Interview: Butterfly Boucher Enjoys Making Music Again

What happens when a female singer/songwriter grows up in Australia, lives in London, resides in Nashville, plays all of her own instruments, writes her own material and wears her heart on her sleeve when it comes to being honest with her lyrics? Well in this case what happens is you get "Scary Fragile", the second disc from Butterfly Boucher. Butterfly Boucher is an indie rock singer/songwriter with a disarming quality and charm. She can indeed play most instruments and she does just that on her latest disc. She can be humorous with her metaphors (Gun for a Tongue) or down right haunting and moving (Bitter Song). Boucher has an honest quality that weaves its way into her songwriting. She's ok with making herself vulnerable to the listener and that's a very rare characteristic in this modern music industry.

Boucher is hitting the road to promote "Scary Fragile" and I had the absolute pleasure of getting a chance to chat with her about her latest disc and her ups and downs in the music industry.

Associated Content: So you are the middle child in a family of seven correct? And everyone plays an instrument or is involved in some way with the arts?

Butterfly Boucher: Yes. I have three older sisters and three younger sisters and I am right in the middle and yeah, everyone is some type of artist...it actually would have been scandalous to not be involved some how with music or art in my family. I would have been the rebel had I gone on to be a doctor or lawyer! HA!

AC: You have had some serious highs and lows with regards to the music business. What keeps you going?

BB: Well my parents are very supportive...my dad was in a number of bands and he had the same issues. I mean he told me early on, this is great if this is the path you want to take but it's going to be really, really hard...he knew the ins and outs of the industry...you can't let the industry stuff get you down. If you do you will just get beat up and you will quit. I have had some tough times, but right now I really enjoy making music again!

AC: Talk to me about your friendship/support from Sara McLaughlin. How has she helped you??

BB: She has been a big supporter! The main way she was able to help me was she took me on tour as her opening act. I opened her US/Canada tour. She also invited me to tour with her in Europe and Australia. It was great. That was my first time playing Australia as a solo act...it was a great opportunity!

AC: I believe you also have a story about Madonna possibly wanting to work with you. In fact I hear it's a rather funny story about you not recognizing her! Care to elaborate?

BB: HA, HA!!! Yeah...so I finished my first disc Flutterby and I was shopping it around to different labels. Many of the labels I dealt with wanted to change the sound of the record and I was not going to let that happen. One of the labels that had shown interest was Madonna's label, Maverick Records. I was called in for a meeting and I was told that she might actually be there. At the time I wore glasses and I couldn't afford contacts. I knew that if I showed up to these meetings wearing glasses I might get pigeonhole as a particular kind of artist so for the meetings I would not wear them at all! I walked into my meeting with a representative from Maverick and there was this woman in the room. I just figured she was an assistant so I said hello and introduced myself. Then someone said, "Butterfly, this is Madonna!" It was crazy...about a year later after the incident I was in a diner and I put some songs on a jukebox and some Madonna tunes started playing...it was then that it hit me that I had actually met Madonna!

AC: My only wish is that you would have asked her to get you some water!

BB: HA...yeah right! I didn't end up going with her label but I did hear that my disc was in her top 3 favorite cds that year!

AC: With the exception of the drums, you played all the instruments on your latest disc and you worked with producer David Kahne (Paul McCartney, The Strokes). What was that like? Did you set out to play all the instruments? Did he try and "change" your songs?

BB: Working with David Kahne was great! He's known for only working with artists who he feels has something special so I was flattered just to be in the studio with him. In the beginning he had a very packed schedule...I had to go into pre-production on my own for seven months. That's how I ended up playing all the instruments...it just happened...I turned in the demos and he liked the ideas and how everything sounded! We really were on the same page. He really respected my opinions and he was very supportive.

AC: There is an honesty and a vulnerability that is pervasive throughout Scary Fragile. What compels you to be so honest in your music?

BB: When I go to a show and see an artist really try and say something...when I see someone really make themselves vulnerable, it inspires me to go home and just be honest with the songs I write...I mean when an artist does that, when they give of themselves like that, it's a gift. I am glad that my honesty comes through in my music...I hope it does...It's not about just writing a pop song...I want what I sing to have meaning.

AC: One of your most moving songs, "Bitter Song" was featured on a TV show. Is this the way for new up and coming artists to be heard?

BB: Yeah, it's funny but TV and film have become the new radio. As I kid I used to dream about getting a hit song on the radio but nowadays radio, for the most part is not trying to do anything new or groundbreaking...the music supervisors for TV and Film are the people who are willing to take a chance on something new and different. My music has been featured in a few TV shows and Films. "Bitter Song" was used on an episode of Grey's Anatomy and for me that was huge. It gave the song exposure and a visual without me having to make a video.

AC: Can I assume you will be touring this summer to promote Scary Fragile?

BB: Well that's the plan! I will be doing some shows and even doing some in studio stuff with some radio stations...I like staying busy!

If you are in the mood for a new artist who is busy making honest, compelling music then look no further than Butterfly Boucher.