The twentieth annual Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day Presented by Hess took place on Saturday, August 29 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York.
One of the celebrity guests was 19-year-old Alessia Cara, whose debut EP on Def Jam Four Pink Walls, made major waves this week. It is amazing. You have probably heard her “anti-social pessimist party” anthem titled “Here,” but if you haven’t, check it out now:
Cara performed on the Hess Festival Stage at AAKD. The Knockturnal chatted with the talented songstress on the court after her set.
Your new EP has been one of the buzziest events of the week. How does it feel to get all this love?
AC: Oh my gosh, it feels amazing especially today when I performed. People were singing the words to the songs that just came out and that’s the best feeling ever to see people who know the words, you know?
And you shot the music videos for the songs yourself and it was shot in selfie mode for a few. Can you speak about the inspiration and the vision for your videos?
AC: So initially, — you know when you put out audio on YouTube it’s just a picture or something and then it says audio, right? But I felt for a video that would be pretty boring to have to just stare at a picture the whole time, so I asked my label, ‘Guys, I think we should do something different. I would like to record some videos and stuff.’ And they were like, ‘yeah, let’s do it!’ And so I got my iPhone – my crappy iPhone quality and used it and I did whatever I thought was cool for the whole theme of the song. So in “I’m Yours,” it’s about not wanting to fall in love with someone and so I had my brother pretend to be a stalker and stalk me and chase me. And so, yeah, I kind of wanted to play off of what the song means and just a visual for people to look at.
Let’s talk about Drake. What was it like meeting Drake?
AC: Oh it was so cool. He is one of the nicest guys ever and he is so amazing and smart and it was just so cool to talk to him. I am a huge fan.
Can you speak about the key producers and collaborators from your EP?
AC: So the producers for the EP – there’s more on the album but for this specific EP it was Kuya Productions from Toronto, Pop & Oak – they are really cool, they produce for Nicki Minaj and a whole bunch of people, and also we have one song with Al English, who is from England which is why his name is Al English, so I got to do one song with him as well.
Who are some people that you would dream to collaborate with?
AC: Oh wow … I think my biggest would be Ed Sheeran, Amy Winehouse if she were alive that would be awesome, Drake, Frank Ocean, that would be sick too.
Four Pink Walls is available everywhere and we are very excited for her debut album Know It All, which will be out this fall.
