Alessia Cara Chats About Her Work In The Netflix Animated Movie, "The Willoughbys"
When the four Willoughby children are abandoned by their selfish parents, they must learn how to adapt their old-fashioned values to the contemporary world in order to create a new and modern family. Based on the book by Newbery Award-winning author, Lois Lowry, Netflix's "The Willoughbys" is a highly stylized CG animated feature film starring Ricky Gervais, Maya Rudolph, Will Forte, Martin Short, Alessia Cara and Jane Krakowski.
Video Transcript
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MATT FORTE: Hello, world. What is up? Welcome to "Build at Home." I'm your host, Matt Forte. I'm coming to you from my home, as is our next guest, who I am beyond thrilled to talk to. But first, before we get started, something incredibly important. Kids in need have missed more than 800 million meals due to school closures. With nokidhungry.org, we're helping schools and community groups find new ways to feed these kids, but we need your support. Now I know it's super hard out there, but if you happen to be someone in a position to give a little bit, then I would urge you to take a look at nokidhungry.org to see some of the amazing work that they're doing to help feed these kids, all right? Thanks, guys.
Our next guest is a Grammy award winning singer songwriter and actor. And in just a few short days, you can catch her starring alongside Will Forte, Maya Rudolph, Martin Short, Terry Crews, Jane Krakowski, and Ricky Gervais, just to name a few in the fantastic new animated film, "The Willoughbys." The movie premieres this Wednesday, April 22 on Netflix. It is genuinely wonderful.
Speaking of genuinely wonderful, please welcome our next guest, the crazy talented Aleesia Carr is here, everybody. Alessia, hello.
ALESSIA CARA: Hey, that's a great intro. Thank you so much.
MATT FORTE: Why, thank you.
ALESSIA CARA: [INAUDIBLE]
MATT FORTE: You did all that stuff that made that great, so thank you. And thank you for being here or there, as it were. It's super awesome to have you on the show. And I'm excited to talk to you. Congrats on this film, a dream realized. We're going to get into it. Super excited to dig into it. But first and foremost, of course, just how are you? How are you holding up? How is life on the inside? How is quarantine treating you? Are you doing all right?
ALESSIA CARA: Doing OK, yeah. I think it depends on the day. Some days are a little bit tougher than others. I think, you know, it's-- it's very easy to worry in this time. You know, it's not the easiest to, like, stay calm, I guess, if that makes sense. But same time, I'm trying to like you know find different things to do and see the silver lining in all of it, and see it as a time to spend with my family. And do things I normally wouldn't have time to do like cook and watch movies I didn't get to watch or read books and stuff. So it's been all right.
MATT FORTE: I want to I want to dig into all of those things. But I saw you-- just this past Friday, you were performing, I think it was Billboard Live at Home Series, right? How'd that go?
ALESSIA CARA: It went well. My internet connection wasn't the greatest, so hopefully, it'll work better now. But I was, like, people were having trouble like hearing me. But other than that, it was fun. It was cool. We raised some money for a good cause.
MATT FORTE: It's pretty amazing. You also did a Lockdown Live for Global Citizen. And then just talking about No Kid Hungry at the top, you sang some nursery rhymes for them recently, which was really cool, as well. And I was curious, just like as someone who, like, I think it's almost been a decade now-- it was nearly 10 years ago-- you got your start just kind of singing into the internet. How have these at home concerts felt different? Or have they felt different? Does it kind of feel like a return to form? How has it felt doing all these things?
ALESSIA CARA: It's definitely a strange world. I mean, I am used to singing to cameras a bunch, because like you said, I got my start doing that. But this is different because it's live, and usually, my version of performing live is in front of people and you can feed off of energy. But you're just kind of singing to a screen with comments popping up. And it's sort of scary. I mean, I find it very difficult to, like, talk to a camera not having any person respond. It's a strange thing. But I think it's great that we get to do our part as artists and, like, provide some entertainment for people at home, and hopefully make people's days a little bit easier, I guess.
MATT FORTE: Yeah, for sure. Well, if the comments are any indication, you're doing exactly that. And so that's very cool to see. Something I've been asking every artist that I've gotten a chance to talk to you, really, is, like, have you-- has this experience-- like, have you seen it impact yet how or what you write about or just in general, like, how you behave creatively? Have you even felt creative with everything going on? Like, how is that part of your brain been sort of behaving these days?
