Fall Madly for Tristan Prettyman's New Album

After a widely successful debut album, Tristan Prettyman has grown up not only in years, but in wisdom. A native of San Diego, California; Tristan spent most of her childhood surfing the waves and enjoying the beautiful beaches. At 15, she picked up her dad's guitar, played it and the rest is history. Now almost twenty-six, Tristan is preparing to release her sophomore album, Hello...x, which she describes as a more mature, deeper album. "I definitely dug in a bit more and wasn't afraid to show an attitude other than my usual happy, bubbly, self."

The first single off of Hello, "Madly", has already gotten listeners buzzing. Just give her a listen and you'll see why. Tristan was kind enough to do this interview from the lobby of the airport while she was preparing for her first show on tour, check it out!

Hey TP, let's dig right in!

You're new album is set to be released on April 15th - yet your single, "Madly", is already attracting new fans across the country. What inspired “Madly”?

Tristan Prettyman: Madly was written in a dressing room of the Moore Theatre in Seattle, WA. I think I was near the tail end of all the break-up related songs - this song was kind of inspired by reflecting back through everything. It's kinda all over the place when you really take a look at the lyrics...people calling, let me go, come back, say goodbye, etc.

I had written a good bit of it, and then I did a co-write session with Kevin Griffin (Better than Ezra). He had this great melody for the chorus and our 2 song parts went together like they were meant to be....it was pretty awsome...I was always a little skeptical of co-writing, but I learned a ton and it was fun, and I ended up with a killer song that I loved.

What sorts of changes do you recognize in the music on “Hello…x” in comparison to “t w e n t y t h r e e”?

TP: I think there is a definitely a bit of a departure. Hello... sounds more like me to me - just personality wise - and the kind of music that really moves me. This record really represents that. twentythree, was more of a collection of songs I had had for the last 23 years, and this was more of a focused approach...more mature. I definitely dug in a little bit more and wasn't afraid to show an attitude other than my usual happy, bubbly, self.

And what kinds of changes do you recognize in yourself since the production of that album?

TP: Oh wow... Well in general, many things have changed, and i think that goes without saying. The 20's in general, they, whoever they are, say you change the most in your 20's. But for me, there was a lot to deal with...everything from being in a different place career wise than most of my friends to having my first real relationship and thinking i was gonna marry them to breaking up. Moving out of my parents house, living on my own, etc.... I think living on my own was the biggest - that allowed A LOT of time to get to know me. Something that seems very intimidating when you know its exactly what you need, having always been independent, and losing yourself a bit by being in a relationship.

So it was good, with all the other changes that were going on with music, that I was able to spend a good amount of time being alone and not having anything or anyone to distract me.

What kinds of life experiences are reflected on this album? What kind of vibe can we expect?

TP: There is definitely a bit of a bluesy vibe, and more of a dirtier, grungier, feel. I guess it kind of feels like old dark beautiful wood. There are all sorts of things reflected...

Most everything I write about is personal, but I think there is a lot of material on this record that is inspired by observation, whether it be friends, family or people just walking down the street.

On your last album, you collaborated with Jason Mraz, are there any guest artists on this album?

TP: Nope. Yusif (Cat Stevens) came into the studio one day and sang on a song, and it was surely beautiful. But I didnt feel like it fit with the majority of the songs on this record. Thats terrible isn't it? I axed the Cat Stevens track...

Are there any songs on the album that you're particularly excited to release?

TP: Honestly, everytime I listen to it I am like, 'oh this track!', and then it goes to the next track and I am like, 'oh this one is great!' and really I love all the tracks on this record...every single one I am so excited to play live. They are all beautiful.

What do you do/where do you go when you’re looking for inspiration or to just get away from it all? How about when you’re on tour?

TP: Um I have learned that the more you try to organize time or put time aside to just have to yourself, that it just backfires... I think now that the record is done, it's time to get back to just taking everything in, to experiencing...the pressures of writing songs are not around me anymore, so I am free to go back out into the world and just live..and in that the inspiration just comes naturally...

What is a typical day on tour like for you?

TP: Oh let's see... I wake up in the hotel, get in the van, stop for coffee, drive however many hours to the venue, get to the venue, load in, chill out till soundcheck, eat, play the show, pack up, get in the van and sometimes drive a couple hours depending on how far away the town where the next show is, or stay the night in town. It's not very glamourous...getting to stop at a truck stop is the highlight of tour!

How do you like that new Taylor solid-body electric guitar? It’s beautiful and it looks great on you!

TP: I LOVEEE IT! I came home a couple months ago, was looking though my mail and I saw the taylor catalog with it [the guitar] on the cover... I called my man Bob over at Taylor and was like, "how, where, when? I have got to get me one!" A couple months later I got it. I love it. It sounds beautiful, and I am learning how to use a guitar pick, cause I've always played with my nails...but the electric sounds much better with a pick. Its so fun, I feel rock and roll.

What’s your favorite place to go while you're on tour and why?

TP: Um, I would have to say Whole Foods...because that is the only time on tour when we actually get to get some healthy food, for the most part. I am like a kid in a candy store when I am at Whole Foods...all that produce and weird, healthy green stuff...I just love it. I can't get enough.

What's your goal musically? Who do you hope to reach?

TP: Well since I didn't really have any goals, except to go out there and see what I could make of myself...I am pretty satisfied. Everything from here on out has really been icing on the cake. Most people don't know this...but I really would love to have kids and a family, so I guess I hope this next record does great so I can buy a little beach house and raise a family and be comfortable enough to do so.

Hello is slated to be released in the United States on April 15th, but you can check out her MySpace Music page for some album teasers! For more information, please visit http://www.tristanprettyman.com and keep checkin' back at this site, where you'll always be able to get the latest on Ms. Prettyman's music and her tour schedules. Thank you for reading!

Check out the video for "Madly":

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