With successful songs that have been heard in numerous T.V. shows and commercials, a recent touring schedule that included opening for Dave Mathews at Madison Square Garden, and a newly released album that is currently #3 on iTunes, Ingrid Michaelson is on a hot streak that hopefully won't end anytime soon. She took some time out for an interview with me this past week on my radio show on WSIA 88.9fm Staten Island (her hometown). Here is a transcribed version of that interview edited only for legnth:

Your new album, “Be OK”, is currently sitting at #3 on iTunes.

I know. That’s pretty exciting. I knew it was going to chart because of the surge of people buying it [the first week], but it’s going to drop down. That’s all I think about. I get ready for the time when it’s off the charts; I can never enjoy anything when it’s happening.

I hear that during your concerts you like to bust out some T.V. theme songs?

I like to do the Fresh Prince of Bel Air rap because everybody knows it, for some reason. It doesn’t matter how old you are, it makes people smile and I like being silly and making people smile. A lot of my music is very serious and dark and I like to bring levity to that and that’s what theme songs bring.

Now, you used to work at a coffee house for a while, yet you hate coffee?

I hate coffee. Isn’t that crazy? I worked there for three years. I’ve been told that I make really good coffee and lattes, but I wouldn’t know. I think [coffee] is gross. I don’t like hot beverages, as a rule [of mine]. I’ll drink tea for my voice if I have to, but I don’t think a beverage should be hot; it’s like drinking soup.

You were on Conan O’Brian’s show and I hear that you made him a gift of some kind?

I made [Conan] a figurine out of clay. I made it tall and thin. This was during the writer’s strike when he had a beard, so I made a little removable beard. But I made him so thin that one of the legs broke off and had to be crazy glued back on right before the show. They gave it to Conan and he made it dance around on camera. It was funny. I felt like YES! I made my mark! *laughs*

What was it like getting to play Madison Square Garden this past September and opening for the Dave Mathews Band?

Well, getting to play the garden is obviously a dream of any musician (especially one from New York). The thing about opening for Dave Mathews is that the people aren’t there to see you; they’re there to see Dave. It was cool because we were in Madison Square Garden, but there aren’t a lot of people in the crowd when you go on [as an opening act]. But then me and Dave practiced a song of his and I got to sing it with him during his set and there were 20,000 people in the audience. [That] was a special moment. It was very exciting.

What is your earliest memory of music?

My father was always playing the piano, so I remember him making songs about [me and my brother] when we were at a very young age, like four years old. He listened to classical music and would put us on his lap, move our arms around, and make us conduct. Also, I took piano lessons when I was five. I have a lot of jumbled-up music memories.

Where and how do you write songs?

“Where” is just anywhere. In a dressing room before a show, at home, or on a tour bus. I have a little ukulele that I carry with me so I can always write songs using that wherever. How I write is changing because I’m changing as a person. I wouldn’t change the way I write because of any expectations put on me. That’s not the way I roll.

What is your favorite word?

Eclectic.

What is your favorite curse word?

Fuck.

What sound or noise do you love?

I love the sound of a tour bus moving because it makes me go to sleep.

What sound or noise do you hate?

I hate the sound of my alarm on my phone when it wakes me up.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

An owner of a bakery.

If there is a heaven, what would you like God to say to you at the pearly gates?

There’s an all-you-can-eat buffet all the time.

Here are your students.

*laughs*

It was nice to talk to you.

Thank you.

Take care. Bye.

Check out Ingrid on Amazon by Clicking Here!