The San Francisco Pride performer talks Pride, her new album and what makes Jessica Alba so hot!
Kaci Battaglia, the former child star who took a break from the music industry to grow up, is now back and hotter than ever and although the golden skinned diva is straight (I know ladies sad, but true) her singles are playing in gay clubs around the country. The singer-songwriter has had several top 10 singles including her hit “Crazy Possessive” which has become a dance club staple and has an album due out this fall. We sat down with the 21-year-old singer, who describes herself as being similar to Lady Gaga, Britney Spears or Rihanna, hours before she performed at this year’s San Francisco Pride to talk about growing up in the limelight, her soon-to-be-released album and her stance on gay marriage.
How does it feel to be an overnight success?
That’s so funny to hear because I’ve been in this industry forever…I had a couple of top 10 hits overseas when I was like 13, which was just fantastic…then came home and was normal. Being in this industry, it’s so volatile. You really don’t know if you’re ever going to have any income, you don’t know—there’s just no stability to it, but you know it’s such a great life and I have such a passion for it that I miss[ed] it so bad that I finally broke down just last year, and I was just like, I absolutely have to get back into this…ever since then things have just been going and going and going. I went from song writing and getting the publishing deal to writing “Crazy Possessive.”
You said you took a break for a while up until this past year, what was going on with you during that time?
That’s when I really realized I was developing a sound, like what do I want my next album to be like? I was growing, experiencing, I was going through a lot personally, and it was coming out in my music. [Laughs] I was getting more angry and more aggressive and all of a sudden I was getting into this rock feel. That was when I realized I could write because it was a way of me kind of dealing, you know, venting, but in a beautiful, productive way and end up with some great songs.
Touring and living out of a suitcase most of the time must be tough, how do you deal with that?
I’m getting to live my dreams. I wake up every day happy with my life because I am doing what I love. It’s tough being away from people that you love the most because I am a family person and I’m very close with the people I’m close with, whether it’s my friends or my family. So for me to break out of that, yeah, it’s tough. How are you supposed to have a relationship or keep in touch with your best friends? It can definitely be kind of isolating.
Is this your first Pride performance?
I performed at a Pride Parade when I was 15, in Hyde Park in London, and the crowd was huge. I mean it was over a 100,000, it was just a sea of people…The high you get from seeing that is amazing, so hopefully there will be a lot of people [at the San Francisco Pride Parade]. I think this is when I really get back into it, kind of kicking everything off.
How do you feel about gay marriage?
I’m straight, but I love all people and I love when people can be proud of who they are, can be open and happy and at peace. I don’t see why you shouldn’t be able to get married. I love the gay community, personally. I feel, I’m proud to be here and to stand strong with them and I would love to see that go through, I think they have a right to.
You grew up in a very religious home. Does your family accept your current lifestyle?
I remember describing it as my “coming out” in a sense, but I don’t want to confuse people—I kind of feel like that because you feel like you’ve been hidden, like you’re not allowed to be who you are, express how you really feel inside, and then for me to come out and say “here it is world,” you know.
Have you ever had a “Katy Perry” moment and kissed a girl?
I’m going to plead the fifth. [Laughs] I like to keep my private life private.
What celebrity would you pick to be your first female kiss?
Jessica Alba. I think she is beautiful inside and out and a progressive thinker from what I’ve read and I love it.
If you had to describe your new album, what would you say about it?
Whether it’s musically or lyrically, it’s going to be a little bit diverse, it’s definitely going to have spectrum. Whether it’s being a little bit rhythmic, being a little bit rock, getting the electric sound in there or whether it’s talking about love or talking about some of the other topics I’ve opened up to. Hopefully people will be able to dance to it and have a great time.