Colbie Caillat talks social media, new music and playing in Cape

Anyone can be friends with Colbie Caillat. The singer-songwriter, coming to Cape Girardeau on Saturday, has made it a point to make social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and MySpace a main part of her life and career.

As one of the first artists to make it big in the virtual world before even recording in the real world, Caillat said she feels the Internet has been vital to her success.

"I am really grateful for the social media sites for connecting me to potential fans for my music," she said in an e-mail interview. "I don't know about other artists, but I have loved being in touch with my fans from the very beginning."

Caillat's career started after her friends posted videos of her music on MySpace. Her popularity soared. She got a manager and a soon after a record deal. She released her debut album "Coco" in 2007.

Caillat will play at 8 p.m. Saturday in the Bedell Performance Hall as part of her tour to promote her second album, "Breakthrough." The River Campus box office reports 410 tickets have sold so far. They have 531 seats left in the orchestra, lower balcony, boxes, mezzanine and upper balcony. Those tickets are $32.50 and $27.50, depending on location.

Caillat said her fans really helped with the most recent album and fine-tuning many of her songs.

"I've gotten their feedback on songs before I recorded them, and even played back all the songs I recorded for the entire 'Breakthrough' album and got their opinion about what I should include on the album," Caillat said. "For me, it's been really important musically and they have had a voice in my music."

Caillat said the college circuit is important to her because many of her fans fall into the college student category. Caillat will be making her way through the country and said she's excited to stop at Southeast Missouri State University because "I know I have a lot of fans there."

Fresh off a vacation, Caillat has written some new songs and said she's excited to get them out.

"I might try some of the songs when I play Cape Girardeau, since I like to play the new songs for my fans first," she said.

She'll have the opportunity to gain new fans when she plays a music festival in Memphis, Tenn., the weekend after her Cape Girardeau concert, but Caillat said she enjoys the intimate atmosphere of a theater concert.

"You know that everyone there has come to see you," she said. "They are my fans and they know my songs and we already have a built-in relationship."

Caillat's music features laid back beats and echoes that of Jack Johnson and Jason Mraz -- with whom she shares a Grammy for their collaboration "Lucky" -- but her future recordings are unknown.

"I am still young. I am becoming a better guitar player and piano player, so there's no telling where those instruments will lead me" she said.

To purchase tickets, visit the River Campus box office between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. today to Friday or 5 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are also available at metrotix.com and Metrotix outlets.

Pertinent address:

518 S. Fountain St., Cape Girardeau, MO