It’s been 10 years since Canadian-born songstress Nelly Furtado burst into the music scene as a wide-eyed, free-spirited folk singer crooning about flying away like a bird. Since her 2000 debut with Whoa, Nelly!, the 31-year-old has soared to the top of the charts, creating a unique sound fueled by the traditional melodies of her Portuguese heritage, as well as reggaeton and bossa nova. While many fans wondered whether the throaty fly girl sold out by becoming “promiscuous” with Timbaland in 2006’s commercial-friendly Loose, Furtado was merely rediscovering her hip-hop roots. After the “maneater” bared her mid-riff and made thousands swivel their hips in nightclubs, she decided to deliver fresh beats with a Latin twist. Mi Plan, which debuted in 2009, made history when the single “Manos Al Aire” marked Furtado as the first North American artist to reach the top Billboard spot with a Spanish song. Now, the Grammy-winning global superstar is looking back at her success with her first greatest hits compilation, The Best of Nelly Furtado, currently in stores. As she begins to work on her fifth studio album for 2011, we spoke with Furtado about channeling her Latin side, whether Timbaland really taught her how to shake her booty, as well as what she has in store for us 10 years from now.
nocheLatina: How does it feel to release a greatest hits album?
Nelly Furtado: I can't believe that 10 years have passed since I released Whoa, Nelly!. I feel grateful for the career I have had so far and the enthusiasm of my fans around the world. This is a chance to celebrate!
nocheLatina: How was working with Salaam Remi for the track ‘Night is Young’ different from anything else that you’ve done before?
Nelly Furtado: Working with Salaam Remi has been incredibly effortless, fun, and positive. We have good energy together and ‘Night is Young’ has an uplifting quality that captures that.
nocheLatina: You’ve worked with some of the top producers in music. Yet, is it true that Timbaland taught you a thing or two about booty shaking?
Nelly Furtado: Timbaland is a great dancer. He was probably born dancing. I tried to teach him the ‘raver off-beat bounce’ and the ‘hippie wave,’ but he wasn't biting. I conformed and learned how to shake my booty proper. Haha!
nocheLatina: Talk a little bit more about the three unreleased tracks that are featured in The Best of Nelly Furtado. Are there other musical treasures that you’re keeping secret from us for future releases?
Nelly Furtado: There are three new tracks on the Best Of compilation. There’s ‘Night is Young,’ which is an upbeat dance-pop track about seizing the moment while reflecting on the past. ‘Girlfriend In The City’ is a dramatic, but fun song about catching a cheating lover and ‘Stars’ is a poignant, extremely quiet song that almost sounds like a lullaby. I am recording my fifth studio album at the moment and I am so excited about it. So far, it's sounding very fresh and eclectic. I have many other surprises for the fans in the ‘vault’ for the future.
nocheLatina: Looking back at your musical career, what have been some of the surprising things that you discovered about yourself as a female artist throughout your journey?
Nelly Furtado: I have never categorized myself as a female artist, just an artist. I am not sure why that is. Maybe because the men I have made music with my whole life have always treated me like one of the guys with no exceptions. I have been very fortunate that way.
nocheLatina: Out of all the hits featured in The Best of Nelly Furtado, which was the most challenging song to create and why?
Nelly Furtado: The most challenging song to create on my Best Of was ‘Forca,’ which I wrote for the FIFA European soccer championships, specifically for the final game in Lisbon, Portugal. I made it with the Portuguese public in mind and I was inspired by the ‘forca’ chants they used to yell at shows. Banjo great Bela Fleck plays guitar on it.
nocheLatina: Going back to Mi Plan, why was it crucial for you to create an all-Spanish album?
Nelly Furtado: It was crucial for me to record an all-Spanish album because my love of Latin pop is immense. This dream began to come to fruition the day I first sang in Spanish with Juanes 10 years ago. I really needed to record Mi Plan and express myself in Spanish. It has been a very healing experience for me. I feel like I opened the closet door and ended up in Narnia-a Latin world full of music-loving fans, passionate artists, and extreme integrity. For that I am so grateful.
nocheLatina: How did recording an all-Spanish album influence you as an English-singing artist?
Nelly Furtado: After recording an all-Spanish album and working with so many great Latin singers, I feel like I am singing my English songs with more feeling, nuance, and expression.
nocheLatina: I understand that both Whoa, Nelly! and Folklore were both inspired by traditional Portuguese music. However, you quickly dived into the hip-hop and R&B world with Loose. Why was it important for you at the time to make such a dramatic transformation?
Nelly Furtado: The urban feel of Loose was something that was a major part of my influences from my early teens. Great ‘90s R&B and hip-hop were my jams.
nocheLatina: What’s influencing you right now?
Nelly Furtado: This year, I am influenced by lots of new music, including Passion Pit, Florence and the Machine, and Janelle Monae.
nocheLatina: What would you like to achieve 10 years from now?
Nelly Furtado: Hmm…10 years from now I would like to know how to sew, paint, and sculpt. I would also like to direct a movie and write a book. More importantly, I want to love, love, love!
