Tuesday 1 April 2003

Mariah Carey exclusive

Mariah Carey chats about her amazing career to date and what she does with all those awards!

You've just been voted the best vocalist of the past two decades! How did that come about?

It was Blender Magazine and MTV 2 who did the contest. They told me I was in the top five and asked me to tape a "Thank you" just incase I was number one - and it was! I was really happy, really proud and really excited. And it was voted on by the fans, so I have to thank them for that.

How do you feel about it?

I am very grateful for that type of statement, but I can't really say that I feel that I own that title by any means. I feel that I do what I do, and I'm blessed to have the gift of music. But there are some phenomenal singers out there that I have to always give it up to.

Who would you say is your favourite vocalist of all time?

It's really hard. Of course Stevie Wonder is always my favourite all around artist. But I'm also very inspired by somebody like Karen Clark, who's a gospel artist. I listen to her a lot, and I listen to a lot of Venessa Bell Armstrong. Mini Riberton, I've loved since I was little. There's so many - Aretha Franklin is another - but there's too many to name, I'd be leaving people out.

You have won so many awards over your career to date - what do you do with all of them?

I have these antique award cases that my decorator got me. They mean a lot to me because many of them represent fans voting, and that's what it's all about to me. The awards are for lots of different genres of music, and as a mixed-race person, to cross so many different boundaries really means a lot to me.

You've also just got your 100th certification. Just explain what that means?

When your record goes gold, which is a different number in each country, you get a certification - a gold certification. When it goes platinum, you get another certification, and so on and so forth. So, it means I've just got my 100th with "Charm Bracelet". The RIAA, the organisation monitors, gave me this blue diamond award, which I think is the first year they have given it out, and we had a fabulous party in LA, which was really fun. I was very grateful because "Charm Bracelet" the album is very personal to me, and if it's not my best album, it's definitely in the top two because it's one of the most honest records I've ever made. That and "Butterfly" epitomise who I am as an artist.

Your mother was an opera singer. What did you learn from her about music?

She taught me how to harmonise, and a lot about breathing control. But I think the main contribution that she made was teaching me to believe in myself.

Your voice stretches over an amazing five octaves. How do you go about hitting those notes?

It's just a feel thing. When I'm feeling it I know I can do it, if not I'll take it down low, but that's the beauty of singing.

What has been the high point for Mariah Carey so far?

There have been so many moments that were really high points, but I didn't get to soak them in and enjoy them. This year - particularly with the blue diamond award - has been incredible for me so far. I also just got a Soul Train lifetime achievement award, which was really cool. It did seem a little early to be getting that, but it was still amazing!

What's next for Mariah Carey?

I look at every day as a new creative moment. There's a lot of things that I'm doing that aren't necessarily music related, which I'm keeping to myself for the moment. As an artist there are a lot of contributions I can make that might make a difference - the charity work that I do is very important to me.

On September 11th you dedicated "Never Too Far Away" and "Hero" to the firemen in New York. Tell us about that?

I'm from New York and still live there, and my view used to be of the Twin Towers. And now I look out of my window and it's just void. I think all New Yorkers came together on that day, and I really felt that the firemen and the victims' families need a pick-me-up, so I went to Ground Zero and did that type of thing.

Let's talk about the Congretional Award of Honour that was handed to you for your contribution to youth work and non-profit organisations...

That was totally shocking to me. It's nice, but I don't do these charitable things to get accolades, I do it because it really means something to people. Particularly if you're working with young people and you can have a positive impact on their lives, it's really important to do.

Any plans for a UK tour in the near future?

I'm definitely coming back to the UK, probably in October. I haven't released any dates yet, but I do know that I will be here. The tour for the "Charm Bracelet" album is going to be very different for me than the other things I've done because it is such a personal record.

You've collaborated with a host of top artists - how do you decide who's next?

It's usually inspired by the track or the record. I don't know who's next, it just sort of happens!

(Capital FM)



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