An angry 16-year-old punk, a sweet girl

Skye Sweetnam a new star from Canada

Saturday, June 19, 2004 Posted: 6:23 AM EDT (1023 GMT)

NEW YORK (AP) -- Teen singer Skye Sweetnam grew up in a quaint Canadian town, but that doesn't stop her from belting out angst-ridden rocker girl songs like she comes from the gritty city.

Sweetnam, who recently turned 16, is very articulate and pleasant, despite the angry music. She was walking by her grandmother's hair salon one day when the hairdresser asked her to come in and sing. She gave an impromptu performance with a brush handle as a microphone, and one of the customers took a demo tape to a family member in the entertainment business. She had a manager within weeks.

Sweetnam headed to Europe in early May to open for Britney Spears on the international leg of Spears' tour. She helped write many of the songs on her upcoming album, "Noise From the Basement" (Capitol), including the single "Tangled up in Me." She likes songwriting best, and hopes to eventually join the ranks of other rock 'n' roll women such as Pat Benatar and Debbie Harry.

Sweetnam has been compared to another young, angst-y Canadian, Avril Lavigne. Although Sweetnam says their music is totally different, it does sound similar; they both use heavy guitars mixed with a young-girl voice chock-full of attitude.

Q: What's your hometown like?

SWEETNAM: Oh, Bolton, it's 45 minutes north of Toronto. It just got its first Wal-Mart. I didn't really have much to do at home except create. I took a bunch of dance lessons and did school theater. We didn't even have cable until recently when they installed a 70-foot tower in the valley. It was cool, though, I wasn't spoiled.

Q: Do you miss high school?

SWEETNAM: Well, I get tutored and home-schooled. I only went to high school for half a year, and I left right at the point before exams so I was fine. It's weird not going to school like a normal kid, but you can't leave this opportunity. It's too amazing. It does get lonely on the road for a long period of time.

Q: What do your friends think of your fame?

SWEETNAM: They think it's an awesome opportunity, being able to go on the road. I hope they're proud of me because I'm having a blast. They always want to know how the shows are going and what I'm up to.

Q: Does everyone want to be your friend?

SWEETNAM: Well, it's not like a normal social situation like it would be at school. It's hard for anyone to get in touch with me since I'm out on the road, so it's usually me calling them. I don't get randoms trying to be my friend after they see me on TV or anything.

Q: What about Britney Spears? What do you think of her?

SWEETNAM: She's a sweetheart, but I rarely see her around. She always had her bodyguards surrounding her and is being escorted and stuff. But she always wants to make sure I am happy and things are going well. When I see her down the hall I'm still kind of star-struck.

Q: Her tour has been panned by lots of media outlets, are you worried it'll rub off on you?

SWEETNAM: I have a totally different vibe. She has a million backup dancers, and it's just me and my band onstage. I think people can see the difference even though I'm opening up for her. Maybe they're expecting something like Britney and getting something totally different, and that's great for me.

Q: You do a cover of "Heart of Glass." How did that happen?

SWEETNAM: I picked it. My manager got me listening to all this old music, like punk and Led Zeppelin, weird things like Bjork and old Madonna stuff that I had never heard. The good thing about being so young is you can hear all sorts of music.

Q: What will you do with the money you make?

SWEETNAM: First of all I'm going to buy a car. Then, I don't know. Save it, spend a bit here or there. I just turned 16 so I don't need to make a living or anything. I guess we'll have to see if the album is successful. My brother really wanted a dirt bike, too ...

Q: Do you get along with your mom?

SWEETNAM: Oh yeah. Well, she has to come with me because as a rule you can't tour without a parent if you're younger than 16, and I just turned 16. She's very supportive, but she doesn't love the spotlight. She lets me get on camera and ham it up, which is what I like to do.

Q: And your dad is at home?

SWEETNAM: Yep, dad's at home taking care of my little brother and sister, playing "Mr. Mom." They think it's great for me. They want to hear new songs that I wrote. It's great having family.

Q: Were you a drama queen when you were little?

SWEETNAM: Oh totally. I loved getting attention, but I wasn't the type to say, "When I grow up I am going to be a superstar." I was kind of always modest. Secretly I wanted more attention.

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