[Pure.Magic]

Before I go on stage I am always nervous. I can't help it. Then once I open my mouth and start singing/playing I feel calm. And when I see how lucky I am with how great the audience always is, I just get a huge rush of warmth and peace and excitement. I'm doing what I love and just love every minute. I love playing live for the accidents that happen, the sounds and dynamics that are created between the players that will never happen again, just because of the circumstance, the room, the audience, everything. Every night feels different and every night is different!

So perfectly put.

[Just Peachy.]

Dido has answered some more questions ..

"Dido, are you happy?" Fri 30th Jan, 2009 Hey folks. Dido's just emailed through her latest batch of answers to the questions you've been emailing to askdido@didomusic.com. Look out for some more soon. Q. Hello Dido. You're a big football fan, right? I wonder if you also like to play football yourself, and if you do are you any good? Greets Karin (Holland) Dido replies: I used to play all the time and had a girls' football team at school, but I hardly ever play now unless it's with my nephews or my brother. When I was young I played football every day in the park with whoever was around. My brother used to let me play with his friends but then would tell me that I had to stand next to the goal and be a goal post (it's an older brother thing) which was sort of boring and a bit painful sometimes... I definitely had dreams of playing for Arsenal when I was young, though. Q. Hi, Dido. Upon listening to your new album I've noticed that almost every song is recorded in a minor key and the overall mood of the album is rather melancholic. The cover photos do not have a smile. Since those songs are more personal to you than ever, it is safe to assume that the reason for this mood is your life experience. So the question is: are you happy? Regards, Andrew Dido replies: I suppose you're right! I didn't intend it to be that way but a lot of songs were definitely written at a more troubled time in my life. Losing dad and how that felt was also a huge influence and I can see that now I can take a step back from it. At the time I'm writing it is not a clearly thought out thing and I just write with no regard for how it will sound to the outside world. I really love and value life and am so happy and excited by every new day, but definitely a darker side can sometimes come out when I'm writing songs. That's the beauty of writing songs and of playing music for me - it's not a rational thought-out thing and you can surprise yourself with what comes out when your whole conscious and unconscious mind gets involved. Anyway I'm rambling as It's an interesting question (thank you). But yes, I'm very happy and spend my days laughing and smiling and enjoying so much. And then write dark songs... :-) oh well! Q. What did you have for breakfast today? Holly, NYC Dido replies: This morning I had some berries and yoghurt. But that was because I was feeling healthy. Usually I have a big bowl of cereal

Dido | GB | News | News | "Dido, are you happy?"

I'm going to send an email to ask whether or she came to Sydney in December for the music show.

[Pure.Magic]

She'a vey wise and deep person. I love her answer to the question - Are you happy? Good question too.

Thanks.

[silver lining]

What was your inspiration behind Burnin' Love? As soon as I heard it I could just see it on a show like Grey's Anatomy. It's just a beautiful song. Ben, London. Dido replies: I'm so glad you like it. It's definitely one of my favourites. I wrote it with Citizen Cope and the chorus lyric is his lyric. It was the first song we wrote together. We just sat down and it came out in the most natural way possible. I loved working with him. I love his voice and I love that it's not something I would have written on my own. We wrote it in New York but actually it's my favourite song to listen to on the album as I drive around Hollywood in the late afternoon/early evening. It just feels right. When you write a song, which room of the house do you write in? Or do ideas come to you spontaneously and you write there and then? Will Dido replies: Good question. It made me think if there is a room I write more in. I have a room with a piano with skylights so I can see the sky and do a lot of recording and writing in there but I also seem to have written a huge amount of songs at the kitchen counter. Quiet Times was written at the kitchen table, Summer was recorded in the kitchen, Grafton Street at the kitchen counter. You know what, the more I think about it, they're mostly written in the kitchen. :-) I also write a lot while I'm walking around London and then just either try and remember my ideas or put them into a Dictaphone or my mobile phone. I walk to most places in London and listen to my ipod and it gives me so many ideas and makes me love the way that music makes me feel, more every day. I was wondering if and when you intended to go on tour next? Thanks in advance. James from Telford Dido replies: I think I'm going to do a proper tour after the next record. I've written and recorded so much recently and am just loving being in the studio and doing that at the moment. So I imagine another record will be released before the next tour. I'm really looking forward to touring when we do though. We had such an amazing time last time. Meeting so many people, playing in incredible outdoor venues in the summer. I felt so lucky every day. By the time I've finished all this recording I'll be very excited to be out!

Aw, no tour with this album? Although hopefully that means the next album won't take so long!

[Pure.Magic]

Thanks again. I think she's already working on her next album, thats why she says she'll go on a tour after she's done with that one.

[Just Peachy.]

Thanks for that Kat

That must explain why she didn't come here then. I guess she'll wait for the new album .... but I guess at this rate we may not see a tour until 2010.

[silver lining]

It's a shame she won't be touring any time soon. But I am hoping that we won't have to wait too long for the next record.

I guess the fact she's in the studio so much explains the general lack of promotion for STH.

[Just Peachy.]

I think so.

Maybe she had to do this album due to an existing contract

[Pure.Magic]

^ A tour can wait, if she's bound by some contract, that cant. Im sure we'll have the new album soon, and then a big world tour.

Or maybe she doesnt want to break the rhythm, she's been recording and so doesnt want to break out of that mode, and wants to continue with it, till she's in the frame of mind to get out of the studio and perform.

