'I'm way wiser now': Nelly Furtado reflects on her wild ride in the music industry

Canadian artist Nelly Furtado looks back on her biggest hits over the years and discusses her latest album, The Ride.

CBC Radio · Posted: Mar 30, 2017 8:45 AM EDT | Last Updated: July 20, 2017

Canadian artist Nelly Furtado with Tom Power in the q studio in Toronto, Ont. (Melody Lau/CBC)

The journey of Nelly Furtado has been unlike that of any pop star this country has seen.

From up-and-coming singer to pop superstar, from breaking through to the Spanish music market to now taking full creative control of her projects, Furtado's path has taken many turns.

"All that matters is exploring your dark sides and conquering your fears," Furtado says about moving forward and taking new directions in her life and in her music. "We have to learn our lessons, we have to go there."

Her latest album is called The Ride (out now) and on today's show, Tom Power takes Furtado on an exploration of the singer's career, from her debut hit, "I'm Like a Bird," to her latest release.

When asked what the biggest change has been between then and now, she confidently states: "I'm way smarter now, I'm way wiser now. I have way more battle scars and stripes from life because life beats you up, man."

Below are the songs mentioned in today's interview:

Nelly Furtado, "I'm Like a Bird"