Virgin.net Interview > 21.03.2005

Three and a half years since the release of her last LP, White Lilies Island, Natalie Imbruglia is finally ready to make her comeback - new single Shiver is due out on 21st March. We caught up with the Antipodean songstress to find out just what took her so long...

VN: Lovely wee Natalie, it is good to see you again! How are you?
Natalie Imbruglia: It's been a while! I'm very good thanks, I'm smiling.
VN: While I was waiting for you to arrive I was playing Torn on the piano in the room opposite - I was hoping you would join me on vocals and we could make beautiful music together...
Natalie Imbruglia: Oh that would have been lovely! I can't even play Torn on the piano, it would have been great to hear - maybe afterwards.
VN: As Easter is nearly with us I've brought you a chocolate egg - answering questions is hungry work.
Natalie Imbruglia: Oh lovely! You know the way to my heart - bringing me chocolate is a clever move.

"The new album is very positive and has a cheery feel to it, you can hear my contentment in the music."
VN: So what have you been up to my little kangaroo? We've missed you in pop world.
Natalie Imbruglia: I've been busy - working on my new album, getting everything sounding right. I also got married!
VN: Bummer, my heart is broken. Any divorce plans?
Natalie Imbruglia: No! I am very, very happy - being married is wonderful.
VN: Just playing hard to get. Has being happily married made you write upbeat smiley songs for this new album then?
Natalie Imbruglia: It has actually - the new album is very positive and has a cheery feel to it, you can hear my contentment in the music.
VN: They say the best songs are written with a broken heart, though - tempted to ditch the hubby to help inspire a few hits?
Natalie Imbruglia: Well you see I don't know if that is true. I think if you're writing with a broken heart you'll write a certain type of song but I don't think that it's better. Although maybe I can see why people say that - but happy songs are very difficult to write. How many truly great upbeat songs are there? I've found this record easier to write and I certainly didn't have a broken heart so I guess that must say something. Being happy inside makes the work of putting an album together much easier.
VN: So I believe this husband of yours wrote a song for the album?
Natalie Imbruglia: Yeah! It's brilliant, I was completely amazed.
VN: I've written you a song for the album, it's called The Ballad For The Virgin(.net) - it's genius, do you want to hear it?
Natalie Imbruglia: No. Anyway, my husband just said to me I'm going to write a song for you and went off and did it all in a day, I couldn't believe it. I knew it had to be on the album, it's an amazing song and means so much to me. It's called Satisfied - you'll have to check it out.
VN: Yeah, whatever. Your husband used to be in that famous Australian band - Stinkyfish.
Natalie Imbruglia: Silverchair!
VN: Oh yeah, sorry. What's happened to them?
Natalie Imbruglia: They're having a break. I don't really know what's going to happen with them but he's working on a brilliant new music project called The Dissociatives - they're making some great music. They'll be coming to the UK to launch it here so you'll have to meet up with him.
"I am such a bad liar and I couldn't be funny just off the cuff."
VN: Nah. Do you ever get bored with interviews and just start making the answers up?
Natalie Imbruglia: I'm such a bad liar and I couldn't be funny just off the cuff like that - I don't have the creativity. My husband is really good at doing that in interviews. I would like to lie, though.
VN: Well, you should start now - just lie your pants off, make up great stories about yourself. You'll probably go straight in at number one with all the extra exposure.
Natalie Imbruglia: Ha ha, yeah you're probably right! I'll have to start. I need some good lies to get me started.
VN: How's the modelling going? I believe you've become the face of leprosy?
Natalie Imbruglia: The face of L'Oreal!
VN: That's what I said. So is that not a bit of a sell-out?
Natalie Imbruglia: No, I don't think so, why can you only do one thing in life? Who says there's a rule? The modelling doesn't take that many days up during the year and I feel happy doing it. I got offered something when I was doing the first album and it didn't feel right for me - it feels right now so I said yes.
VN: If there was anything you could have me ask you now, what would it be?
Natalie Imbruglia: I would love you to ask me more about my music and my new album.
VN: Ok. Do you want to have babies with your husband?
Natalie Imbruglia: Um, I would like to start a family with him, yes, I can really see that. I can see myself giving it all up and settling down properly, at least I say that now. It is possible.
VN: Well my lovely Australian dream, it's time for me to return to the hospital. Thank you for your wisdom and your love.
Natalie Imbruglia: Thank you! See you later, bye!

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