- 8 minutes ago
Bebe Rexha joins Mike Adam backstage at Audacy's 'We Can Survive' to talk about her latest album, 'Dirty Blonde,' the confidence that comes with age, and more.
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00:02It's Mike Adam, we're in the Hard Rock Artist Lounge here at We Can Survive, presented by Veg, E-R
00:07for Pets.
00:08I got Bebe Rexha here, it is good to see you again.
00:11And we, oh yes, let's go.
00:15We got the whole squad in here.
00:16By the way, that's all my family.
00:18I love it, I love it, I had to do it.
00:20You know, I saw the new album, Dirty Blonde was top 10 in Scotland.
00:26I have no idea.
00:27Yes, so that's what I wanted to ask you.
00:29Like, does it ever surprise you where, you know, songs or albums just take off and do so well?
00:36You're like, oh.
00:36Yeah, I think it surprises me when I'm actually performing.
00:39And especially in countries where English is not, like, the first, like, you know, the main language.
00:44And I'm like, wow, that's so incredible.
00:46It's just an amazing feeling every time.
00:49Yeah, yeah.
00:49Of course, I'm like, wow.
00:50Not that you should read comments on social or whatever.
00:53I always read comments.
00:54Okay, okay, so where do you get the place that you should visit more to perform?
00:58Brazil.
00:59Okay.
01:00I get threats, so they want me to perform there.
01:02So Brazil, Indonesia, a lot of places.
01:09Yeah, yeah.
01:09Can't think right now, yeah.
01:11I know you linked up with David Guetta again for this album.
01:14What is it about you two?
01:16Like, what works so well about you two?
01:18I think he just has an incredible ear.
01:20Yeah.
01:49And he's very honest.
01:50You and I were in a room and we had to write a song.
01:52You're, like, just sitting there and you're, like, okay, so how's your day going?
01:56Yeah, yeah.
01:56And it's, like, you have to create something out of scratch.
01:58And you just never know what to expect.
01:59And I find that the best songs are when you're super honest with everyone in the room.
02:04For sure.
02:04And if you don't like something, it's, like, really important to speak up.
02:06So I tell a lot of, like, younger songwriters who are starting out or artists just to, like, there's nothing
02:11to lose.
02:12Yeah, yeah, yeah.
02:12I love that.
02:13This is your, I would say, your most Albanian album.
02:17Chica Chica.
02:18Yeah.
02:19And people have responded so well to it.
02:22I mean, can we expect more of that?
02:24Well, Balkan music, actually, especially in the dance world right now, in the boiler room, they had a Balkan night,
02:30which I thought was really incredible.
02:31And they're actually, it's becoming a kind of an interesting subgenre in dance music.
02:37Yeah, yeah.
02:37And it's actually really, really incredible.
02:41So I would love to incorporate more of the drum patterns.
02:45So I think, like, rhythmic music is really inspiring to me as well as dance music.
02:50Totally.
02:51Just growing up Albanian and in New York City, such a cultural multipont.
02:54So for me, it's, like, with Dirty Blonde, with the album Dirty Blonde, it was kind of more so, like,
03:00how do I get myself back on this path of, like, loving music again and being surrounded by people that
03:05make me feel good and wanting to celebrate.
03:08So it's, like, it feels like it's just the beginning.
03:10Yeah, yeah, totally.
03:12Can you tell me a little bit about One Day?
03:14I know there's a story behind it, and you seem like you're bursting at the seams trying to tell me
03:19about that.
03:19So drop it.
03:20Drop the knowledge.
03:22You know, I always wanted to write a song about, like, you know, when you get broken up with.
03:28So I got broken up with, and I was, like, super in love, and it was really hard for me.
03:32Yeah.
03:32Like, super hard.
03:34And I was, like, I just want to write a song called One Day.
03:36And I want to write a song about, you know, it's, like, one day he's not going to be able
03:40to escape me.
03:40Yeah.
03:41He's going to hear me everywhere.
03:42He's going to see me everywhere.
03:44And I feel like, you know, I think it's okay to have, like, a little bit of revenge.
03:48So that's kind of what One Day is about.
03:49And I love singing live.
03:52I'm going to do it tonight.
03:53Cool.
03:53So I'm very excited.
03:55And I just, like, I love sometimes just having songs where I can just, like, sing.
03:59You know, I love dance music.
