Camila Cabello and Lil Nas X had a 'traumatic bonding' experience the night they dropped their collaboration, 'He Knows'.
The duo were set to head to West Hollywood gay club Heart to celebrate the song's release when the elevator in Cabello's building — filled with members of both artist groups, mind you — broke down. They had been stuck inside for over an hour and everyone was naturally freaking out.
Well, not everyone. “Frankly, we were two of the calmest people in the elevator because panic attacks were happening left and right, baby,” Cabello says. Rolling rock.
Now, the “I Luv It” singer can look back with laughter and gratitude, as the experience brought her and Nas closer. “It's fun to work with someone like that because they'll put their dick in it,” Cabello says with a laugh. “We both put our money into it.”
On Wednesday, Cabello and Nas will release the cinematic (and hilarious) music video for “He Knows.” Ahead of its release, Cabello caught up Rolling rock about working with Nas and gave a sneak peek at her album C, XOXOreleased June 28.
This video is crazy. Walk me through the whole thing.
Initially, when Jasper and Pablo Diaz-Reixa and I were in a session in the studio in Miami, I said, “I've never made anything that feels homey and electronic before.” So they pumped out this Ojerime sample and I wrote, “He knows.” When we were talking about who could be a fire feature on this, we immediately thought of Nas. He is close friends with Jasper. We immediately said, “We have to put Nas on this song because that would be the most iconic video.”
What happened to you two getting stuck in an elevator?
Girl… We saw each other in an extreme situation. Panic attacks were happening left and right, honey. To my right, Patrick Ta was losing his mind. Tori, who works with me, was on the ground having a panic attack. People were dropping like flies emotionally, but me and Nas, we made jokes – but we were low-key terrified.
How long were you trapped?
We were there for a good hour. It was crazy because it's the elevator in my building and I get in that elevator every day and I've never seen it like I did that night. The mirrors were steaming like a shower because it was so hot and there was no AC. Nas' bodyguard says, “I'm going to keep the chatter to a minimum because you guys are going to start consuming all the carbon monoxide and that's how people pass out.” Nas said, “If we weren't fucking panicked before, we sure are panicking now.” It was so crazy. It brought us closer though. Nothing like trauma bonding during a single release.
Was that right before you went to party at the WeHo club, Heart?
Yes. It was the day the song came out. We were an hour late to the club and got there and were like, 'We're black-out drunk. This is a celebration of not only our song, but the fact that we didn't get carbon monoxide poisoning today.”
How did your friendship with Nas develop?
It's really sweet. We support each other's careers and have supported each other for years now. I remember meeting him backstage at the iHeartRadio Awards maybe five years ago when “Old Town Road” was big. It just kept evolving. He is unapologetically himself. He's a real fucking great artist… When he was writing his verse, I got so excited because he was hesitant to do features. He'd never done a movie with anybody before, so we said, 'I don't know if he's going to say yes, but I think he resonated with the project and my album because he heard the whole thing and was excited about what we were doing.
He's the kind of artist where it's more than just the song. He really puts thought and care into the show. He plays with the fans. He cares about the music video and the statement.
I also saw the video of you performing “20 Somethings”. Can you tell us a little about how this song fits into the album?
As a songwriter, I wanted to explore issues of unresolved feelings and things that don't end well. “And then we broke up and then I dumped him and now we're great.” It's very much like, “Oh, maybe we'll work. Oh shit, but I feel so bad when I'm with you. Damn, I don't know what I'm doing.” Being able to explore that kind of gray area as a writer was something I hadn't done before. These feelings fight with each other and don't make sense, but that's what makes us human.
What's it like to explore a sexier side on this album?
Well, I'm 27. It's like saying in a song, “My tooth is growing.” When you're in the tooth too much, you just get old. You have more experience. I think it's part of knowing myself more. Sometimes I see people say, “Why is he suddenly becoming so sexual?” I really do what comes naturally to me. If it feels good, I do it. For me, my sensuality is just a part of who I am. Just like being emo is part of who I am. Only me is me.
Can you tell us a little about what will happen? C, XOXO?
This is the best project I've ever done, and I've never been so proud of a body of work. It's just such a world. My favorite albums are when I can really live in a lyric or live in an album aesthetic. She really is a complex, fascinating girl, C, XOXO. It really is.
I am excited to meet her.
Yes, nice to meet you too.
from our partners at https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/camila-cabello-lil-nas-x-trauma-bond-he-knows-song-1235023716/