ALESSIA CARA: I guess on one hand, it's a little challenging because there is this lack of new experiences. So the only thing you can pull from is self-reflection, which actually, you can find a lot in there if you really-- if you really look for it. So I think I've been having fun with, like, digging really deep into my thoughts. And, like, since it's such a transitional period, and there's a lot of uncertainty, there's actually a lot of emotion that comes with that feeling. So I think just, like, pulling from that and, like, writing about this in-between space where in has been sort of interesting. But I would like to get to real experiences again very soon, because that's a lot easier to write about.
MATT FORTE: For sure, for sure. You mentioned just a moment ago you've been watching tons of stuff, cooking a lot of stuff. That's the big question is, what have you been watching? You know, as someone who's got this wonderful film that's going to come out, a lot of people are looking forward to watching that, what are you escaping with? What are you watching?
ALESSIA CARA: So I've been watching a lot of Netflix, as we all are. It's been a life saver. But I just started the show called "Money Heist." I don't know if you've seen it.
MATT FORTE: Ooh, I've seen the thumbnail for it. I haven't watched it yet.
ALESSIA CARA: You should. You should. The thumbnail caught me, too, and my family is already way ahead of me. And they're like, you got to see this. But it's-- it's so good. It's, like-- I mean, you know the title, "Money Heist." It's about a money heist. But it's in Spanish, overdubbed. What-- really love it. And then I'm kind of like on the "Tiger King" tip, as everybody else is, as well. It's really good. I'm not even finished it yet.
MATT FORTE: How far into that madness have you descended? How many episodes have you watched so far?
ALESSIA CARA: I think I'm on episode six. I know there are seven. I think now there are eight, though. There's a new one that--
MATT FORTE: Yeah, they put out, like, a post show, Joel McHale interviews some of them and stuff, which is all right. But, like, the real meat is part seven. Yeah, you're right in the thick of it.
ALESSIA CARA: [INAUDIBLE]. And what a ride. I did not think it was going to take that turn.
MATT FORTE: Nobody did.
ALESSIA CARA: Yeah, it's [INAUDIBLE].
MATT FORTE: It's one of those things where you think you know what that show is about for, like, 10 minutes, and then something new pops up. And then you think, OK, well, then it's about this. And it's like, nope, not that, either. There's 18 other things that the show is about.
ALESSIA CARA: It's about, exactly.
MATT FORTE: It's wild. Yeah.
ALESSIA CARA: It's very wild. Yeah, I wouldn't even know how to describe it. I've been trying to describe it to my mom. She's, like, what's it about? I'm, like, I don't know. I just-- you have to watch it. I don't even know what it's about.
MATT FORTE: Yeah, exactly. Whereas "Money Heist," two words, you know you're getting into. "Tiger King," you have no idea what it is. Like, the title is not at all applicable, really. I wanted to ask you-- you mentioned you know, cooking a lot. I saw on Kelly and Ryan, you're talking about your hot wings that you made, which looked really good. What's become your go-to meals? What are your, like, I gotta eat dinner tonight, what are we cooking? Like, what's your favorite thing that you've tried so far that you've made?
ALESSIA CARA: Well, this was my mom's invention, I can't take credit for it. But she basically, like, folds pizzas, and then puts them in like, a deep fryer, and they come out like these like little pizza Hot Pockets that are fried, and fluffy, and delicious. They're so good. You have to try them. They're amazing. And we've had them way too many times already. They're so bad for you, but so good. And yeah, it's like-- it's like a little pizza pocket that's like fried and doughy and amazing.
MATT FORTE: OK, so walk me through. It's pizza dough, I imagine, right?
ALESSIA CARA: Yeah. So regular-- so as if you're making a regular little mini pizza.
MATT FORTE: OK.
ALESSIA CARA: Like, a personal-- smaller than a personal size. Like that small.
MATT FORTE: OK.
ALESSIA CARA: Then you know your sauce, whatever you want on it. And then you fold it, make sure it's, like, totally closed around, otherwise, it will pop open.
MATT FORTE: Pop open, yeah.
ALESSIA CARA: Yeah. So then you, like, squeeze it down, put a lot of hot vegetable oil, like, a pot, essentially. And drop it in there. And until it'll just, like, grow, and get huge. And then you eat it. And it's delicious.
MATT FORTE: It sounds like a delicious magical combination of, like, an empanada, and, like, a Hot Pocket, and, like, a calzone, like, all rolled into one happy little food pocket. That sounds great.
