ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
October 16, 2006
TFK Chats with Brie Larson
Brie Larson talks to TFK about her upcoming movie Hoot and new album, 'Finally Out Of P.E.'
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For a girl who used to describe herself as shy and self-conscious, Brie Larson has come a long way. The 15-year old artist began her career by acting in TV sitcoms, but she quickly realized that she also had a passion for singing. Once she learned to play the guitar, Brie began to write songs about her own insecurities.
After two years of hard work, Brie’s debut album, Finally Out of P.E., was released. As if she didn’t have enough to celebrate, Brie recently landed her first starring role in the upcoming movie, Hoot. In between filming her movie and promoting her album, Brie found time to speak with TFK.
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Brie: I had read Hoot maybe two, almost three years prior to this movie being made. My sister was part of this book club, and I ended up stealing the books from her because I'm an avid reader. I stole this book because I thought it looked cool. I loved it. I actually wanted to make it into a movie. So I was really excited to hear that they were making it into a movie.
TFK: You said you're an avid reader. What types of books do you enjoy reading?
Brie: I read everything and anything. I can probably finish a book over one plane flight. So I have hundreds of books in my room of stuff that I’ve read. I love A Series of Unfortunate Events. I’m trying to think, because I’ve read so many different things. To Kill a Mockingbird is a really great book. I love reading.
TFK: What was your favorite book growing up?
Brie: I loved One Hungry Monster. My mom used to always sing me that book.
TFK: How would you describe the music on your first CD, Finally out of P.E.?
Brie: That's so tough. I have a really hard time classifying music because I feel like everybody kind of takes something different from it. I guess it’s a combination of pop, rock, indie rock, danceable rock and all sorts of different stuff.
TFK: What inspires you when you are writing songs?
Brie: It could be anything from something that my best friend is going through to something that I’m going through to something that I read in a newspaper. So many things can inspire a whole song. I’ve had books that have inspired me. And TV shows. Music is probably the main thing, though. You listen to a really good CD and it will inspire you to push to the next level.
TFK: What did you enjoy most while making this album?
Brie: Writing, and what I learned about myself through it. My first writing session was a disaster because I was so self-conscious. I was always worried what people thought about me. Now, through the process of this album, I’ve become much more of a free spirit and much more confident with myself.
TFK: What’s your favorite Brie Larson song?
Brie: That’s hard. I like so many different songs for so many different reasons. I love the song Ugly. That was the song that took me the longest to write and to put on paper. That song is about feeling insecure: growing up being a girl, feeling like you’re not pretty enough or you’re not good enough, and seeing girls around you that you think are better.
TFK: Which do you like better: singing or acting?
Brie: I can't decide. I love what I'm doing right now, where I get to film the movie during the week and do shows on the weekend. That’s like the perfect lifestyle for me, because I like traveling, but at the same time I like being able to go back to a home.
TFK: Have you ever felt pressure to sing a certain way or dress a certain way?
Brie: I actually haven’t had that at all. I’ve been lucky enough to go with a label that has accepted me for who I am and loves the stuff that I bring to the table. I am an incredibly creative person and I like to have a lot of say in everything. It’s all me. I can’t imagine being anybody else. I mean that’s the fun about acting, getting to be somebody else. But when I’m doing music, I just want to be me.
TFK: What do you miss most when you are on tour?
Brie: That's tough to say, because I would say my best friend Claire, but sometimes she comes with me. I'm lucky enough that I get to have a tour bus, and so I get to have all of these really awesome people around me. But I miss being able to have home-cooked meals.
TFK: How is acting in TV shows different from acting in movies?
Brie: What’s different about acting in TV is that you have pretty much a set schedule. But with movies, things are constantly changing, especially this movie that I am filming now in Florida. We constantly have weather changes. We've got hurricanes coming. We've got rain. You've just got to be ready for everything. It's very unpredictable.
TFK: What’s next for you?
Brie: I’m working on T-shirts actually right now, for concerts and stuff. I’ve been designing them myself and I’ve been having a good time with that. A clothing line would be really cool. I’ve actually been working on my second album already, before my first one has even come out. I haven’t gotten writer’s block yet, so I’m just going to keep cranking out the music.
