Loren's campfire style reignites 80s nostalgia

For her second album Naked 80s, Swiss-born Kiwi singer Nadine Loren, now living in LA, has taken 11 80s classics and stripped them of the excesses of that decade, leaving us with her take on what for many are nostalgic favourites. Loren won Pop Album of the Year at the 2009 LA Music Awards for her first album, but her music isn't always so easily defined. On Naked 80s you'll also find elements of opera, rock, jazz and country.
Kim Gillespie asks her about her choice of songs for the new album and if she'll find time to catch any Rugby World Cup action later this year.
What were the 80s like for you? Where were you living at the time?
I was just a kid, so I remember the 80s as being this fun-filled decade where anything was possible. It was a time for bubble skirts, Bata Bulletts, MC Hammer pants, shoulder pads, big hair and great candy (you could still get 10 for 2c then). I moved from Germany to NZ in the mid 80s so got to see two very different sides to the decade - from Nena to the Mockers.
What do the 80s mean to you now with hindsight?
I'll always be a fan of the 80s, it was a pretty experimental time, full of excess. Though I definitely regret some of my fashion choices - bigger is not always better, especially for shoulder pads.

What does the album name Naked 80s mean?
I took 11 great songs of the 80s and stripped them of all their synthesised sounds. I then rebuilt them with real instrumentation. It's really just the bare song that's remaining though, hence the name.
What did you learn from Living In Wonderland? How has that informed your new album?
Well I got to meet some pretty big giants through my first album, including Clive Davis, David Foster, some solid A&R folk and, of course, Peter Asher. I had a lot more support with this album, with a great team around me, and plenty of great advice along the way.
But I guess the biggest lesson in a way has been the importance of live shows - the more you gig, the better you get as an artist. There's really no substitute.
What's your favourite New Zealand getaway spot?
Home in Auckland. I love catching up with family and friends, ducking off to Waiheke for the day or to the black sand beaches on the West Coast. Cathedral Cove is another favourite, along with Queenstown, of course.
When was the last time you were in NZ?
In April. I tend to try and come at least two or three times a year.

Will you be watching any Rugby World Cup matches?
For sure, though they'll be [in the] middle of the night here in the US...
Who is the coolest celebrity you've rubbed shoulders with?
Well I sang a duet with Seal last year, he was a really nice guy. Ryan Seacrest is another example of a seriously nice guy, really genuine and funny.
Tell us a little about the tracks you chose for this album and why.
There were a couple I had in my mind from the very beginning, like Nena's 99 Luftballons, and Eurythmics' Who's that Girl, because these were both songs I grew up singing as a kid. It was definitely a group process for the rest though, with all of my family and friends, as well as Peter Asher and his circle, nominating their favourites. We then picked the ones that could best be broken down into campfire mode (just guitar and voice) that sat best in my voice.
Your music doesn't fit easily into genres, but what music do you listen to to relax, what music do you listen to when getting ready to party, what music do you listen to in the car?
To relax, I listen to the likes of Brooke Fraser, Greg Johnson, Corinne Bailey Rae or Sarah Barreilles. When getting ready for a party I love a bit of Pink or Paul Oakenfold, unless it's a dinner party and I'm cooking, in which case it's opera! (Angela Gheorghiu, Kathleen Battle or Dame Joan Sutherland are some of my favourites). For good driving songs I turn to Tom Petty's Free Falling, Evanescence, or my vocal warm-ups. I very often do my singing practice while sitting in traffic!

What's the most played song on your iPod/Blackberry?
Quando Men Vo from La Boheme.
What New Zealand artists have you been listening to lately?
I always have Greg Johnson, Anika Moa and Bic Runga playing in the house.

You've lived in a few countries. If you could only eat food from one country for the rest of your life - which would you choose?
Italy!