04:00But when I can find the perfect song where it's, like, a mix of dance and, like, just, like, singing,
04:05singing, that's, like, that's, like, my, I feel like, where I feel like at home.
04:08So now when you listen to the song or when you perform the song, are you immediately transported back to
04:13that scenario, that pain?
04:15Or do you, do you, was it therapeutic?
04:18Do you hear it differently now?
04:20Now I just, I love, I just love perform.
04:22I don't know.
04:23Now it just feels more so.
04:25You know what's insane about this song, actually?
04:27When I perform it and I sing the verses, a lot of times I go into, like, this autopilot.
04:32Yeah.
04:32Because it's, like, when you're doing a pure dance song, you're, like, okay, the dancers, all eight dancers are about
04:36to go to the right side of the stage and I got to go here.
04:39Sure, sure.
04:39And sometimes it becomes second nature.
04:41Yeah.
04:41But with this song, what's really interesting is every time I sing the verses, I really feel it.
04:47Okay.
04:47Because it's very, like, one day you're going to wake up to reality, you know?
04:51And when it's late at night, home alone, you know, it's, like, you're going to be thinking, you're going to,
04:55like, see me in a stranger's face.
04:57You're going to hear me somewhere.
04:59And I just love those verses.
05:01Like, love.
05:02Before we wrap, today, at this point in your life, what would you say makes you feel the best about
05:08yourself, gives you the most confidence?
05:11Do you think, is it still related to work or have you found things outside of that that bring you
05:17confidence and happiness?
05:18What, what, what?
05:19I saw you look at family members.
05:21Tell me now.
05:21Yeah, I love my family, of course.
05:24Oh, okay, okay.
05:25I don't have this confidence.
05:27I have Albanian parents.
05:28Yeah, yeah, yeah.
05:29You know, I'll get off stage and my mom will be like,
05:31why did you have to say that on stage last night?
05:33You're saying too much.
05:34But no, um, for me, honestly, it's, some people would say it could be a little sad, but I just
05:40work.
05:40I love what I do.
05:42Yeah.
05:42Like, I, and like, you know, may she rest in peace.
05:45I was wearing her merch the other day, Dolly's, Dolly Parton's merch that I got, and it was like a,
05:50uh, an OG shirt that, like, I wear sometimes.
05:52And what I loved about Dolly was that I feel like she was always working and always, like, she became
05:59bigger than her music.
06:02And she always had a story to tell and where she came from.
06:05And, um, she never backed down from who she was.
06:09And even with I Will Always Love You, the story behind that, like, I just, I just, like, that's a,
06:14she's a very big inspiration to me.
06:15So, for me, it's like, I just love what I do.
06:18Yeah.
06:18And I think with age, you start to, right, Mike?
06:23Yes.
06:25Why are you going to throw me under the bus like that?
06:27Wait, no, because we've known each other for a very long time.
06:29I knew you before you got married, before the kids, right?
06:32Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know.
06:33Um, you know, I think with age, I think you become more confident.
06:36Sure.
06:37Absolutely.
06:38And I think for me now, even musically, like, I'm writing new music now, and I'm like, what's next and
06:43what do I want to say?
06:44You know?
06:44And I think a lot of people get really nervous with where they're at in their age and life.
06:50And for me, it's just writing music.
06:51Like, I want to write music where I'm at, because there's so many people that are where I'm at.
06:56Yeah.
06:57You know?
06:57And it's like, I don't always want to have to write songs that are like, whatever.
07:02You know?
07:02It's fun to write stuff.
07:04Like, sometimes, like, hey, shake your ass.
07:05Let's go.
07:05I love that.
07:06You know, too.
07:06Don't get me wrong.
07:07Right, right, right.
07:07But, like, it's so much funner now, because I feel like I'm in a different place lyrically, where I can
07:13really go in on subjects.
07:14And that's what I'm hoping to do next.
07:16Like, I'm so excited for the future.
07:18I love it.
07:18And look, you've had ups and downs.
07:20So, for you to still have that passion, that love for-
07:24Yeah, we're still here.
07:25Yeah, man.
07:25Like, good for you.
07:27I love it.
07:27Bebe Rexha, thank you so much for taking out the time.
07:29Bye-bye.
07:31Bye-bye.
07:32Bye-bye.
07:32Bye-bye.
07:33Bye-bye.
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