Opening up new doors with Pink
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(CNN) -- With the release of her third album, "Try This," Pink is ready to have some fun.
The eclectic 24-year-old pop star, born Alecia Moore, offers a harder rock sound on her latest record, which was mostly co-written and produced by Rancid frontman Tim Armstrong.
Pink's successful second album, "M!ssundaztood," was produced in close collaboration with her idol, former 4 Non Blondes leader Linda Perry. Pink found the confessional aspect of that album both therapeutic and draining and looks forward to getting outside of herself a little more on the "Try This" tour.
Perry also collaborated on several tracks, and Pink is happy with the varied influences.
"Linda brought out a lot in me that I wasn't expecting," she said. "And Tim was just kind of excited. It was just new blood, new life. It was very cool to work with him."
TMR sat down with Pink to chat about the album and what it's like to take musical risks.
TMR: Can you tell me why "Try This" was easier for you than "M!ssundaztood"? I read that it was not as emotionally draining for you to write this.
PINK: You got serious quick. "M!ssundaztood" -- I was exorcising my demons. It was just that when me and Linda [Perry's] world collided two years ago it created a thunderstorm and that was "M!ssundaztood." And this time around -- I mean singing "Family Portrait" every day for two years was emotionally draining for me. I couldn't go on automatic pilot with that 'cause it was my life.
And it was awesome -- I don't regret it at all -- but for this album, I decided to talk about other people instead of myself. But it is still autobiographical, it's just not as painful. There is pain in life, but there is also beauty and fun too and I wanted to kind of remember that.
TMR: What mood did you want on this CD? Obviously you were telling me that the other one was emotional for you, but did you have in mind something you wanted to lay down when you went to record "Try This"?
PINK: No, when I was recording "Try This" I had no plan. I never really know what is going to happen. I kind of wake up in the morning scared. You know, what if I have nothing to say? What if I don't get it? What if inspiration doesn't come? And sometimes I will be in the bathtub and I'll start singing a song and it will end up as the first single or something. It's just very weird with me.
I am not very good with plans because they always break, somehow. I just knew I didn't -- I had a better live aspect in my head. I had never toured before "M!ssundaztood." And then I toured, and I was like "God, it's nice to sing 'Family Portrait' and cry every night. That's therapeutic, but I want to have some fun too." So that's kind of what was in my head for "Try This" -- like I want to have some fun too.
TMR: Are you going to have more faith in your talent?
PINK: No. I don't know. I guess. I have more faith in my gut instincts for sure. I have more faith in winning battles. And more faith in taking chances because they are worth it whether they succeed or not, you know? That was the beauty of "M!ssundaztood." The recording process was so beautiful to me. It was [where] for the first time in my life anticipation met reality. And I didn't care what anybody thought. Nobody could ever take that away from me. And then it went on to be successful so it was kind of like a double whammy -- 'I told you so, thank you.' It was good times.
TMR: Is this the first time you have written love songs?
PINK: Yeah. "Can't Take Me Home," the first album, was hate songs. "M!ssundaztood" was, I don't know, confusion. And "Try This," it is the first love song I have ever written. But it's not -- I always said I will never write a love song. It's not 'I love you, let's get married, you're my prince, you're my night in shining armor.' It's more about the fear of being vulnerable and what comes along with it. And do all things end? You know, I have never written a love song before that didn't end in tears. 'Are you going to rewrite my love song for me?' And that's pretty much what I'm saying.
TMR: Was it OK to put your heart on your sleeve?
PINK: I think so. I always have. I have made a lot of mistakes with it, but my dad always said "Always be true to yourself and tell the truth. You won't have many friends, but you won't have any enemies because people will always know where you're coming from." And that's true. I can count my friends on one hand but they are really good.
TMR: When you reflect on "Try This" and "M!ssundaztood" how have you changed as an artist?
PINK: Um, I don't know that I have changed really from album to album, I have just opened up new doors, you know? I guess I am a little more confident in taking chances. But I kind of always was. I like the chance of failing. I like the risk -- it keeps you going, it keeps you on your toes.
