like a Bird,” that initial Grammy and her first tour (opening for U2, no less), she could have long since faded into obscurity, as happens to many young contenders thrust into the limelight. (O-Town, Good Charlotte, Michelle Branch and fellow namesake Nelly, anyone?) But those kids had evanescent appeal, whereas Furtado has continually reinvented herself. And that cautionary tale of precocious stardom couldn’t be further from Furtado’s reality, as she’s just coming off her most colossal triumph yet, the seductive and groovyLoose– one of 2007’s top-selling albums, certified platinum in 18 countries.
Yet her success hasn’t chipped away at her invariably genial disposition. Upon walking into the bustling room, she greets everyone with a beaming smile and warm handshakes. She exudes that girl-next-door, naturally gorgeous glow, made all the more radiant by her infectious giggle and eyes that could charm their way through a hostage situation. So when the well-mannered Furtado politely asks for a few minutes to attack her shrimp salad before we begin, how could I say no?
Say It Right
A few minutes to scarf down your greens is all you get when you’re set to release your first Spanish-language album concurrently in all of Universal Music’s 77 territories worldwide – a move being touted as the most ambitious Spanish-language release ever for a mainstream star – and your own label (Nelstar Music) is responsible for delivering all creative components, from album and videos to artwork. That creative control comes at a price, but it’s also non-negotiable for Furtado who has spent her career overseeing decisions about her image. “I think whatever is totally homemade, you’re always more proud of,” she says with unabashed enthusiasm, in reference to her new album Mi Plan. “Aren’t you more proud of the homemade chocolate-chip cookies than the ones you bought at the store for the party? You can offer them up with so much pride!”
The idea for a full-length in Spanish – her third language, which she learned in high school and now speaks with her Cuban-American husband – came about very naturally when Furtado hit a writer’s block in the studio. Her friend, Cuban-Canadian singer-songwriter Alex Cuba suggested shifting linguistic gears.
Border-Smashing Folklore
“Every time I’d travel around and see fans in the audience who perhaps don’t even speak English singing along to all my songs with partially incorrect lyrics, I’d realize that they’re there for the feeling,” Furtado explains. “It’s not so much about the lyrics or the language, it’s about the emotion, the whole package.” And before she could shout ¡ándale!, she had assembled a who’s who of top-notch Latin musicians to contribute to the project, from Mexican crooner Alejandro Fernández to bachata legend Juan Luis Guerra, and even Josh Groban to boot. A gutsy move – especially considering she evaluates her Spanish fluency at 50-60% – but one that befits Furtado’s relentless craving for new challenges.
“I think that any career that someone pursues, there’s always a desire to get better, to learn,” she says. “Everybody wants that extra credential on their business card, they want to go to that seminar, they want to challenge themselves. And I’m no different, I take my job seriously and I love it! I love being a musician. Music brings me so much joy that I think I just have a desire to share that joy with people.”
Remember the Days
The result is a more personal, funky and acoustic sound that hearkens back to her debut. Gone are the theatrics of Loose and the femme fatale character that Furtado embodied so convincingly that some criticized what they saw as an attempt to sex up her image. But Furtado is clearly not in the business of making such calculated career moves, viewing her artistic evolution as a very organic process, determined by her emotional state at the time of recording.
“I remember riding in the back seat of my mom’s car when I was about four years old, staring out the window, and I had symphonies in my head. Like, complete orchestral symphonies! And it would never end! I never really understood where they came from, but before you knew it, I was filling notebooks and journals with songs because I just had to get it out. So I think that because music is my language, it’s always very natural for me to morph and change. Whatever I’m going through in life always gets reflected in the music, so stylistically I’ve never had any boundaries, I’ve always seen music as very universal.”
As much as Furtado is wholly driven by her craft, her appreciation for some well-earned time off confirms my suspicions that deep down she’s just like us mere mortals. Respite came in the form of an entire year off, after what she describes as the “glammed-out Loosetour, which was fun, but high heels, you know?”
“We had been celebrating the success of the album, every awards show, every number one. We’d toast [with] a lot of champagne.” If there’s an ounce of truth to that, chances are Furtado & Co. boozed their way through the year, with chart-topping hits to check off in too many countries to list here.
