IML: First of all, tell us how you got your “big break!”

fan_3: When I was 13, I recorded a bunch of my songs on my lo-fi home studio setup and got one of them, “What They Gonna Think,” on the “Lizzie Maguire” soundtrack album. My parents weren’t sure if I was ready for the big time, but I went through a directory of managers and agents, contacted every one of them, sent them some demos and got one response. This manager brought me to Geffen Records and now I have a record deal.

IML: What do you have to say to people who say you’re white, you’re not black, and you don’t have the “right” to do hip hop?

fan_3: Kids like me who grow up in the San Fernando Valley, all we really hear is rap music, so I don’t think it’s anything big for a white girl from the suburbs to be doing it. I mean, that’s all I ever heard on the radio.

IML: Do you have a primary group you identify with?

fan_3: I love TLC and Destiny’s Child. I love groups that have three main people. That’s why my name is fan_3. But probably one of my favorite artists in the world is Alanis Morrisette. I just bought her Starbucks CD. It’s ridiculous. I’ve been playing it over and over.

IML: Do you have any advice for young songwriters out there?

fan_3: Don’t second guess yourself. If you’re really talented, in the end, that’s what shines through. You’ve just got to be persistent. I may not be one of the most talented people in the world, but I’m definitely one of the most persistent. People have a lot of things to do and there’s a lot on everyone’s mind. If you don’t get in their face, it’s easy for them to turn you away.

IML: What do you think it means for a girl to be strong?

fan_3: I think being a strong female means not taking the easy way out, just being a strong person, and it’s totally fine to not be so strong sometimes too. Not taking no for an answer and not second guessing yourself just because you’re a female. And not always having a chip on your shoulder and saying they’re not going to let me do this just because I’m a girl. You still try and you still fight.

IML: How do you think your music has helped you gain this confidence?

fan_3: I think a lot of it is rap music. One of the things I identify with most is the attitude of rap. It’s very sort of, check me out, I’m cool. And that’s kind of how I think. I think having people listen to my ideas and thoughts has really made me see I have to say exactly what I want to say because now’s the time people are listening.

IML: In your song “Broken Home,” you write about a girl going through her parents’ divorce. Is it pretty autobiographical?

fan_3: The dynamics of each family are different. That was kind of my story, but a little different. The song was about a girl going through the initial divorce, whereas I had more trouble going through the aftermath, the child support battles and stuff like that. I mean, I grew up pretty nice and that was the bad step along the record. I didn’t mean for the song to be this big emotional thing. But yeah, sometimes you’re in not such a great mood and your parents are fighting and you get dragged in the middle of it. It’s hard. I don’t know if that’s the truth for everyone, but I know it’s the truth for a lot of people.

IML: How about your brother?

fan_3: My brother helped me a lot. He’s older, so he could understand what was going on. I’m seventeen and he’s twenty. I tend to be the fireball and I tend to say whatever I want, whenever I want to, and it’s not a good thing. He helped me see both sides. You know, kind of like, don’t freak out, chill.

IML: Do you think it’s important to go through tough times to be an artist or musician?

fan_3: I think whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. It’s a cliché, but hey, what are you going to do? I’m glad for everything that’s happened.

IML: What do you think someone would be most surprised to hear about you?

fan_3: That I want to get really politically involved, especially when I’m older. Like Young Democrats. I think it’s important for kids to know what’s going on so they can make their own opinions. I don’t want to tell anybody what to think or who to vote for. I want them to get informed on their own. I mean, it’s our Social Security that’s going to get affected and it’s our way of living that’s going to be affected so we have to pay attention now so that it can be better later.

IML: Do you have a boyfriend?

fan_3: No, I don’t. I just haven’t found the right guy I want to settle down for yet.

IML: What qualities in a guy do you find most attractive?

fan_3: A sense of humor. I don’t like to be smothered and I don’t like guys to come on too strong. And intelligence. I want to be able to go out for dinner and talk through dinner.

IML: How about geeks? There’s that hilarious song on your album called “Geek Love.”

fan_3: Yeah, sure, geeks can be quite attractive! I have a pin that says, “I heart geeks.” I used to wear it all the time.

IML: Good luck and thanks for talking to us!

fan_3: You’re welcome!

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