INTERVIEW: Carla Wehbe on her debut single 'Don't Tell Me' and her love of the 1980s
In February, Sydney’s Carla Wehbe released what is possibly one of the greatest pop songs to be released this year in the form of ‘Don’t Tell Me’ - her debut single no less. A thoroughly brilliant synthpop track dipped heavily in a 1980s soundscape, its moody lyrics play out against a shimmering backbeat with Wehbe’s vocals switching from angsty frustration to a vulnerable whisper. Inspired by being told ‘would it kill you to smile?’ the song explores the emotions of wanting to sort out your problems by yourself without those around you trying to impose their ideas on the situation: “I know that my life’s a mess / Don’t talk as if you know best” Wehbe sings.
We recently sat down with Carla to chat all about her career and creating ‘Don’t Tell Me’.
Hi Carla, great to speak with you. Congratulations on ‘Don’t Tell Me’, it’s such a fantastic track and we love the ‘80s vibe!
I love just everything about the ‘80s. The fashion, even the furniture. There's something about 80s music that is less like over analysed. It's just more ‘this is what I want to say and I’m just going to say it.’ People don't think ‘oh those lyrics are smart’ or ‘is this synth the greatest synth sound I can find?’ It's more about the feeling. It's also obviously the start of the digital side of music as well. So it's still revolutionary.
What artists were you into growing up?
When I started to get into music, I would have to say Avril Lavigne was probably one of my main ones. I know it sounds weird, but Justin Bieber. I just liked how he kind of did it all, from a young age, you know? The dancing, the singing, the writing. And I guess I'm a sucker for pop. But then I also love a lot of the older eras of music. Specifically the ‘70s, ‘80s, but also the ‘50s, I love. Bee Gees, ABBA, Queen. I have a big range of music interests.
What was the inspiration behind ‘Don’t Tell Me’?
At was at a bar late at night and I couldn't find my friends anywhere a man was like ‘ahh, what's wrong with you? Would it kill you to smile?’ I was like ‘ Just stay away. I'm not in the mood!’ I had a writing session in the next few days with my two producers and we didn't know what to write about at first and then I told them that story. So, the line ‘Yes it would kill me to smile’ was kind of the starting point. I guess it's nice when people try and comfort you and try to make you feel better, but sometimes they don't really know what's going on and they don't have the feelings that you are having. As much as you appreciate their help sometimes you just need to deal with it on your own. That's the feelings behind the song.
The video for ‘Don’t Tell Me’ is also amazing and heavily drenched in the 1980s, can you tell us about making the video?
I collect old TVs, old radios, old computers, furniture, so everything in that video is from my collection, I didn’t borrow anything! Initially the idea was a little more elaborate but to be honest, it was more of an on the day kind thing. I just said to the director, ‘I have a location’ which was at my grandparent's house, which was an 80s house so it was perfect. I said ‘I have props, you don't need to get any props’. I styled myself, did my own hair and make-up. We kind of winged it on the day {but] it just worked. It was very smooth.
Is the 80s theme something you might continue in your music?
Definitely for this project, it’s definitely the running theme. Just to keep it all cohesive. I will possibly explore other eras or genres later.
What else is coming up for you in 2020?
I’m working on an EP, that's going to be released this year. And there's going to be one or two bonus tracks that I’m going to write or produce completely myself. So, that's probably my main focus. Definitely shows, I've never done my own show before so that would be amazing. Potentially a few cool features. And just more music!
Stay tuned for more Carla Wehbe in the nest issue of Women In Pop magazine
‘Don’t Tell Me’ is out now across all platforms.
To keep up with all things Carla Wehbe you can follow her on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
