Gwen Stefani Shares What It’s Like Making a Song With Prince

“I went in the booth and I did not come out for like eight hours” she says of their marathon recording session

July 20, 2016

Gwen Stefani is one of the biggest names in music who has worked with the likes of Dr. Dre, Pharrell Williams, and Sia, but perhaps the most mind-blowing collaboration she’s ever been a part of was with the late great Prince.

“I’m so honored that he called me,” Gwen told Howard on Wednesday morning. “The Artist” (as he was known back then) informed Gwen that he had a song that he wanted her to be on. In exchange, he was willing to work with her on one of her songs.

Gwen sent Prince her demo for the song “Waiting Room” and scheduled studio time with him in his hometown of Minneapolis. By the time she landed, she received word from Prince that he had rewritten her song a bit, giving a “Batman soundtrack” feel to it, according to Stefani. Recording the track was no easy task, however.

“I went in the booth and I did not come out for like eight hours,” Gwen said, adding that she was incredibly intimidated by performing in front of Prince. “I was so scared because I’m not even that good of a singer…it’s not like I have a big range, but he’s just like a genius.” Nonetheless, she left with two successful tracks complete.

Gwen also remembered a different encounter with Prince where he left her with an odd piece of advice. While out on the town together, Gwen said Prince warned her about Jennifer Lopez around the time “Waiting for Tonight” was released.

“He was saying, ‘that’s your competition,'” Gwen said, admitting that she’s never even told J. Lo this story. “It was interesting, he was just up on everything.”

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