Backstage Pass: Martina Sorbara

Photo: Kristin Vicari

On stage, Dragonette frontwoman Martina Sorbara is like a frenetic tween who binged at the local candy store. Offstage, and at Union Square Park, where met her for an interview on a rainy day, the bubbly pint-sized singer is not so different. "I'm totally not bothered by this rain," she squealed under a tiny umbrella. "I'm so relieved it's not like how it was yesterday and the day before that and before that." The Toronto native is all smiles, which might have something to do with her band's performance the following day on Good Morning America to promote their anticipated album, Bodyparts, out September 25. Read on as Sorbara plays pop-star word association, explains her backstage pre-show antics (which involve lots of yawning and vodka), and admits why the words "body parts" make her squeal even more than the norm.

ELLE: What's behind the title of your forthcoming LP, Bodyparts?

MS: I just like the word. I saw it on a blog, The World's Best Ever. It's such a grown-up guy's skater blog. I just go there because there's interesting art stuff on it. Anyway, I saw the words "body parts," and there was this piece of art under it. I didn't actually even click on the link to see what it was—the words just stuck in my mind. The text was something that was really pretty and happy, so I saw the word differently all of a sudden, as opposed to just limbs. I saw it as pieces of music. I find I always throw limbs here and there in my lyrics. I kind of put my physical self into the songs. The title Bodyparts just made sense.

ELLE: Do you work with a stylist?

MS: No, I kind of just roll up on stage. I realize that as soon as I find myself wearing something that I haven't worn ten times in the past, I'm like, "Who am I right now? I don't recognize myself!" I think the shows are better when I feel like myself. And everyone's going to have a better time if I'm not confused on stage about who I am.

ELLE: Do you warm up your voice before gigs?

MS: I don't. I have no idea how to do what you're supposed to do. I do a little bit of humming. I've heard other musicians at shows we've done together warming up and I'm like, "Oh, that's what she does! Let me try that!" It took me singing for like 15 years to know, "Oh, don't eat a lemon tart half an hour before going on stage. That will mess you up." But I'm not really aware of that kind of thing. I'm like, "Oh! Today my voice sounds like this, that's fun!" At a certain point, I should start to pay attention and make sure I'm not damaging my vocal chords, because I enjoy using them a lot.

ELLE: What about pre-show rituals?

MS: I get really tired. Anybody who's in the dressing room after the show always says, "Oh, my God, I was kind of worried that the show was going to be sleepy because you were half asleep, yawning, and not really present." I think my body makes itself tired so I don't have the energy to do anything else beforehand. I do jump around a lot on stage, so I guess my body's like, "You are tired now!" As soon as I get onstage the adrenaline takes over. It's a useful mechanism.

ELLE: What's on your tour rider?

MS: Vodka. I generally have one or two drinks. I hang out in the dressing room, and it's not always the most attractive place to be, so just being able to have a drink is nice. It's not like I get wasted, unless I'm punishing myself for a terrible show. I also have lots of cheese, even though you're not supposed to eat cheese if you're a singer. And Cliff bars, passion fruit, and Kombucha drinks. I will drink any of it and all of it. It's changed my life. After I drink a bottle of that stuff, I just feel so good, clean, and zippy.

ELLE: Word association time! What's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the following names…

ELLE: Fiona Apple.

MS: Eccentric.

ELLE: Frank Ocean.

MS: Sexy.

ELLE: Azealia Banks.

MS: Badass.

ELLE: Lana Del Rey.

MS: Lip-y.

ELLE: Carly Rae Jepson.

MS: Carly Simon.

Photo: Kristin Vicari