Q&A with BETTY WHO – Talks Debut Album, New Single “All of You,” Wedding Proposals and Much More!

Photo by: Shane McCauley

“I’ve always been the type of person who will tell you everything and put myself out there totally unglossed,” says Betty Who. “Writing is therapeutic in that way. I want other people to be able to hear a song and say, ‘That’s how I felt but was too afraid to say it.’ And that’s the beauty of music, you can really say anything you want with a catchy hook.”

Betty Who is an Australian singer-songwriter and musician based in New York City. Trained since the age of four as a classical cellist, she moved to the United States in 2007 to attend Interlochen Center for the Arts  in Michigan, whose alumni include Norah Jones, Rufus Wainwright, and Josh Groban.

After high school, Betty attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. During her first semester, she met producer Peter Thomas who was also attending Berklee. Thomas suggested pairing Betty’s songwriting with a more dreamy, anthemic production style. The two began writing new material together and developed Betty’s sound over the next two years.

Betty’s debut single “Somebody Loves You” was initially released independently as a free download, and was premiered by pop music blogger and at-the-time official Grammy blogger Arjan Writes on November 30, 2012. Co-written by Who and Thomas, and produced by Thomas, the song garnered immediate praise, spreading quickly online and being featured by other well-known outlets. On March 8, 2014, “Somebody Loves You” reached number one on Billboard’s Dance/Club Play Songs chart.

Who released her full-length debut album, Take Me When You Go on October 7, 2014. Thirteen songs, four of them being taken from her previous EPs, appeared on the album. Already off to the races and building more momentum every day, Betty Who’s latest single, “All of You” just went to #1 on the Dance charts and shows no signs of slowing down!

Learn more about the talented songstress in her interview with All Access Music writer, Nicole DeRosa below!

Hi Betty! How are you? What’s on the agenda today besides our interview?

Well I’ve been completely snowed into my friends cabin in Ontario, so instead of my busy day of travel, I’m currently wrapped up by the fire watching Harry Potter so no complaints here!

For those not as familiar with you, how did your musical journey begin?

I’ve been playing music my whole life, started in classical cello when I was only four, and I’ve been singing for about just as long. Singing was always what I was the most passionate about so I started writing songs when I was fourteen.

All Access is so excited about your full length debut album, Take Me When You Go, which was released on October 7th this past year and you just released your new single, “All of You,” How did that song come about? Who or what was the inspiration for that track?

I wrote that song about a relationship I had been in that was really destructive but also so intoxicating. It’s hard to walk away from things like that, so at some point you kind of resign yourself to accepting everything about that person. The good and the bad.

You also just debuted the video for “All of You”. Now that looked like a super fun video to shoot. Did you help come up with the treatment? Where did you guys film it?

The director and I went back and forth a lot on the treatment, and ended up filming it a few hours north of LA! I had so much fun filming that video, especially driving that beautiful car. My dad was pretty jealous of that getaway car….

Speaking of videos, there was an incredible YouTube video that went viral last year with a wedding proposal set to your song, “Somebody Loves You,” in a Home Depot! As of this month, that video has garnered over 12.7 million views and counting! How did you come across the video? Did you meet the couple from the viral video?

The first time I saw the video, it hadn’t even officially been made public yet. They had sent it to my manager to make sure we wouldn’t have it reported for copyright infringement or anything and I sat and just wept watching it. Then a few weeks later I performed on Vh1 big morning buzz and the couple was there!

“When we met we were all so, so, so emotional then of course have been friends ever since. I actually sang, “Somebody Loves You” at their wedding!”

What was the first album you bought for yourself?

Oh that’s easy! Britney Spears “Hit Me Baby One More Time”

What was the first song you fell in love with and why?

I think probably, “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright” by Bob Dylan. Every time I would listen to it as a teenager, I felt like I would understand it a little more and learn a little more about myself in the process.

Who is in your current playlist? Anyone we would be surprised to find in there?

I listen to a lot of Beyoncé (obviously) and have been getting super into the new Nicki Minaj record recently… But I don’t think either of those are surprising.

You have been pretty much been touring nonstop, you got to perform at your first award show this past December and you even got to support fellow pop singer, Katy Perry on the Australian portion of her Prismatic Tour. What has been the highlight of your touring so far?

The first night of the Katy Perry tour, I figured I’d get a little bold and run around the entire stage. And her stage is BIG, I mean it was definitely a marathon to get around the whole thing. But because there are so many nooks and panels that move during Katy’s set, the ground was super uneven and I wasn’t used to it.

“So of course on my first show in this massive arena in Perth, I slip and almost fall to my death in front of 15,000 people. BUT, thankfully I caught myself and learned my lesson.”

Who else would you love to collaborate with in the future?

James Blake and Miguel are two people really high up on my list.

What’s on tap next for you? What are you most excited about for this year?

I’m actually really looking forward to getting back on tour! I’m doing a spring tour with Kiesza which I think will be a lot of fun and then not too long from now I’m supporting Kylie Minogue for a week in Australia which for me, is truly a dream come true… Going to be a fun year!!!

To learn more about BETTY WHO including upcoming tour dates, visit her website HERE .