ALESSIA CARA: Yeah, they're so good. I don't know if you like pizza, but you should definitely, definitely try it.
MATT FORTE: First of all, I haven't met someone yet who doesn't like pizza, but even if you don't, that sounds like something anyone could enjoy, frankly. That sounds amazing.
ALESSIA CARA: Yeah. It's just bread. How do you not like bread, really?
MATT FORTE: Yeah, who doesn't like bread? I've been talking to a lot of artists, especially those who make music that so many fans listen to and find comfort in. And I think you definitely fall in that category if you look at all the feedback and a lot of the comments you get. A lot of people love your sound and your voice, and they're turning to it, and they're finding comfort in it. Is there a record or an artist that you turn to that, like, you can always count on that when things are crazy, like, I'm going to listening to this record right now? Just this is going to help me center myself. And that's, like, your go-to like, space? Does that exist?
ALESSIA CARA: Totally, yeah. I think it's, like, a mixture of different artists. But Coldplay-- Chris Martin's writing is phenomenal. But Coldplay has always been a band that I go to, especially the earlier stuff. And also, they just put out a record recently that's so good. And it's very socially conscious, and it's just-- it's just great. It's really great to listen to you to calm me down in these times. I think it's really beautiful and inspiring. And I can always count on Chris Martin for that, like, ease, you know?
MATT FORTE: Yeah, it blew me away the other night-- he played-- he was playing "Yellow," and he said in his little introduction on, like, the big concert I was on TV-- he was, like, this song is about 20 years old. And I'm like, what? Like, I immediately-- I forgot everything else that was going on around me. It was like that scene in "Ratatouille" where, like, the camera zooms in, and he's suddenly, like, a child again. He said it was 20 years old, and, like, my whole world stopped. It blew my mind.
ALESSIA CARA: It's crazy.
MATT FORTE: I couldn't process how long those guys have been around.
ALESSIA CARA: I know, seriously.
MATT FORTE: Very, very cool. Well, look, I am-- we're not done, but I just want to stop and say just, like, thank you for sharing all those experiences and letting us get a little look into what's going on your side. I really appreciate that. And I'm happy that you're doing all right, and that you're safe, and you're healthy, and everyone around you seems to be like that. That's what you want to hear. So cheers. Keep doing what you're doing.
ALESSIA CARA: Thanks.
MATT FORTE: But let's talk a little bit about this movie, because it is genuinely fantastic. I got a chance to watch it a couple of nights ago, and I absolutely loved it.
ALESSIA CARA: Thank you.
MATT FORTE: And I can't-- I can't talk about this movie without bringing up the story on how you came to actually be in it and play Jane. For those that haven't heard of you that aren't familiar, how did this all come together for you.
ALESSIA CARA: Yeah, so it's kind of an interesting story. I feel like a lot of the things I've done in my career have come from manifesting in some way. So this particularly, I was on Jimmy Fallon, and he just asked me, like, all right, let's just make a wish? What do you want to do in the future? And I was, like, I want to be in an animated film. And we kind of put it out there. We did like a little ritual just for fun. We didn't think, obviously, anything would come of it.
But shortly after, not too long after, I got an email from BRON Studios, and they're like, hey, we saw your interview. We have this movie coming up and this character that we think would be perfect for you. Do you want to play her? I was, like, yes. I read the script, it was so funny, it was so great. And then I saw the cast that was part of it, I'm, like, this is-- I don't even belong in this thing. Like, this [INAUDIBLE].
MATT FORTE: Yes, you do.
ALESSIA CARA: It was such an easy yes. Thank you. But it was a very easy yes. I was, like, absolutely.
MATT FORTE: Of course. And it's so amazing because I see that stuff all the time said on the show before, it's why I never miss an opportunity, even this one right here, to say at some point we're going to interview Dwayne The Rock Johnson on this show. It's a matter of time and scheduling. I just keep putting it out there.
ALESSIA CARA: [INAUDIBLE]
MATT FORTE: What was your reaction when it worked? Because, like, it happened pretty fast. These things, you have to sort of think positively, like you said, and put it out there and manifest it. But it happened pretty fast. Like, that almost never happened. Like, it turned around really quick. When you got that phone call, did you think was a joke? Did you believe it?