“I took a one-year sabbatical where I did nothing – I went to the park with my daughter [Nevis, now six], we ate chicken noodle soup and I took her to school! So the second year I started writing Mi Plan, and I found that a lot of the topics on the album were taken from simple everyday life. They’re love songs too. But regular ones, like I love you, period, not I love you, but!”
Her Plan
And what rewards a decade’s worth of hard work will reap. The small-town girl from Victoria, who moved to Hogtown to “aprovechar” as she tells me, “to make the most of the scene and get involved artistically,” is now in a position to impart wisdom from lessons learned to those doe-eyed newbies still marvelling at the thought of their names on a marquee somewhere. “I can never be a new artist again but I can hang around new artists and feel the buzz,” she says, giggling.
She’s adamant about supporting the city’s lively cultural scene and didn’t beat around the bush when it came to making Toronto’s glamtronic quartet Fritz Helder & The Phantoms the first act signed to Nelstar Music. “We had a showcase for them in New York, and when they heard about the people who were in the crowd – Marc Jacobs, Madonna’s producer Stuart Price, Ali from A Tribe Called Quest – their faces just lit up! I remembered my first showcases in LA and New York and that excitement, that ‘aha!’ moment, and it’s so fulfilling to be around.”
Moments before taking off for this magazine’s photo shoot, she gives me a quick rundown of what’s in store in the short term – and we’re not even talking about the Spanish release! Chief among those projects is some kind of English release (with producing maven Timbaland, of course) for 2010. And as we compare notes on our darling musicians du jour (she singles out Robyn, I respond with Lykke Li), she has nothing but hopeful words about the direction currently being taken by mainstream music. “I like that a lot of artists right now are multilayered and not so pigeonholed. I like that music right now is very fusion, very eclectic. Because when I started out, everything was based on this old rock model. So it’s really refreshing now that everybody’s iPod is so diverse. The doors are wide open.”
Tuesday, September 22, 2009, 03:56 PM EST
[General]
NELLY FURTADO’S “MANOS AL AIRE” CONTINUES TO TOP LATIN RADIO
IN THE U.S. AND PUERTO RICO AS SHE FIRMLY HOLDS THE #1 SPOT 4th CONSECUTIVE WEEK #1 ON BILLBOARD’S HOT LATIN SONGS CHART NELLY PERFORMED “MANOS AL AIRE” LIVE! LAST WEEK ON THE ALMA AWARDS & CONAN O’BRIEN
New album, Mi Plan available in digital / mobile / CD Canadian-Portuguese singer, songwriter and producer Nelly Furtado firmly holds the top Latin radio spot in the United States and Puerto Rico. First single, "MANOS AL AIRE" is NUMBER ONE for the FOURTH CONSECUTIVE WEEK on Billboard's Hot Latin Songs chart, while #1 in Spain and continuing to top radio charts in Germany, Italy,Colombia, Chile, all of Central America, Mexico. Mi Plan, which went on sale worldwide last week is a collection of songs full of rhythm, feeling and sensations aimed to hit the heart and soul of Nelly’s audience, despite the language.
Also found on the album are amazing collaborations with top artists from diverse countries and musical genres: Josh Groban (“Silencio”), Alejandro Fernández (“Sueños”), Juan Luis Guerra (“Como Lluvia”), Julieta Venegas and La Mala Rodríguez (“Bajo Otra Luz”), Buika (“Fuerte”), and Alex Cuba (Mi Plan). In support of the release of MI PLAN, Nelly Furtado traveled to New York and Los Angeles last week as part of an intense promotional which took her through the most relevant and important shows, such as MTV’s Video Music Awards, The Today Show, Chelsea Lately, Alma Awards and Conan O’Brien where on the latter two she performed hit single, “Manos al Aire” live. At the end of the month, Nelly Furtado will travel to Europe to continue with the intense promotion of her new album, MI PLAN and present her hit single, “Manos al Aire” live for the first time.
