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This perfect storm of enthusiasm and confusion nearly ruined the moment for Alessia Cara.
At this years Grammys, the 22-year-old Canadian singer known forher introvert anthemswon BNA.
It was for a nearly three-year-old album: her 2015 debut.
Initially, that wasnt really the intention.
I was just making demos on my laptop with eventual hopes to re-record them someday.
It feels a lot better than it would if it were perfected or heavily produced.
Although theyre not perfect, I think they fit in really well.
Your choice of collaborators is interesting.
No I.D., for example, and on a Motown, doo-wop record of all things.I know, right?
He was one of the people who actually signed me to Def Jam when I started working there.
So weve had a relationship for awhile.
Well, relationship I dont wanna be like, Yeah, hes my best friend [laughs].
I mean, that would be amazing.
We made the song Comfortable and it kind of just happened.
It worked really wonderfully, actually.
I usually have a song finished when I go into the studio and have a melody and chords.
But with this song, I just had lyrics.
I didnt even know what I wanted it to sound like.
I remember No I.D.
was playing me a folder of a bunch of rough instrumentals and samples.
He had this one filed called doo-wop and I was like, Whats this?
He played it for me and I loved it, I thought it was so interesting.
It wasnt there from the beginning.
Once I realized I could do that, I just kept doing it without thinking too much.
You realize how limitless everything is.
Once you get to that creative space, you just wanna keep getting more creative.
I imagine winning that Grammy mustve still contributed to a sense of validation.
Its that Imeven moretalented than I think I am.
Its a risky thing to put yourself out there, the way that I have been.
Its like a nice pat on the back and a reminder that I belong here.
I hope that award isnt tainted for you by the controversy that surrounded it.
Are you able to look at it with a sense of pride?Definitely more so, now.
I have one and I always will, now.
People were so quick to preach feminism but then they were tearing down the one woman who was onstage.
You cant pick and choose what feminism means to you.
Thats not how it works.
But, honestly, Im in a way better space.
Skin grows thicker after that.
Im grateful for it.
Its right smack in the middle.
Its a really nice setup, I dont think theyre gonna let me take it when I move.
I mean, your first Grammyshouldgo to your parents.Thats what Lorde said, too.
She was sitting in front of me at the awards and told me, Give it to your parents.
I was like, Okay!
Are you guys friends at all?
We dont really hang out in those circles, but shes really awesome.
She was really supportive of Here when it first came out.
But, yeah, I dont really talk to a lot of other artists.
Im kind of like a weird little crab who goes into her shell.
Stan culture is both a beautiful and a horrible thing.
And if I were ineligible, I wouldnt have been there.
Its as simple as that.
They just see one thing and decide to hate you.
Ill get another one someday and well see what they have to say about that one.
This interview had been condensed and edited for clarity.
