Photography Colin Pumfrett, via Creative CommonsMusic / NewsMusic / NewsMariah Carey secretly recorded an alt-rock album in 1995‘I was playing with the style of the breezy-grunge, punk-light white female singers who were popular at the time... the ones who seemed to be so carefree with their feelings and their image’ShareLink copied ✔️September 28, 2020September 28, 2020TextDazed Digital Mariah Carey’s new memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey, is out this week, and over the weekend she tweeted an excerpt from the book where she reveals a surprising secret – that she secretly produced an alt-rock album in the 90s. While working on her 1995 album Daydream, Carey says that she would “bring my little alt-rock song to the band and hum a silly guitar riff. They would pick it up and we would record it immediately. It was irreverent, raw, and urgent, and the band got into it.” She continues: “I actually started to love some of the songs. I would fully commit to my character. I was playing with the style of the breezy-grunge, punk-light white female singers who were popular at the time. You know the ones who seemed to be so carefree with their feelings and their image. They could be angry, angsty, and messy, with old shoes, wrinkled slips, and unruly eyebrows, while every move I made was so calculated and manicured. I wanted to break free, let loose, and express my misery – but I also wanted to laugh. I totally looked forward to doing my alter-ego band sessions after Daydream each night.” Fun fact: I did an alternative album while I was making Daydream 👀 Just for laughs, but it got me through some dark days. Here's a little of what I wrote about it in #TheMeaningOfMariahCarey 🤟 S/O to my friend Clarissa who performs the lead w/ me as a hidden layer #Chick#TMOMCpic.twitter.com/Re23t5whcd— Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) September 27, 2020 The result was Chick’s 1995 album Someone’s Ugly Daughter. In the excerpt that Carey tweeted, a preview of Chick’s song “Hermit” plays in the background, with the singer’s background vocals a “hidden layer” to the track. A representative for Mariah Carey confirmed to Pitchfork that Carey wrote, produced, and sang background vocals on every original song on the Chick record (the album also features a cover of Cheap Trick’s “Surrender”). She was also responsible for the album packaging’s art direction, and directed one of the band’s music videos. Someone’s Ugly Daughter is not available on streaming services, but you can hear some of the songs below. Escape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy Expand your creative community and connect with 15,000 creatives from around the world.READ MOREWhat do cats think of Mitski’s new album? Find out in this new video‘Thug metal’ band Empty Shell Casing are the nu kids on the block Reebok Your favourite Reeboks are getting a makeoverThese evocative photos depict the in-between moments at Rio Carnival These photos straddle ‘pre and post-iPhone’ London nightlifeListen to Evissimax’s ‘Black, vampy and sexy’ Dazed mixPop dreamer Gabriela Richardson shares her internet obsessionsWhat’s poppin’? Two Shell meet Jack Harlow at London’s PhonoxThe rise of North West in 5 tracksThe Moment: How A.G. Cook turned Brat summer into a nightmareWinter Olympics 2026: Ranking the best music from the figure skating eventsEverything we know about Beyoncé’s rumoured rock eraEscape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy