Mariah, do you often do interviews in bed?
No, (laughs) but whenever I get a chance I like to rest. I'm like a psycho at the moment, trying to do a million things.
So, what's the meaning behind Butterfly, the title of your latest album?
It's about having the strength within yourself to let something go. It could be a part of yourself or another person.
You seem more hard core on this album.
It's definitely more urban but it's still me. I cut with Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and I also cut with The Trackmasters. I have always loved urban music. I think it started with “Fantasy,” which was the first time I worked with Puffy (that's Puff Daddy, readers!) before he was a big-time artist. It seems like a natural progression — there's still the ballads and Butterfly is the best one I've ever written.
Did you add some tough R&B to remind people of your background?
My father is African-American and Venezuelan, and my mother is Irish. There's a major division here between black and white. There's a song on my album called “Outside” that's specifically about this. It addresses how I've always felt, which is somewhere in the middle. It's hard to be multi-racial, but musically I'm now happy to be incorporating more of the urban feel into this album because it's what I really love without losing who I am — which is a combination of all those things, musically and ethnically.
What were you like at school?
I went through a lot of different stages. I moved around a lot, so I distanced myself from the other kids, but then I was a bad kid from Seventh Grade onwards. I was a tough girl — I used to slam people into lockers. I wasn't really bad, I was just acting tough — it was all just a facade.
You have also split with your hubby Tommy Mottola. Is the song “Breakdown” about him?
I just make the music, I don't write about it. It's been difficult but the thing is, we have a really good relationship, regardless, and we have a friendship we're part of each others' family no matter what. “Breakdown” was inspired by the Bone Thugs style.
You look pretty sexy in the video for “Honey…”
But they didn't get it! It's supposed to be a James Bond thing and they wrote that I was a princess in a castle, and I'm thinking — WRONG! I'm supposed to be a freaking secret spy, it's not about being saved. I save myself. I'm not trying to be a sex goddess of the world, it was more about being funny and having a good time frolicking around.
Do you think you'll ever become an actress?
I've been studying. I acted when I was a little girl up to the age of 12 — I was in different theatre productions. I have a project that's being written for me right now. It has to do with music — I think, for my first role, it's appropriate, and I might do other things before that. But studying acting has been a great creative outlet for me and has really helped me through the last couple of months.
There has been heaps of rumours about you recently…
Yes, they've been very creative lately. What's been true? Well 99.9% is not true.
What about the rumour that you've dated Puff Daddy?
Totally false. They take a picture of me with a guy and suddenly I'm living with them. They said I was with Puffy and Q-Tip, and the other night I was out with one of my closest friends, Wanya Morris from Boyz II Men, and they took a picture of us talking and suddenly it's, they “have eyes for each other.” It's so funny because I've never been put out there in that way and now it's a free-for-all — “She's up for grabs!”
How careful do you have to be with your voice?
I have to have at least two days off between shows without speaking. I need a complete vocal rest because the shows are so demanding.
What can we expect from your live show?
I'm not like the big touring acts, which are based more on the whole visual aspect. My show will be great visually but people want to hear me sound like the record, and for that I have to have complete vocal clarity, which is not easy — especially for me 'cos I had to write all these songs that are up in the freakin' stratosphere! I'm hoping to have Trey Lorenz — who has a single on the Men In Black soundtrack — on tour with me.
What special thing do you do before you go onstage?
I drink a lot of tea and honey. I sing and I warm up in the dressing room, and I do my other little private things.
What's the funniest rumour you've read about yourself?
There are so many — that I am an unapproachable diva who has 50 million bodyguards around her constantly. As you can see. that's not me.
Have you heard of Tina Arena, silverchair and Savage Garden?
Yes, I've heard of them. I don't know the music that well but I've seen silverchair on MTV, and they seem cool. I'm more into R&B than alternative music. I listen to rap, hip-hop and older R&B stuff, like Stevie Wonder.
Finally, what's the best thing about being famous?
Getting good tables at restaurants and stuff like that. (laughs)
Thanks Mariah.
I'll definitely see you in Australia!