Betty who creates "a space in which people feel joy" with "Betty" album: NPR

In 2013, a video of a marriage proposal presented to Betty Who, "Someone Likes You," went viral on YouTube. The video shows a group dressed in bright colors performing a joyful and coordinated dance of pop song in the middle of a Home Depot in Salt Lake City. According to Betty Who, Home Depot's show is one of many projects and wedding dances with the same soundtrack.

"People like to dance and cry at the same time," says the Australian singer on "Somebody Loves You", which was her single. She says that she actually wrote the song "ironically enough" as a break-up song – but the way she was picked up as a celebration hymn is also fitting. In the end, as the tears and dance come from the ecstasy of a proposal or the sadness of a breakup, Betty Who hopes to create fun for all through her music.

Now, the 27-year-old has released his third studio album, Betty. Since that viral moment, many things have changed for Betty Who, including the artist's label links. She produced this album independently, which made it her debut without the support of a major label. But the musician always strives to give his fans opportunities for joy.

Betty Who explained to NPR's Ari Shapiro that she shared fun on the stage, the benefits of working independently and how she modeled self-confidence without compromise. Continue reading for interview highlights, including those that have not been aired

This interview has been modified for its length and clarity.

Highlights of the interview

Promoting joy through music

I want to be 80 years old and look at the music that I have made all my life and I know that I have done everything to make people really happy. That's what I really want to do. You know, if you have a purpose on this planet, my goal is – I want to provide a space in which people feel joy, people feel safe enough, too, to cry and be themselves. But the first compliment anyone could give me is that they spend a bad day, and they listen to my song and it helps them feel better.

I think [that occurred to me]in fact, after a few years, I did it by accident. Because I wrote "Someone likes"; I've released a really poppy EP and really fun. And I'm smiling, cheerful and warm and that's also my personality, and I think that came out in the music.

You know, a lot of people walk in the driveway for "Someone loves you." They tell me all the time. I want to be the song that is played at weddings. I do not think I want to have the song that was played at the funeral. Unless it's a really fun funeral.

Hearing the artistic independence on Betty

I hear it in "The One". "The One", for me, is a song I always wanted to do. It's very Britney- and N-Sync-esque. You know, Britney Spears Live on HBO in Las Vegas is like one of my favorite shows of all time. I watch all the time on DVD. I collect DVDs of the tour. The Beyoncé "I Am …" Live Tour is one of my favorites. When Back home went out, I was just like, drooling. I love to watch other artists, especially feminine, funky.

I wanted to feel like Britney Spears every night and so I wrote this song. And I think that if I had signed with a label, this song might not have been published or would have been totally misunderstood because something other than me was: "I'm a 27-year-old man who literally lives 10 The current dream of myself. "For example, if I, 10 years old, I had a dream, that's it. It must have been Britney Spears. And I am an adult now, and I am an independent artist, and no one can tell me what to do. So I'm going to make a song that I go to every night, feel like I'm in 'N Sync'.

For me, it's so telling that now I have to make choices. Because it's supposed to be fun. The music is supposed to be fun and I have spent so many years not amusing myself because so many people put too much pressure on it. And I really try to make myself happy, first. But also from other people. I just want it to be fun and easy. And I work more than anyone I know – and I'm cool with that. So if it's going to be my life forever, when it's okay, it should be really good. And I think that's what I hear on the record. When it's good, I'm having so much fun.

On "big queens" and contagious trust

Honestly, I think there is a lot to be said on the subject. I forget that I am huge. I am a big, very dominant person. I am 6 "2. And I am proportional to that – I am not, like, a girl 6" 2 "who also weighs 90 pounds soaked. I am strong, I am thick, I am built. Like to say my future mother-in-law, "Good German actions".

When I see other women watching me or coming to see me – especially a lot of big girls coming out of the woods and coming to the show – I say to myself "I love my big queens". Because we do not have representation, really, in the same way. I mean, Taylor Swift has 5 "10", but also, she is very small.I start seeing these women coming out, and they look at me, and I see them – I see it, I l 'm seeing it. have already seen me dance and I see them in their bodies, trying to find the place of relaxation and let things go, so that they can have fun.This is not to About to look good, it's fun .. I dance, sometimes, I look awesome when I dance.What ever, I m Amuse always so much.

Rosalind Faulkner contributed to the digital version of this story.