Grammy-winning legend Bonnie Raitt returns with her20th albumDig In Deepon Feb. 26.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY:Dig In Deephas more original songs than any of your albums since 1998sFundamental.
What inspired you to write so much?
Credit: Matt Mindlin
Raitt: I had a decade of a lot of loss.
[Raitts mother, father, and brother all died between 2004 and 2009.]
The album has uptempo rockers, too.
We were feeling pretty frisky, I must say.
You dont want to have people rushing to the doors weeping.
What made you want to cover INXS Need You Tonight and Los Lobos Shakin Shakin Shakes?
Im a big INXS fan.
[Laughs] It feels as sexy as it sounds.
I hope they like our version.
And I just love Los Lobos.
The music was hellacious enough where I couldnt help but find it irresistible.
I put it on there just so we would tear it up live.
A number of young artists cite you as a major influence.
Do you feel like to have a role to playe for younger women?
Oh, how sweet!
Ive never seen my name on a list of anybody ever mentioning anything.
[Laughs] I dont mean to be falsely humble, but I literally have not seen it before.
Forty years into your career, what keeps you motivated?
Im modeling myself after them.
People only get more interesting and deeper as they get older.
