Colbie Caillat's most recent album, "The Malibu Sessions," was created with a sense of place, focusing on the beach life of her hometown. When she comes to Southern Utah to perform next week, it will be at a venue known for its sense of place: Tuacahn.
The folk-pop singer-songwriter will perform March 24 at the Tuacahn Amphitheatre, surrounded by the red rocks of Padre Canyon. It's a venue she has played before and she tells The Spectrum & Daily News during a telephone interview that it was a memorable show.
But it wasn't just the venue she remembers. The gig happened to coincide with a day off, so she and her band had the opportunity to drive around and explore, truly experiencing that sense of place.
Colbie Caillat has released five studio albums and a Christmas record in the past decade. (Photo: Submitted)
While the canyons of Southwest Utah are distinctly different from the beaches of California, she tries to bring an element of that seaside feeling to her live shows, wherever she might be playing. Last fall she embarked on an acoustic tour, playing "The Malibu Sessions" in its entirety, complete with the sound of ocean waves.
However, when she comes to Tuacahn this month, the concert will be more up-tempo, featuring music from throughout her career, including songs from 2014's more dance-pop oriented "Gypsy Heart."
Although Caillat still performs songs from "Gypsy Heart," it was that album that led to her departure from her former label, Universal Republic. She had actually recorded "The Malibu Sessions" first but the label refused to release it, requesting a more pop-sounding album instead.
"I was super-bummed," Caillat says. "We put so much time and love into 'The Malibu Sessions' that it was sort of a hurt to the ego."
But since she loves songwriting, she decided to try and write the way her label requested. In addition to working with frequent collaborator Jason Reeves and her fiancé, Justin Young, she also wrote with pop songwriters like Babyface and Daryl Simmons on "Gypsy Heart."
While she met her label's demands with the dance-pop sound, Caillat says she felt as if her fans preferred the more laid-back style of her previous albums. So she made the decision to leave Universal Republic and start her own label.
"It didn't feel right anymore," she says. "It felt like they wanted me to be something that I wasn't."
For the first release from her own PlummyLou label she already had "The Malibu Sessions" ready to go. And that album has its own story to tell.
Often when recording in the Los Angeles area, musicians have to travel through miles and miles of traffic to reach a recording studio. She didn't want to deal with that this time around. So they decided to rent a beach house with enough room for everyone involved in creating the album.
"It was such a peaceful experience," Caillat says. "We loved the process of making that record."
From the musicians to those behind the sound board, they all had their own bedroom. Some even brought their dogs along.
Plus there was more of a do-it-yourself vibe to the entire process. Caillat even used her own smartphone to take the photo on the album cover.
Colbie Caillat's newest album, 2016's "The Malibu Sessions," was recorded in a beach house in her hometown of Malibu, California. (Photo: Submitted)
Now that she's running her own label, Caillat is learning even more elements of the music business. Every task must be completed by Caillat, her manager or her assistant. That includes planning tours, negotiating contracts and even creating merchandise. She is more than just a creator now; she's a decision-maker. And she likes it.
"If I'm representing something, I want it to be something I'm proud to represent," Caillat says.
Although she's learning new skills, Caillat remains a creator. Her art is found in songwriting and performing.
But it's more than just art to her. It's a way to communicate.
"I'm super-shy in person with people," Caillat says. "I don't want to talk about anything controversial or personal. … (Songwriting is) my own way of interacting with people. As much as it's vulnerable, it feels like there's a safety behind my songs."
She also finds joy in stories about how her music has been meaningful in the lives of her fans. Some say her songs helped them through emotional struggles. Others mention that they played her music at their weddings.
These stories make Caillat think of her own soundtracks to life — the songs she played on a summer vacation or during other memorable moments. It makes her happy to know that her music is like that for other people.
When she comes to Tuacahn next weekend, she will likely be adding some new additions to the life soundtracks of many Southern Utahns. And Young, her fiancé, will be contributing as her opening act.
Martina McBride kicks off Tuacahn's spring concert series this weekend with a March 17 show. Other performers include Professional Bull Riders on April 7-8, "Stayin' Alive: One Night of the Bee Gees" on April 14, Kenny Loggins on April 15, Clint Black on April 27, Peter Cetera on April 29 and Brian Regan on May 4-6.
The Colbie Caillat concert begins at 7:30 p.m. March 24 at Tuacahn Center for the Arts, 1100 Tuacahn Drive, Ivins City. Tickets are $40-$70. Visit Tuacahn.org or call 800-746-9882.
Email reporter Brian Passey at brian@thespectrum.com or call him at 435-674-6296. Follow him on social media at Facebook.com/PasseyBrian or on Twitter and Instagram, @BrianPassey.
Colbie Caillat's 2014 album, "Gypsy Heart," presented a dance-pop departure from her usual folk-pop sound and led to the singer-songwriting parting ways with her major label. (Photo: Submitted)
Colbie Caillat in concert
When: 7:30 p.m. March 24
Where: Tuacahn Amphitheatre, 1100 Tuacahn Drive, Ivins City
Tickets: $40-$70
Information: Visit Tuacahn.org or call 800-746-9882
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