Show Notes
After more than 20 years away from music, the singer behind the Y2K hit “I Wanna Be Bad” returns with a deeply personal new album titled Amanda — named after her birth name and a reflection of who she is today.
In this episode of the Spout Podcast, Willa opens up about her return to music, navigating fame during the early-2000s pop boom, and the journey that led her back to the studio.
She shares stories from the peak of the TRL era, working alongside pop icons like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, and Mandy Moore, and how the industry often pitted her against them.
Willa also discusses the deeply personal experiences that shaped this new chapter, including her diagnosis with PNES seizures, the importance of mental health for artists, and why she chose to return as an independent artist in full control of her music.
Plus, she reflects on her pivot into entrepreneurship, building a successful interior design business, and why stepping away from music may have been the best decision she ever made.
Now, she’s ready to return to the stage with her first-ever headline tour and a new body of work that represents her most authentic self. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
More from Spout Podcast
Scout Willis joins Tamara Dhia on the Spout Podcast to talk about her music, her latest single “Honey, I,” songwriting in Nashville, and the new album she’s currently building. Scout opens up about turning heartbreak into self-love on “Honey, I,” why she spent years avoiding music even though it was always what she loved most, and how writing with other artists changed the way she creates. She also talks about working with Thomas Doherty on “It Ain’t Nothing,” touring with Maren Morris, wanting to bring more flirting and making out back to parties, and why she believes music should make people feel confident, embodied and connected.
Lukas Graham has written songs heard billions of times, but his new album, Good Times, may be the most personal music he’s ever made.
YOASOBI joins Spout to talk about the global rise that has taken the Japanese duo from viral phenomenon to the Hollywood Bowl.
Before “Fire For You” changed everything for Cannons, Harry Styles found the band, DM’d Michelle Joy a simple “Hi,” took her to dinner and became an unexpected source of advice as her career was taking off.
David Duchovny joins Erik Zachary on the Spout Podcast to talk about his fourth studio album, Prince of Pieces, and the stories, relationships and musical influences behind it. Duchovny opens up about writing “Stay on the Train” for his daughter, the emotional connection to Harry Chapin’s “Cat’s in the Cradle,” and how songs like “Puff the Magic Dragon” unexpectedly influenced his first film, House of D.