Singer-Songwriter CALLA Reveals the True Story Behind Her Empowering New Single, ‘Too Nice’
Nashville-based singer-songwriter CALLA was used to dating jerks, so when she started seeing someone who was actually good for her, things felt a little—off.
It's a boat a lot of us have been in from time to time, and the experience was the inspiration behind CALLA's evocative new single, "Too Nice." The song, soaring with CALLA's powerful vocals, is all about the experience of falling for someone who's actually good and kind, and allowing yourself to accept that love in your life, instead of turning it away. We love how empowering the song is, and we got the chance to chat with CALLA herself about how her growth as a musical artist and person, and about how the very personal song came to be.
Sweety High: How old were you when you discovered your love for music?
CALLA: My earliest memory of loving music has to be when I was around 2 years old and I would watch Shirley Temple. I was so young, but I just remember the amazing feeling I got when I watched her sing and dance!
SH: Do you consider yourself a natural-born performer?
CALLA: I do consider myself a natural-born performer in a way. I think that music has always been a huge part of my life, whether it be in dance recitals at 18 months old, singing competitions or even making up my own "performances" as a child to show my parents. Performing for others was one of the first ways I learned to open up and express myself.
SH: You're also a world champion hip-hop dancer—do you feel like that goes hand-in-hand with your career as a singer-songwriter?
CALLA: I think dance, in general, has shaped a lot of my career. It taught me to listen to every minor sound in the background that you wouldn't necessarily hear the first time around. Also, being a hip-hop dancer opened my creativity to what I would want my future concerts to look like, where my music and love for dance can merge.
What was the songwriting process behind "Too Nice"? Was it inspired by a real relationship?
CALLA: I tend to write songs about what is happening in my life at that moment because I have an emotional connection to it. When Maria Christensen, Paula Winger, Austin Heller and I all got together, I was going through a weird part in my current relationship that I've never experienced before. Let's just say my track record in dating hasn't been that great, so when I started dating a genuinely good person, I was a little confused. I'm an open book in the songwriting room and also love every part of collaborating with other writers and producers.
SH: Do you have any advice for anyone who is wary that the new person in their life is "too nice"?
CALLA: If I was giving advice to a friend on dating someone they think is "too nice," I would say, "I know it seems weird at first, but nothing feels better than knowing your heart is in the hands of someone who wants to cherish it."
SH: What's your favorite lyric from the track? Why?
CALLA: My favorite lyric from "Too Nice" is, "I'm used to guys who don't call when they say they will, chase me, catch me, let me go for the thrill." I choose this line because I think a lot of people can relate to being treated wrong in relationships. If I was able to find someone who respects and cares about me, then I pray that it gives other people hope and strength to not put up with that behavior and that they too kind find someone "too nice."
SH: Who are some of your biggest musical influences at the moment?
CALLA: I listen and am influenced by many styles of music, but recently I've been loving Holly Humberstone and FLETCHER!
SH: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
CALLA: One of the main reasons I started doing music was because I know how much it has changed my life. I was always able to find comfort and healing and learned to love my authentic self just by listening to music. I want to create the same feeling for my listeners and to let them know that they're not alone in any obstacle they go through.
Love discovering the stories behind the songs? Click HERE to read our interview with hip-hop sensation Brooklyn Queen on the meaning of her new song, "Crop 'em Out."