ALESSIA CARA: Definitely. Yeah, it's just one of those things. I mean, I always just like to just fake it till I make it. I think that's the truth, because I am the most, like, self-deprecating person. I'm always-- like, in my personal life, I don't have the best luck, and I'm like very negative in that way. But then when it comes to my career, I've always just, like, said stuff not really thinking much of it, and that's always the stuff that comes through. So I always feel like you gotta just don't think-- like, don't think about it. Just, like, say it, leave it, let it sit. And that's always the stuff that'll come to you when you least expect it, when you least think about it.
MATT FORTE: Yeah.
ALESSIA CARA: I'm like so-- I overthink everything in my personal life, and that never works out. So I've got to start applying the career stuff to the life stuff.
MATT FORTE: Yeah, yeah, for sure. You've tested the theory here in the career world. Now you're going to move it over there, do it in the personal world. It'll be perfect. You'll be all set.
ALESSIA CARA: Exactly.
MATT FORTE: So first film, first animated voiceover. Huge deal. Were you nervous at all? How did you prepare? How'd you get ready? You read the script, what else did you do?
ALESSIA CARA: You know what, it was one of those things I just-- I didn't know what to expect, so I just jumped in. I didn't have any friends that I could turn to, so I was like, you know what, I'm just going to do it. Again, try not to think too much about it. But it was great, because I feel like there there's less pressure that way just going into it sort of blind. And thankfully, like, the creators of this whole thing right there-- whether it was through Skype or in the room when they were, like, guiding me through it, and sort of teaching me the ways, which was really fun. So it worked really well.
MATT FORTE: Yeah. And, like, all-- at the end of the day, this is your first experience like this, but also, you're a musician. You've been behind microphones and booths for years now, so technically, the landscape shouldn't have been too crazy. But what-- was there-- like, what was the biggest difference or surprise of the process?
ALESSIA CARA: I guess I always knew that, you know, animation took a long time. That was something I kind of, you know, had knowledge of, but you don't really realize how long actually it takes. I started filming three years ago.
MATT FORTE: Wow.
ALESSIA CARA: So it's crazy, like, how long it takes, and how nuanced everything is. And, like, it's just crazy, because even, like, the script evolves, and the character evolves. Like, she started as a totally different person than she is now, so you have to adjust the script over time to fit that. So I think her age was different when we first started. She started as a seven-year-old, and then they changed it to 12 or something. So now it's, like-- I don't know, it just evolves. And I didn't realize how much time that took and how much work goes into that evolution, right?
MATT FORTE: That's crazy. As it was changing, would they call you back in to, like, redo certain parts, and, like, hey, we modified this, and now we kind of need you to do this scene over again, but like this way now? Did that happen often? Or was it more, like, you would change as they would change? Like, how did that work?
ALESSIA CARA: Yeah, it was definitely a lot that. They would have some highlighted parts of the script I had already done. And, like, could you read these. And yeah, it was a lot of that back and forth of, like, hey, could you-- and it was crazy, because they kind of had to chase me around the world, because I was touring, too, which I feel so bad about, because I just was always in a different place. So I think that's also why it took a while, too, because I was, like, traveling everywhere. But we made it work.
MATT FORTE: That's wild. So did they-- would they, like, find a location that was whatever place you were touring, and they're, like, OK, there's a studio here, we can get Alessia in on Tuesday or something? How did they follow you around the world? Did they send you gear? Like, how did that work?
ALESSIA CARA: Yes, Kris-- Kris Pearn, the director, the main guy in this whole thing, who's a genius, he came to a lot of the cities that I was performing in, and found the studio, and would be there with me, which was so helpful, and so [INAUDIBLE] of him to do. But then sometimes, I would follow them. I'd meet them in places. It was kind of like, a back and forth--
MATT FORTE: That's amazing.
ALESSIA CARA: --of Working out the long distance relationship for three years. But it was great. It worked out.
MATT FORTE: That's pretty-- that's an incredible process. I don't know that I've heard specifically that one before, where they followed you all over the globe to get it done. That's pretty amazing. Traditionally-- and I think I know based on that story, I know the answer to this-- but traditionally, when you do an animated project, for a million reasons, you never really get to meet or work with your co-stars. Just the nature of how these things are put together, the amount of time, yadda, yadda. Did you get a chance to talk to at any point any of your star-- Will Forte, Martin Short, Maya Rudolph. Did of your paths cross for any reason serendipitously somehow throughout any of this or no, not yet?