NELLY FURTADO ES NUMERO UNO POR 4ta SEMANA CONSECUTIVA EN LA RADIO LATINA DE ESTADOS UNIDOS DE ACUERDO A LA LISTA HOT LATIN SONGS DE BILLBOARD
NELLY PRESENTO EN VIVO LA SEMANA PASADA “MANOS AL AIRE” EN LOS PREMIOS ALMA Y EL PROGRAMA DE CONAN O’BRIEN, ASI COMO ENTREVISTAS EN CHELSEY LATELY ENTRE OTROS 15 PROGRAMAS DE TV A NIVEL NACIONAL
Nuevo álbum, Mi Plan disponible en formato digital / móvil / CD La multipremiada cantante canadiense-portuguesa Nelly Furtado sigue coronando las listas de radio a nivel mundial con su primer sencillo, “Manos al Aire”. En Estados Unidos se encuentra NUMERO UNO por CUARTA SEMANA consecutiva en el HOT LATIN SONGS que publica la revista Billboard, mientras que en España también es #1 y sigue dominando los listados de radio en Alemania, Italia, Colombia, Chile, todo Centroamérica, México y el resto de Latinoamerica.
En MI PLAN, el cual salio a la venta la semana pasada, Nelly invitó a artistas destacados en diversos géneros y nacionalidades a colaborar con ella en varias canciones del disco: Alejandro Fernández (“Sueños”), Josh Groban (“Silencio”), Juan Luis Guerra (“Como Lluvia”), Julieta Venegas y La Mala Rodríguez (“Bajo Otra Luz”), Buika (“Fuerte”) y Alex Cuba (“Mi Plan”), quienes aportaron su talento y enriquecieron enormemente el sabor y concepto del álbum.
Como parte de una intensa promoción para su nuevo disco, MI PLAN, la semana pasada Nelly Furtado viajo a Nueva York y Los Angeles donde participo en algunos de los programas más relevantes e importantes, como los MTV Video Music Awards, Today Show, Chelsey Lately, Alma Awards y Conan O’Brien donde en los últimos dos presento su sencillo, “Manos al Aire” en vivo.
A finales del mes, Nelly viajara a Europa para continuar con la promoción de su nuevo disco, MI PLAN y en donde por primera vez presentara su sencillo, “Manos al Aire” en vivo.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009, 07:27 PM EST
[General]
The day has arrived, I have to tell you that this has been the longest five days of my life!! I’m so anxious that I haven’t slept at all!! Finally MI PLAN, my first Spanish album, is out and now I’m just waiting for your reactions to it! I’m hopping you love the songs; I really tried to make each one special and different, every word has a significant meaning and they really transport me to different places!
This album was a great adventure, specially the songs that I sang featuring all those HUGE singers! So now I’m waiting for you guys to comment and enjoy! Please tell me which one is your favorite!!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009, 07:09 PM EST
[General]
, featuring JULIETA VENEGAS and LA MALA RODRÍGUEZ “Bajo Otra Luz” is included in “Mi Plan”, Nelly Furtado’s fourth studio album and first completely done in Spanish, due for international release on September 15th
iTunes, the world's #1 online music store, kicked off on July 21st the "Countdown To" promotion with Nelly Furtado's upcoming album "Mi Plan", in an innovative move within the Latin Genre.
The promotion offers three exclusive pre-album release tracks from "Mi Plan", due to launch on September 15th. The first two tracks released on the promotion were “Mas” and “Mi Plan” (featuring Alex Cuba), songs which have had great reception. Today, the 3rd and final track, “Bajo Otra Luz”, featuring Mexican singer songwriter, Julieta Venegas, and the talented María “La Mala” Rodríguez from Spain is released as part of the iTunes “Countdown to” promotion.
The three artists met at the recording studio in Miami and Nelly was very pleased to count with both guest stars: “Everything I love about music, Julieta’s music has; I felt very honored that she gave me this song”, commented Nelly. Nelly was equally as excited about the collaboration with La Mala Rodriguez, as she hadn’t had the chance to meet her before. “When La Mala got in front of the microphone, wow! I was so surprised!”, Nelly expressed. The studio session was a great experience for the three artists, not only did they record an amazing track, they had fun doing it and getting to know a little bit more about one another along the way.
