Sara Bareilles opens up to Women’s Health on the pressures to be thin

The story behind the hit single “Love Song”:

“The label just wasn’t excited about the songs I was turning in, and I’d really started questioning my ability. One day, on the way to my rehearsal space, I said a little prayer asking for help in writing. No one was telling me to write a hit – no one was telling me to write a long song-but I knew that’s what they wanted.”

On the subjects/past loves in her songs:

“No-I might be a shit talker in real life, but I’m not out to bash people in my songs. I’m writing about emotions. But you can’t date a songwriter and not expect to end up in there somewhere.”

On dealing with the success:

“Everything has been slow and steady, which is perfect. It’s not overwhelming. If I had been an overnight success, I probably would have pulled a Britney and ended up in the loony bin. The focus is still on the music, not me.”

On being able to stay down-to-earth in the limelight:

“Yes, to a certain extent. I put myself in other people’s shoes; I get really sad for people. Sometimes it takes me a place that emotionally I don’t need to go. The women in my family are all super-emotional. The catchphrase in our family is ‘Listen to my words, not my tears.’ We had a cousins’ weekend where you might as well have turned on a faucet. It was just hilarious.”

On her tech-savvy career launch:

“You couldn’t find a less technologically inclined person. I don’t have a BlackBerry. I don’t know how to program my phone. I don’t have a TiVo. I don’t know how to work anything. But things are changing…”

On her favorite songs, song-writers:

“Chicago with Peter Cetera-such great songs. Paul Simon, I still love. I get drawn to melody and words I can understand. Storytelling is so important. That’s what I listen to. I love Death Cab for Cutie and Ben Gibbard (the band’s lead singer), and Adam Duritz and Counting Crows. I do love Fiona, too.”

On meeting Fiona Apple:

“I saw her once. I was drunk; she seemed like she was drinking too. But I got up the courage to introduce myself. Then the next morning I was like, ‘uh-oh.’ Maybe I was hoping for a moment of connection, but really how can you explain what you’re about in 10 seconds? She was kind of blasé, and at the time I was a little crushed, but now I understand.”

On the pressures to be thin:

“I was a fat girl growing up, and had to change schools because kids were so mean. Even after my appearance changed, the nickname ‘Fat Girl’ stuck. Now when I get feedback on my appearance, I start to feel those same insecurities. I’ve had to put my foot down. I’m not up for people critiquing me, dressing me, or telling me how I look.”

“I’m comfortable (now), but I’m careful with what I eat. I’m still the pizza and hamburger girl, but I don’t do it a lot. It’s tough on the road when you pull off at the 97th truck stop of the day and have to choose between Wendy’s and McDonalds’s again. It’s challenging.”

Advice for customers as a former waitress:

“Yeah: Never piss off your waitress. Some of them will mess with your food. I never did, though. I grew up Catholic. Too much guilt.”

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