[Just Peachy.]

That Was A good Drive Posted: Feb 09, 2009 at 0012 hrs IST The Torch is still Burning Lounging in the Den Across the Great Wall History in Mint Condition The KabuliwallahsIt is not just Danny Boyle who is fascinated by Mumbai. British singer Dido’s latest video features the city and actor Shahana Goswami as cabdriver When British singer Dido decided to release her third album Safe Trip Home, she wanted to experiment a little. She moved away from familiar London and her new mansion in LA to sing about the many homes in the flat world — in Mumbai illuminated by neon lights, in a dump site in Rio, on the rugged coast of New Zealand’s South Island, in a picturesque fishing village in Portugal and even in a boxing ring in Thailand. The Grammy-nominated singer went for 11 directors from across the globe to create videos for each of her songs. “I love seeing how someone else might interpret a song that is so specific and personal to me. It’s an experiment I’ve been really enjoying,” she says. The Mumbai video, directed by Siddharth Sikand, plays out as Dido sings Let’s do the things we normally do. “I wanted to show Mumbai in different shades and the best way to do it was through the eyes of a woman cabdriver,” says the 35-year-old Sikand, who has been making promos such as the Lola Kutty and Boney M(enon) video for Channel V. Impressed by Shahana Goswami’s character Debbie in Rock On!!!, he got her to drive around Mumbai for Dido. Ads By GoogleThe video starts with Goswami beginning her day with a cup of tea and driving through Mumbai, taking her passengers — an old lady, a working woman, a drunkard and even a lusty couple — to their destination and revealing a slice of their lives on the way. Goswami, who has enjoyed Dido’s songs such as the Grammy-nominated White flag, however, was not without some reservations. “I didn’t know how to drive at all,” she exclaims. “So playing the part of a cab driver was absolute irony. Finally, I decided to learn driving in three days.” Goswami practised driving the same cab that she is seen steering from Bandra to Marine Drive in the video. Shot over three days, the video, Goswami says, is one of a kind. “My character has a peaceful existence in spite of the ups and downs that come with various passengers. I loved that there was no dialogue,” says the 20-something actor, whom Dido calls “stunning”. And it is not just the cabdriver whom Dido likes. “I love everything about the video — the way it’s been shot, the colours, the changing moods, the stories, the characters. The video has really moved me. This song is very personal and was written in a sadder time. What I loved about the video was that it has given the song and myself such a beautiful, uplifting feeling,” says Dido, “I especially love the last shot when it reveals the beach. It’s made me want to come and visit Mumbai as soon as possible.”

That Was A good Drive

[Pure.Magic]

Thanks for the article. Great to know that she wants to come to India. Maybe tour as well. Have you guys watched the video? I remember asking you all before too.

I loved it, but maybe Im biased cuz its been shot in my country. But I always wondered why Dido wasnt in the video.

[silver lining]

It's one of the Safe Trip Home website videos rather than for commercial release, isn't it? I don't think she appears in any of those.

I really like the video That's so funny that the actress had to learn to drive to do it

This song is very personal and was written in a sadder time. What I loved about the video was that it has given the song and myself such a beautiful, uplifting feeling,” says Dido

That's really nice

[Pure.Magic]

^Im not sure about that, but i saw it on tv. Maybe they're airing it here,cuz it was shot here.

The song has a sad feeling to it, but the video ends on a positive note. Its a very calming song.

[Just Peachy.]

More questions answered

"Where is your favourite beach?" Fri 13th Feb, 2009Here are some more of Dido's answers to the questions you've been emailing to askdido@didomusic.com. Dear Dido. I like the song Do You Have a Little Time as performed on the album Life For Rent, but I absolutely love this song as performed on Live at Brixton Academy. My question is if you think there is an optimal performance (producing, creation) for each song/melody, or that it can be performed in very different ways, each way liked by another group of people? Edward de Grijs, The Netherlands Dido replies: Actually the Live at Brixton Academy is the first version of that song as I wrote it. I often like to go back to the first versions when I'm performing live. The one on the record is a different version that came about when I heard a brilliant sample that Mark Bates was working with in the other room in the studio and we decided that song worked really well over it. But in answer to your question - I don't know. I think the beauty of songs is that once the core of the song is there there are indeed a million ways to do it. But I tend not to think too much about it and just take the song where it wants to go naturally. Whether that's on record or whether that's live. And yes, I'm sure that different people like different versions. Where is your favourite beach? Natalie, Germany Dido replies: My favourite place in the world is Connemara in the west of Ireland. The beaches there are so incredibly beautiful and empty and hold so many memories for me. I used to spend a lot of time near the Twelve Bens (a little mountain range that goes down to the sea). Without a doubt my favourite place in the world. I wonder, do you remember a record you got as a present when you were a child (maybe as a Christmas gift?), and which you still listen to today? Knut, Norway Dido replies: Yes! I remember one year my brother gave me a collection of my first albums (I'd only ever managed to save up enough for singles at that stage in my life) all of which I loved and had a huge influence on me I think. I remember among them was Yellow Moon by the Neville Brothers, Hounds Of Love by Kate Bush, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got by Sinead O'Connor, a Chet Baker record, an Odyssey album, a Chieftains album. A bit of variety, but all albums I still absolutely love.

[Pure.Magic]

Thanks.

I'll have to check out the version of Do you have a little time they're talking about here.

And Hounds of Love is such a great album.