“I was so excited to hear Nelly singing a song I had written at my home, I’ve always admired her unique style and powerful voice”, commented Julieta. Before going back to Spain, La Mala said: “It has been such a pleasure being part of this song; we had a great time together”. iTunes Countdown To promotion has allowed Nelly’s fans to learn a bit more about her upcoming album “Mi Plan”, to be released internationally on September 15th. Purchase one of the “Countdown To” tracks and buy Nelly Furtado’s album, “Mi Plan” within the first two weeks of its release and receive an exclusive track.
Learn more about "Mi Plan" and the “Countdown To” promotion visiting: www.itunes.com/miplan
NELLY FURTADO Lanza el tercer tema dentro de la promoción de iTunes “Countdown To”: “BAJO OTRA LUZ”, en el que participan JULIETA VENEGAS y LA MALA RODRÍGUEZ “Bajo Otra Luz” forma parte de “Mi Plan”, cuarto álbum de estudio de NELLY FURTADO y primero completamente en español, que será lanzado el 15 de Septiembre a nivel mundial.
: En una acción innovadora dentro del género Latino, iTunes, el sitio de descargas más grande del mundo, lanzó la promoción “Countdown To” con NELLY FURTADO el pasado 21 de Julio. La promoción consiste en ofrecer tres canciones de “Mi Plan” previo al lanzamiento del álbum el 15 de Septiembre. El primer corte lanzado fue “Más”, el segundo fue “Mi Plan” (dueto con Alex Cuba), temas que han tenido excelente aceptación por parte del público de Nelly. Hoy toca el turno a “Bajo Otra Luz”, tercer y último corte de esta promoción.
En el tema participan la mexicana Julieta Venegas y la española María “La Mala” Rodríguez, quienes imprimieron en el tema sus muy personales estilos. Fue en Miami donde las tres artistas se dieron cita en el estudio para grabar su colaboración. “La música de Julieta tiene un toque muy especial, me sentí muy afortunada de que me enviara su canción”, comentó Nelly. Y sobra “La Mala”, recalcó: “Cuando “La Mala” se plantó ante el micrófono, yo no podía dejar de sorprenderme”.
La sesión fue una experiencia de lo más divertida y enriquecedora. Ambas artistas invitadas se sintieron muy agradecidas de esta invitación. “Me emocioné mucho cuando escuché a Nelly cantando una canción que yo había compuesto, porque desde su primer disco la he admirado por su estilo único y su voz llena de frescura y personalidad”, expresó Julieta. Mientras que “La Mala” comentó: “Ha sido un placer para mí formar parte de esta canción; los momentos que compartimos en el estudio fueron estupendos”.
La promoción de iTunes “Countdown To” ha permitido a los fans de Nelly Furtado poder tener algunos avances de lo que será “Mi Plan”, un álbum que como sus trabajos anteriores, refleja su gran diversidad musical y único estilo, y el cual sale a la venta a nivel internacional el 15 de Septiembre. En la compra de una de las canciones de Nelly Furtado dentro de la promoción “Countdown To” de iTunes, y del álbum "Mi Plan" dentro de las dos semanas siguientes al lanzamiento, recibe un track exclusivo.
Her Single “Manos Al Aire” Heads Billboard's “Latin Rhythm Chart”
Parallel To This, It Is No. 2 On Billboard’s “Hot Latin Songs” Chart, And Is Consolidated As An International Hit: It’s Number One In Chile, Colombia And All Of Central America, Top 5 In Germany, Italy & Austria, And Top 10 In Spain And The Rest Of Latin America “Manos Al Aire” Is The Lead Single Of “Mi Plan”, Her Fourth Studio Album And First Completely Done In Spanish, Will Be Released World Wide On September 15th.
Grammy Award Winning Singer, Songwriter And Producer, Nelly Furtado, Who Was No.1 Seller In 2007 With Album “Loose”, Is Back And Taking The Radio Charts By Storm. Her Single “Manos Al Aire” Is No.1 This Week In The Us And Puerto Rico On The Rhythm Chart. The Single Is Also An International Hit In Countries Which Not Even Speak Spanish, As Germany And Italy, Where It Has Been No.1, As Well As In Central America.
