Jewel was born Jewel Kilcher. (Handout photo / October 22, 2009) |
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Jewel, who will be performing Tuesday night at the Lyric, became a pop superstar right out of the box; her first studio album, 1995's "Pieces of You," sold 12 million copies in the U.S. alone and spawned three hits, including the chart-topping "You Were Meant For Me." Fans and critics lauded her as the decade's premier singer-songwriter, thanks to her home-grown lyricism, her clear, multi-octave voice and her shy, almost introspective stage presence.
But the 21st century has proven difficult to navigate for the 35-year-old Alaska native. Her 2006 album, "Goodbye Alice in Wonderland," in which Jewel took steps to shed that vulnerable persona, sold poorly, and she was subsequently dropped by her label, Atlantic. "Perfectly Clear," her 2007 country album, and this year's "Lullaby," an independently produced collection of low-key acoustic melodies, reflect an artist anxious to try her hand at everything, even at the risk of alienating some of her earlier fans.
Jewel spoke over the phone last week from the Texas ranch she shares with her husband, champion bull rider Ty Murray. Topics included her approach to performing, her relationship with fans and the advantages of having her new CD distributed by a manufacturer of children's toys.
Question: What can your fans expect Tuesday?
Answer: I always try and do these solo acoustic shows at intimate venues between my band's tours, 'cause it has really fostered a type of fan base and following that I'm really appreciative of. It's really singer-songwriter fans. I think it's really special, in this day and age, to have fans show up and be paying such attention to lyrics.
It's very informal. I don't do a set list, so every show I just sort-of talk to the audience and take requests. That way, the show is different every night. I tell a lot of stories and talk. It's kind of like a "VH-1 Storytellers" or an "Austin City Limits" type of thing.
I like to have things that aren't planned or rehearsed out if I go see a show. I'm a music fan, and my favorite shows are when I get to see something new, or see an artist respond to something new, or hear new material. Because I own the CDs, and I want to hear something new. I guess I just do shows the way I like to experience them as a fan.
Question: "Lullaby" seems more sparse than anything you've done in a while, very basic, just you and the guitar.
Answer: I loved doing this project. It's an indie release, with no label. There's nothing up-tempo, and there's no radio singles to get played.
Question: Was that a conscious decision on your part?
Answer: I wanted to make lullabies for adults, and so it was just part of the gig. It's not an overtly commercial idea, I guess, because it pretty much omits anything up-tempo. But I don't think that singles validate art. I think that there's a lot of valid art that doesn't have singles.
I'm so interested in the way that the music business is going now, and the fact that there are ways to get albums out and let people hear me without having to have a radio hit.
Question: Does it ever get old, doing the standards, the songs that were popular 10 years ago? Do you ever wish you could stop performing them, or do they remain vital?
Answer: I've never felt trapped by them. Something like "Who Will Save Your Soul," I'm able to find something new in it every time. But if I don't feel like singing them that night, or if I'm running long on time, and I'd rather do something new than one of my standards or singles. … There's no hard-and-fast rule. My fans tend to want new material more than they want to hear something they've heard before, anyway.
Question: Do you like where the music industry is right now, where music distribution is right now? Does it work for you?
For me it does. I feel really good about where music is heading. ... I love things like Twitter, things that give me direct access to my fans and allows them to get to know me. I've always had a pretty transparent relationship with my fans. I really like it.
Also, with "Lullaby," I was able to find an alternative distributor, because I didn't have a label. I went with Fisher-Price, who was able to get me into baby and toy aisles at Target and Walmart. I got into listening spaces I'd have never gotten on a label.
Granted, you have to go out of the music section to find it. But my fans will hunt down my music no matter what, and I felt like it was exposing me possibly to a new fan base who might be in different sections [of the store] and go, 'Ooh, a new Jewel record.' So I was pretty excited about it.
But the 21st century has proven difficult to navigate for the 35-year-old Alaska native. Her 2006 album, "Goodbye Alice in Wonderland," in which Jewel took steps to shed that vulnerable persona, sold poorly, and she was subsequently dropped by her label, Atlantic. "Perfectly Clear," her 2007 country album, and this year's "Lullaby," an independently produced collection of low-key acoustic melodies, reflect an artist anxious to try her hand at everything, even at the risk of alienating some of her earlier fans.
Jewel spoke over the phone last week from the Texas ranch she shares with her husband, champion bull rider Ty Murray. Topics included her approach to performing, her relationship with fans and the advantages of having her new CD distributed by a manufacturer of children's toys.
Question: What can your fans expect Tuesday?
Answer: I always try and do these solo acoustic shows at intimate venues between my band's tours, 'cause it has really fostered a type of fan base and following that I'm really appreciative of. It's really singer-songwriter fans. I think it's really special, in this day and age, to have fans show up and be paying such attention to lyrics.
It's very informal. I don't do a set list, so every show I just sort-of talk to the audience and take requests. That way, the show is different every night. I tell a lot of stories and talk. It's kind of like a "VH-1 Storytellers" or an "Austin City Limits" type of thing.
I like to have things that aren't planned or rehearsed out if I go see a show. I'm a music fan, and my favorite shows are when I get to see something new, or see an artist respond to something new, or hear new material. Because I own the CDs, and I want to hear something new. I guess I just do shows the way I like to experience them as a fan.
Question: "Lullaby" seems more sparse than anything you've done in a while, very basic, just you and the guitar.
Answer: I loved doing this project. It's an indie release, with no label. There's nothing up-tempo, and there's no radio singles to get played.
Question: Was that a conscious decision on your part?
Answer: I wanted to make lullabies for adults, and so it was just part of the gig. It's not an overtly commercial idea, I guess, because it pretty much omits anything up-tempo. But I don't think that singles validate art. I think that there's a lot of valid art that doesn't have singles.
I'm so interested in the way that the music business is going now, and the fact that there are ways to get albums out and let people hear me without having to have a radio hit.
Question: Does it ever get old, doing the standards, the songs that were popular 10 years ago? Do you ever wish you could stop performing them, or do they remain vital?
Answer: I've never felt trapped by them. Something like "Who Will Save Your Soul," I'm able to find something new in it every time. But if I don't feel like singing them that night, or if I'm running long on time, and I'd rather do something new than one of my standards or singles. … There's no hard-and-fast rule. My fans tend to want new material more than they want to hear something they've heard before, anyway.
Question: Do you like where the music industry is right now, where music distribution is right now? Does it work for you?
For me it does. I feel really good about where music is heading. ... I love things like Twitter, things that give me direct access to my fans and allows them to get to know me. I've always had a pretty transparent relationship with my fans. I really like it.
Also, with "Lullaby," I was able to find an alternative distributor, because I didn't have a label. I went with Fisher-Price, who was able to get me into baby and toy aisles at Target and Walmart. I got into listening spaces I'd have never gotten on a label.
Granted, you have to go out of the music section to find it. But my fans will hunt down my music no matter what, and I felt like it was exposing me possibly to a new fan base who might be in different sections [of the store] and go, 'Ooh, a new Jewel record.' So I was pretty excited about it.
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