Cody Simpson: Young and Free

MANILA, Philippines - Cody Simpson breaks free from the teen-pop mold with his new album aptly titled Free.

The Aussie singer-songwriter, who like many a popular artist of his generation was discovered on YouTube at age 11, has called the album the “symbol” of his newfound independence, being 18 years old now and more importantly, having complete creative control over the making of the album as well as his career (following a five-year contract with a major US label).

Free is independently produced under his own record label that he named Coast House Records. He also regards it as his first studio album, all songs of which — like Flower, New Problems, Thotful that are now enjoying airplay — he will be playing in his concert tonight at 8, at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of Resorts World Manila.

It’s Cody’s first time in the Philippines. “I’ve heard a lot about the Philippines because it’s so close to home. I’ve also met so many people from the Philippines and I hope to meet more.”

Cody: ‘I’ve heard a lot about the Philippines because it’s so close to home. I’ve also met so many people from the Philippines and I hope to meet more.’
 

Here are few excerpts from our brief phone chat:

On the challenges of producing Free:

“I didn’t have any challenges or any worries ‘coz I never do. I think I’ve (learned to develop a bigger perspective) on music, instead of music stuff that most people do, I don’t really care, I just do whatever I feel I wanna do anytime. I’m not looking to get my songs played on the radio or anything, my label used to be when I was young. But I just got tired of bull***t and the corporate sort of influence and maybe to do it on my own. That’s the kind of life I want to live. I just don’t want to be a product of someone else’s mind or anything like that. I’m a normal being and person, I just want to play music out there I like. Free (is) really my first album because I’ve never done anything on my own, (past work) it wasn’t me. It was pretty easy (the songwriting process). I did the album in Malibu, California with my producer Cisco Adler. It was really easy to write because I haven’t written for so long because since I was 12 I was constricted by my past label and all that. I finally get to be myself and let it out.”

On how he describes his new music’s sound and feel:

“Simple, raw, organic and just like real. Just the way I feel, you know. (As for the audience response,) I just want people to enjoy the change.”

On his favorite song from the album:

“Probably Wilderness. It means a lot to me because it’s an environmentally-conscious song. We have made a video of it that supports a foundation. I would say (the song matters to me) because I grew up around the ocean and that influenced me. The ocean is a natural symbol of my childhood. I think there’s a lot of littering in the ocean by people that affects the wildlife, the ecosystem and the natural balance of the way of it’s supposed to be. I just try to put messages into music now that I get to write what I want to write about. I hope it would help and inspire the people to become aware.”

On what inspires him to always pursue music with passion:

“My parents — my dad and my mum. They taught me to be positive, aware, conscious and everything so, yeah, I turn to them definitely for guidance. My dad plays guitar and sings, but yeah, I’m the first in the family who is a professional musician. But (I didn’t want to be a musician at first). No, actually, no. I was a competitive swimmer, and that was what I wanted to be. But I did music on the side. It started out as a hobby, just listening and playing songs in my bedroom. Then I became more confident and started playing for people.”

On the public interest on his personal life, particularly on the people he hangs out with (i.e. Justin Bieber, One Direction members and supermodels):

“I just sort of have to deal with it. I do not really think about it, I just play music. There’s a lot of stuff out there that I don’t care. Yeah, it kinda pisses me off but I’m more focused on my music. I’m a pretty normal kid, I don’t really think of myself as famous or anything. Some people think or that they consider themselves as famous people, that’s super weird. I just like my music, I also want to be a normal guy.”

(Cody Simpson Live in Manila is mounted by Wilbros, Inc. with tickets available via Ticketworld outlets and online. Call 891-9999 for details.)