Bustle Mixtape
The Canadian musician returns with a new Side B album this week.
Carly Rae Jepsen has been hit by the love bug.
The release is her latest Side B album, complementing her sixth record, 2022sThe Loneliest Time.
But then I realized the joy of it.
This is literally from me to the fans.
Its this beautiful passion project.
It was a moment of life imitating art, she says.
HenceThe Loveliest Time,which Jepsen promises represents the range of feelings that come with new romance.
Its not like everythings fun like roses and bubblegum, she says.
Theres still life and sh*t that happens.
I wasnt embedded in the TikTok world and neither was [duet partner] Rufus Wainwright.
He was texting me like, Were the two oldest ladies.
We loved it, but we also had no idea how it happened.
I think the quirkiest parts of my personality were embraced and given a new avenue of life.
If anything, it gave me confidence to be like, All right, let your freak flag fly.
you could get weird with this stuff.
Do you keep TikTok in the back of your mind when youre writing now?
I dont bring it into the creative process because Im still a true old-fashioned girl.
I want to write a song to be a song.
What did you think ofMidnights?
Did you ever listen to it?
I havent, but I have nothing but love for Taylor.
It was just a joke because shes such a huge artist, and we were like, Small world.
The nice thing about the music business is that theres room for all.
I have to have some humor about things, because you cant get by life without humor.
What do you do with them?
Its rare that I dont get a sword now.
Generally, at least three.
Its developed into such a joyful part of the set.
My tour manager tried to get a really nice one through customs.
He wrapped it [all up], but they were like, You cant travel with the sword.
On Her Seminal Music Moments
Whos an artist thats considered cheesy but you love unironically?
Being a pop artist, other peoples ideas of cheesy versus mine are very different.
Some people think ABBAs cheesy, but Im like, ABBAs not cheesy.
What is the weirdest thing that youve written a song about?
Storeis pretty weird, the idea of avoiding the breakup conversation and just going to the store instead.
AndBeach Houseis an oddity.
It ends with a guy from Canada trying to harvest your organs.
I write weird songs sometimes, and Im down with that.
Is there a new genre you want to explore?
My boyfriend and I bought a guitar in New York for $500.
It travels with us everywhere, and weve been having so much fun with it.
Is there a song you never want to play live again?
I could probably put Your Heart Is a Muscle to bed forever.
When weve been on the road for a long time, well run through the gamut of old songs.
For some, Im like, Oh, I like this.
We should bring this back.
And then for other ones, Im like, What was I thinking when I wrote this?
Do you remember the first CD you bought?
The guy was like, Right this way.
Who would play you in the musical of your life?
I really loveRachel McAdams, so Id ask if shes available.
Id be like, Will you c’mon play me?
Youre much more charming than I could ever be.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
This article was originally published onJuly 25, 2023
