An interview with Belinda Carlisle: new album out end of August

Belinda Carlisle has been making music since the early 1980s – first with pop outfit The Go-Gos, and irregularly as a solo artist since the release of her debut LP Heaven On Earth.

This year, Belinda releases a new studio album, Once Upon A Time In California, slated for release on 29 August. Featuring ten new studio tracks, including the first preview from it available now The Air That I Breathe, the album was recorded in Los Angeles and will be available on CD, vinyl and digital formats (click here).

Like Australia’s Tina Arena, once upon a time, Belinda found favour with the French, finding that her records – well, the ones recorded mostly in French – sold better over there. And so she was living between France and the UK when I spoke to her in 2007.

Originally from Los Angeles, I wondered why this blonde bombshell found favour with grey, grey Europe over sunny California?

Hi Belinda. People must be surprised that you’ve spent some time living in France, especially with the old Go-Gos / Valley Girl image we can’t get out of our head.

I admit, people who don’t know are at first a bit surprised because I am a native Californian. But in some ways where I [was living] in France is very similar to California. It’s Province, and it’s the same sort of terrain. It’s like Malibu in the Mediterranean, if you will.

Were there any initial language barriers?

I speak a little French, but singing in French is very different to speaking in English. It was intense at first because not only do you have to think about what you’re saying but also about the proper pronunciation. Making that sort of music now, I don’t have to work in any pop constraints and am allowed to do whatever I want.

What has feedback from your original American market been about your Euro sound?

Of course people have preconceived notions of what the South of France is. When you think of Paris, you think [puts on hoighty-toighty voice] ‘Oh, it’s just oh-so-so-so!’ and I probably would have initially seen things the same way. But for me now, music is a complete adventure. As far as reception goes, I think most people in the States don’t get it, to be honest, but some people do get it.

Well the world’s a global village now. You have more of an international market at your disposal, thanks to the internet.

You would hope so, anyway.

Do you ever perform your old songs live?

I work with The Go-Gos for a couple of weeks out of every year, and have done so since 1990.

Do you still enjoy performing hits like ‘Our Lips Are Sealed’ and ‘Heaven Is A Place On Earth’?

I love all the old material but I don’t think I can add to that genre of pop in my recording.

And what do you think of the current state of pop, constantly rehashing the old hits? I gather you’ve heard the club cover of your single ‘Summer Rain’?

I didn’t know about a ‘Summer Rain’ cover!

You’re kidding? It’s been blasted from club speakers, from LA and London.

Oh… I guess I don’t go out much. But I do know some covers are out there and I have no problem with them.

Back to the current state of music, there’ve been several artists known for doing the crossover French thing, like Tina Arena, Celine Dion… Do you like what you’ve heard of these artists?

I think Celine has an amazing voice but some of it is a bit straight for me. At the end of the day, though, she is French Canadian and when she sings in French she has a killer voice.

What other French music do you like?

I like everything from Jean-Jacques Goldman to Charlotte Gainsbourg. You know, I think the French music scene is by far more interesting than the American scene.

Finally, what’s an average day like in the life of Belinda Carlisle?

Well I’m a wife and a mother now. I have a son [her son James Duke Mason is a writer, LGBT activist and politician] so that’s a big enough family for me. I do yoga pretty much every day. And, let’s see… Oh, I play golf and I like to ski. 

Ah, the good life…

C’est la vie, eh?

Once Upon A Time In California is out end of August through Demon Music.