Tahoe.com was able to snag an interview with this renowned musician who has wooed her audience for more than a decade with hits like, Foolish Games, Hands, Who Will Save Your Soul, and more tear-jerking tunes that have topped the Billboard charts in unimaginable ways.

Jewel was great to talk to and easy to interview. She’s bright with an interesting history, literally starting at the bottom and working herself all the way to the top of the music business. As a fan, I was eager for this opportunity to learn more about this amazing artist.

Most recently, in the life of this Guinness Book of Records record-holder (for longest chart run of a single for You Were Meant For Me (Radio Edit) /Foolish Games) is a seven-episode reality series that premiered last week, called Fast Cars and Superstars. Joining her, are boyfriend of almost a decade, and well-known rodeo champion Ty Murray, along with William Shatner, Tony Hawk, and about a half dozen others.

Celebrities come together with Gillette young guns and get behind the wheel of hi-tech racecars, flinging themselves around the track as fast as possible, with little-to-no experience.

What inspired you to be a part of something like Fast Cars & Superstars?

“It was something Ty and I could do together. I always wanted to be a part of an adrenaline-rushing sport like he is, and I thought that us doing this together would really fun.”

Jewel divulged how she was disqualified from the show for running into a wall at 170 mph:

“There were just so many things about the track that none of us knew. My tires weren’t warm, and I couldn’t hold the corner, and I just sort of flipped up into a wall,” she laughs. Luckily, she wasn’t hurt. And for the experience she was lacking, she did pretty well. “I drove a stick-shift as a child, driving a tractor when I was like, 9 years old, but I hadn’t driven one since then.”

What’s the weirdest compliment you’ve ever received?

“I don’t know … I think someone once said they liked my snaggletooth. I thought that was pretty strange.” And strange it is, but Jewel seems pretty happy with who she is as a person. And over the years, the “snaggletooth” has become one of her most distinct and beloved trademarks.

What was it like growing up in Alaska?

“Alaska is a fantastic state. It really is the last frontier. I’m the granddaughter of pioneers. I grew up on the same homestead that my father was raised on. We didn’t have any heating or plumbing. We lived in a log cabin, and only ate what we raised. So we butchered some cows, and ate canned vegetables in the winter.”

Her experience as a child living in Alaska had a lot to do with her and her brother’s joint involvement in an organization called Project Clean Water that has been in effect since 1997.

“We put clean water sites in different countries. We’ve put about 35 in 15 different countries so far.”

On top of that, Jewel participates in the cure for breast cancer programs, and is featured in a Lifetime television commercial to help raise awareness.

Do you believe there’s any solidarity between female musicians?

“Sometimes there is, between the ones that write. But usually, when you do a show with a bunch of other acts, nobody ever talks to each other. You know, we’re really not competing against one another. People buy more than one record!” But sadly, it would seem this superstar sees more of the competitive side of things than anything else in female showbiz.

If you’ve seen Jewel play live, you’ve probably noticed how she’ll lean really far back from the microphone when her voice gets stronger, while still being able to get the volume and power of her voice to reach a level as though she were pressed directly up against it. Oh, the benefits of experience.

Have you always been blessed with a powerful singing voice, or was this something you learned over time?

“I grew up singing in bar rooms. I started singing when I was six, with my parents. After all that time, you learn how to work the microphone so that you don’t blast everyone out,” she claims.

Jewel recently stopped working with Atlantic Records, and is now going off on her own to produce her first ever country album, with an uncertain release date as of now.

“I’m so excited! I can’t believe that at 32, I got to become a free agent. I’ve been wanting to make a country record for a long time, and that will be my first project on my own,” she said. Keep your eyes open for that record, as well as for poetry in the future.

Earlier, Jewel was on the verge of publishing another poetry book (this one, directed towards her intimate relationship with Ty Murray) called Love Poems, which she decided not to print for personal reasons relating to Murray’s mother. She does, however, plan to revisit this book again someday, so watch for that as well.

Any plans for marriage in the future?

“Well, we’ve had a lot of friends get married over the years and get divorced, and we’re just happy to get to know each other and get along. I think if we have kids, we’ll probably get married, but other than that, I don’t think we feel a huge need.” Learning one another and living life smoothly is the key ingredient for this three-time Grammy Award winner.

For all you Jewel adorers out there, you’ve undoubtedly heard the song Who Will Save Your Soul. It’s one of those songs that will tear your heart to pieces the second she starts to play it.

What was the inspiration behind Who Will Save Your Soul?

“When I was sixteen, I wanted to go somewhere for spring break. I decided that I would hitchhike down to Mexico, and I actually hitchhiked through Mexico…because I’m a genius…and I thought if I could street sing, I could earn enough money as I went. I took a train to Chicago and started street singing there…I actually learned the guitar just so I could street sing.

“I only knew four chords and I didn’t know anybody else’s songs, so I just started making up lyrics about people who were walking by. I’d earn some money and get back on the train for however far that took me, and get back on the corner and street-sing, and make up so more lyrics. I did get down to Mexico, and took the train back up, and all the way along I just kept writing lyrics to the song, and that’s what ended up being Who Will Save Your Soul.

What do you love most about being a woman?

“I never really identified myself in my mind as a woman. I mean, I knew I was a girl, and was girlish, but I was used to pulling my weight on a ranch; I was used to working as hard as a man, and not thinking anything of that. Intellectually, I thought my mind didn’t have a sex. It always bothered me, in years to come, when writers would talk about the women’s movement in music. I wanted to be one of the best songwriters period, I didn’t just want to be the best female songwriter - that really bothered me.”

How much is left of that girl who used to live in a van by the river?

“I’m one of those kinds of people who worries over everything, and when I’m on my death bed looking back, I don’t want to be embarrassed by anything I did. I don’t want to feel like I’m focusing on the wrong thing. I think it’s really easy to become distracted. It’s constantly like high school. There are girls running for prom queen…you know? And when you get out of high school, you don’t want to feel embarrassed, like ‘Holy crap, I can’t believe I thought all that was so important,’ and that’s how I’ve tried to look at fame and success. I take my job seriously. I believe in writing, I believe in music, and I believe in working hard for it.”

What was going on in your life during the recording of Goodbye Alice in Wonderland?

“It was the closing of a chapter in my life. I went through a hard three years, and it was really cathartic for me to write those songs.”

This latest compilation was released in May of 2006, and has received nothing but awesome reviews.

I’m sure everyone in Tahoe wants to know – what’s your favorite thing about playing a show here?

“Tahoe’s beautiful! It’s a great place. I’d go there just for vacation, and then on top of that, they let me do a show! I hang out at the lake while I’m there. I think I’m going to stay an extra day this time. A friend of mine is in town and is going to be a doing a show, so I’ll stay and catch that.”


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