// COMPLEX WOMEN // Vanessa Carlton
Vanessa Carlton
In 2002 when Mandy Moore and Jessica Simpson were defining bubblegum pop through synthesized beats and Mickey Mouse lyrics, Vanessa Carlton’s Be Not Nobody took a different road. Carlton’s mature sound, long overdue judging by the multi-platinum sales, blew up the charts. Her single “A Thousand Miles” racked up three Grammy nominations and even a shout out from Kanye West who said, “this must be the white song that all black people like.” Carlton’s sophomore effort, Harmonium (2004), didn’t garner the same acclaim from critics or cash registers. It peaked on the Billboard 200 at No. 33 and sold a mere 179,000 copies in the U.S. Now Carlton’s back to reclaim the limelight with an unlikely ally of piano pop in Irv Gotti, who co-produced her current new album Heroes & Thieves. Listen up to what Carlton had to say about being the new princess of The Inc. and how she laughs in the face of ultimatums. Call it whatever you’d like, just don’t call it a comeback… By Saidah PetrieComplex.com: What caused your departure from A&M records?
Vanessa Carlton: I was given an ultimatum. I could only stay there if I would relinquish my creative freedom. For any artist it's like, what's the point of doing anything unless you're going to be allowed to create something that is reflective of who you are? I wanted to carve out my aesthetic more and they just weren't going to support that, so I decided to leave.
C: Were they trying to mold you into something that you weren't, or make a different type of artist out of you?
Vanessa Carlton: Sometimes other people impose their own taste on you. It's difficult, I imagine, to be a record company executive and understand how to grow an artist. I think the most important rule is to allow your artist to be creative and express something that's real and unconditionally support them, if you really believe in them. There were too many opinions [at A&M], that's just it. And then you just end up making a shit album. I didn't want to do that.
C: With all the controversy surrounding The Inc. in the past, what made you sign with them?
Vanessa Carlton: I met Irv Gotti in Doug Morris [Chairman and CEO of Universal]’s office, and we just clicked. I was playing "Hands On Me," which is a new song. He started screaming, swearing, and running around the office—I just instantly appreciated the non-filtering that he operates with. He’s just a pure guy. In addition to that, he’s super bright and has great ears. He is a great music man and he A&R-ed Heroes & Thieves beautifully. I knew that I had found kind of that environment that I was looking for when I met him.
C: Were you skeptical about signing to a label that's been linked to a lot of crime, gangster rap and rap beefs?
Vanessa Carlton: Well once I met Irv and talked to him, I instantly understood the situation, and all concerns just kind of went by the wayside. Anyone who talks to him or gets his vibe knows all of that wasn't true. He was ripped off this pedestal that I think he's slowly about to get back on, which is exciting. I'm rooting for him.
C: Do you think you have what it takes to help resurrect The Inc.?
Vanessa Carlton: We all need each other at this point. It's not just The Inc. and me, but Universal in general. Universal is doing amazingly well, but I think both Irv and I have a lot to prove. And that's why there's so much energy surrounding the project. We’ve been working our asses off and I think we’ll both be able to benefit from this if it works. I’m obviously a new color in his pallet. As he becomes this great record executive, he's gonna have to oversee many different genres and different acts. So to be his first step into my genre I think it's great for him, and it's great for me because he brings a very fresh perspective. So we're both going to make each other stronger.
C: Irv stated that your type of music is what he would quote as "forever music.”
Vanessa Carlton: I'm very flattered. I really hope that's he's right [Laughs]. I've never had such a positive relationship with a record exec like him before. I hope we can be a great team and be the great ones together.
