From loss to love, the pop star is back with a fierce new collection.
Did you get nervous sharing such personal songs?
I dont have any secrets; I dont have anything to hide.
Credit: Jamie Nelson
I havent done anything wrong.
Im happy to share my story.
You worked with Selena Gomez songwriter Justin Tranter andAdele producer Greg Kurstin.
What were those sessions like?
When I started this, I walked into the studio and said, I dont care about a single.
Im doing this to get this stuff out.
I want it to be the truth.
So when we started writing, it was a lot of journal stuff that I had worked on.
Every record was written around emotion.
So I decided to curate a record.
Almost nobody writes their whole records!
[Laughs] But it didnt feel right.
It felt weird and fake.
It wasnt meant to happen.
Is that how the first single, Used to Love You, came about?
I think I wrote 13 songs in those eight weeks.
In the beginning I was quite heartbroken, but all I could do was deal with it.
What do you get out of sharing such intimate music?
When I started No Doubt, we werent doing music because we thought wed make it.
We knew we were making music that couldnt get on the radio.
It was pop in the middle of grungeit made no sense!
[But] those songs were so personal.
I didnt write them to help other people; I wrote to help myself.
But after, I saw that music helps people.
Now, I crave that give-and-receive.
By sharing it, I receive so much.
What do your kids think of their mom as a pop star?
Theyre excited for me to have new music.
And I got Fetty Wap on my record!
Theyre excited about that!
But its funny how kids really dont want you to do anything except be their mom.
Id write new songs and be like Lets listen on the school run!
Theyre like, No, Mom!
Put on the TV!
Speaking ofFetty Wap, howd you guys pair up?
Then I went in, and nope, he doesnt show.
Day Two and nope, he doesnt show.
Day Three and nope, he doesnt show.
It was a miracle it happened.
After this album and two seasons on NBCsThe Voice, whats next?
Id like to write not just for myself.
I could do that now.
I had lost my way.
When you have a long career, how do you compete with what youve done before?
Being onThe Voicemade me go through my Rolodex of life and go, Oh, I did that!
I wrote that song!
It restarted me, in a way.