ALESSIA CARA: No, unfortunately. It's such a tease, because you're in a movie with them. And it's like in the movie, I'm, like, talking to them, but I have no idea-- like, I've never had a conversation with them. It's such a tease. I'm such a huge fan of theirs, too. And I was-- I had my fingers crossed for the premiere. But unfortunately, obviously, that couldn't happen. So, hopefully, we get to do something again or at some point in the future, because I would love to talk to them. I think they're so great.
MATT FORTE: Yeah, for sure. What was it like-- I mean, talk about three years in the making. What was, like, the first time you saw-- have you seen? I would assume you've seen it by now.
ALESSIA CARA: I have, yeah. I've seen a few versions, which is kind of cool.
MATT FORTE: Oh really?
ALESSIA CARA: Like the [INAUDIBLE] animated-- yeah, like some of the animation wasn't done yet, which is really cool to watch too, actually.
MATT FORTE: Very, very-- what was it like the first time you saw, like, it all kind of come together, and you saw, like, you know, your character brought to life-- your voice through this little adorable red yarn haired creature and all these different things? What was it like to witness that?
ALESSIA CARA: It's crazy. It's such a trip. I mean, you, like-- I guess when it's you, it's hard to, one, like, separate yourself from that. But then at the same time, it's so crazy to see this thing that was once just a drawing, like, now a person, who has, like, their own personality. And, like, your voice is the vessel for that now. It's such a weird thing to process, but so cool. It's, like, one of the coolest I've ever done.
MATT FORTE: Yeah. Well, I can't say it enough. It's really just a fantastic film. I really enjoyed it. And I'm excited for the rest of the world to see it. We're coming in the homestretch, so I got to wrap things up. But it's April 22. It's going to be on. Netflix everyone can see it. "The Willoughbys." I think everyone's really talking about it. It's so much fun.
Before we get out of here, I want to ask one last question. This whole thing began with you putting a wish out into the universe. And let's contextualize this question. Obviously, right now, the primary wishes everybody gets the equipment they need, and everybody's safe, and we get to return to normal. That's the big wish. We all have that. Let's put that wish over here for a second and let's just have fun. I think it's still important to have fun, and dream, and look ahead.
So what is the next animated movie wish? What's the next big thing on the list? You got your Grammy. You started an animated movie. What else is on Alessia's list now? What's the next big thing that you want to put in to the universe?
ALESSIA CARA: Oh my gosh, so many things that I still love to do. Let me think.
MATT FORTE: You don't have to pick one. You've got a big career ahead of you.
ALESSIA CARA: Well, thanks. Let me think. OK, so first thing-- well, I mean, this is music-related, but I've been writing a lot. And so I hope that I can make like my best album so far in this quarantine. That's my biggest wish, because I just-- I don't know. I'm just really excited to write. I'm really inspired. So I want to beat all my other records creatively and feel proud of myself.
And then I would love to travel to Brazil. It's been my dream to go there. And I know my fans have wanted me to go there for years and have never had the chance to, but it's, like, one of my dreams to go to Brazil. So that's thing--
MATT FORTE: That's awesome.
ALESSIA CARA: --I'm putting out there. Once this is all over, obviously.
MATT FORTE: Exactly. When this whole thing gets to wherever it's heading, and we all get there together, and everything's whatever normal is, then I look forward to you being able to make that trip, as do, I'm sure, a ton of your fans out there. I want to thank you so much again for hanging out, taking some time to do this-- this weird thing that we're all pretending is normal. And I really appreciate it. And congratulations on the movie again.
I want to remind everyone out there watching to check the movie out. It's going to be on Netflix this Wednesday, "The Willoughbys." I also want to remind you if you've been watching the beginning, nokidhungry.org is an awesome organization. Check them out as well and see if you could pitch in. Alessia, before we go, anything else you want to say to everybody before we get out of here?
ALESSIA CARA: I mean, I don't know, man, this is weird. It's a crazy time. Let's just all fingers crossed that this-- we'll come out of this having learned something at the very least. It's the least we can do with everything going on. So yeah, thanks for everything. Thanks for having me.
MATT FORTE: Of course.
ALESSIA CARA: And yeah--
MATT FORTE: Thank you for being you and doing what you're doing. Keep on going. Stay safe, stay inside. Everybody out there, wash your hands. Thank you so much. Wherever you are, hopefully it's home, make some noise, and celebrate the great Alessia Cara here for hanging out with us. Thank you, everybody.
ALESSIA CARA: Thank you.
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