As flop albums go, Nelly Furtado is re-writing the “rule book”.
For, despite her latest LP selling just 6000 copies first week in the US last year, the Canadian star is pressing on with promotion. A commendable decision, yet one which is seeing her confronted with blunt questions about her commercial relevancy – to her face.
One such instance is a new interview with Gig City, who quizzed ‘The Spirit Indestructible’ singer on “why she’s not famous any more”.
What did the 34 year old say in response? Her answer awaits after the jump…
“That’s the price you pay for being passionate about music and refusing to believe it’s your job all these years. It’s just still seeing it as a hobby. My poor manager. He’s suffered many grey hairs because of it. I’m just really hard headed and I just do what I want to do. Some people come along, some people don’t. I’ve made my hobby into a career, but sometimes I still look at it as a hobby so I don’t always make the best quote unquote career choices. But I enjoy it every step of the way, which I think is the most important thing.” {Source}
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While Nelly’s commitment to her craft is commendable, she seems to have difficulty balancing her artistry and facing reality.
Put simply, should be aiming for middle ground. Hence, her words do not sound like someone who truly understands the industry she’s been in for nearly 15 years years, nor what it takes to enjoy longevity at the top within it (i.e. compromise).
For, she can be as “creatively honest or erratic” as she pleases, yet, if she sells no records with her “hobby” then she gets dropped. In such an instance, where will the funds to work with hit producers come from? Or the corporate muscle, which once flexed gets one’s songs on radio and ultimately to the people that need to hear it to even consider attending your tour?
Both of Furtado’s last albums were helmed by the industry’s most sought-after producers (Timbaland and Rodney ‘Darkchild’ Jerkins). As such, this self-propagated suggestion that she’s some sort “Indie-Major” hybrid seems more a case of retro-fitting in the wake of a colossal flop.
Here’s wishing her better fortunes next go round.