Besides “Manos Al Aire”, Nelly’s Audience Has Also Had The Chance To Learn More About “Mi Plan” Thanks To The “Countdown To” Promotion From Itunes, The World’s No.1 Music Store Online. This Promotion Offers To Nelly’s Fans An Exclusive Of Three Songs From Her Upcoming Album In Advance To The Official Release Date Of September 15. “Más” Was The First Track Released (July 21st), “Mi Plan” (Featuring Alex Cuba) The Second One, And The Next Track Will Be “Bajo Otra Luz” (Featuring Julieta Venegas And La Mala Rodríguez) On September 11th.
Additional To This, For Those Who Purchase One Of The Three Exclusive Tracks And The Full Album, "Mi Plan", Within Two Weeks Of Its Release Will Receive A Bonus Track. “Mi Plan” Has Also Other Important Collaborations From Reknown Artists, As Josh Groban, And Top Latin Names As Alejandro Fernández, Juan Luis Guerra, And Buika, Which Give A Very Special Touch To The Album. Nelly Furtado Has Sold Over 18 Million Albums In Her Career, And Has Received 31 Platinum Albums In 31 Countries.
Nelly Furtado Logra Su Primer Número Uno En La Radio Latina De Estados Unidos Y Puerto Rico…
El Sencillo “Manos Al Aire” Encabeza La Lista "Latin Rhythm", Que Mide A Las Radios Urbanas Publicada Por La Revista Billboard Asimismo Es No. 2 En La Lista "Hot Latin Songs" De Billboard Y Se Consolida Como Un Éxito Internacional: Es Número Uno En Chile, Colombia Y Todo Centro América, Top 5 En Alemania, Italia Y Austria, Y Top 10 En España Y El Resto De Latinoamérica “Manos Al Aire” Es El Primer Sencillo De “Mi Plan”, Su Cuarto Álbum De Estudio Y Primero En Español, Que Será Lanzado El 15 De Septiembre A Nivel Mundial.
La Multi-Premiada Cantante, Compositora Y Productora Nelly Furtado, Quien Fuera La No.1 De Ventas Globales En 2007 Con Su Álbum “Loose”, Ha Vuelto A Conquistar Las Listas De Popularidad Alrededor Del Mundo. Su Sencillo “Manos Al Aire” Se Encuentra Esta Semana En La Posición No.1 En La Lista "Latin Rhythm", Que Mide La Radio Urbana En Estados Unidos Y Puerto Rico.
"Manos Al Aire" Ha Logrado Un Éxito También A Nivel Internacional, En Países Donde No Se Habla Español, Como Alemania E Italia, Donde Ha Sido Numero Uno. Además Del Éxito Radiofónico De “Manos Al Aire”, El Público De Nelly Ha Podido Conocer Un Poco Más De Lo Que Será El Álbum “Mi Plan” A Través De La Promoción “Countdown To” De Itunes, La Tienda Digital Más Grande Del Mundo.
Este Conteo Regresivo Consiste En Ofrecer Al Público Tres Cortes Del Disco De Nelly Previo Al Lanzamiento Del Disco (Septiembre 15). Así, El 21 De Julio Se Lanzó A La Venta El Tema “Más”, El 11 De Agosto “Mi Plan” (Dueto Con Alex Cuba), Y Finalmente El 11 De Septiembre Se Dará A Conocer “Bajo Otra Luz”, Tema Que Cuenta Con La Colaboración De Julieta Venegas Y La Mala Rodríguez. Además, En La Compra De Una De Las Canciones De La Promoción Y Del Álbum, “Mi Plan” Dentro De Las Dos Semanas Siguientes Al Lanzamiento, Recibe Un Track Exclusivo.
Asi mismo, “Mi Plan” Cuenta Con Otras Valiosas Colaboraciones Además De Las Mencionadas Arriba. Alejandro Fernández, Juan Luis Guerra, Buika Y Josh Groban, Participaron También En “Mi Plan”, Dando Un Toque Personal Y Muy Especial Al Álbum. Nelly Furtado Ha Vendido 18 Millones De Copias En El Mundo Y Ha Ganado Discos De Platino En 31 Países.
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