Colbie Caillat ready to brighten up Boston

Colbie Caillat is a writer of songs that make people feel good. For her fans, her music is like sunshine for the soul. And when it comes to pure ear candy, there are few finer crafters of such warm, happy and eminently listenable tunes as Colbie Caillat.

“It’s just who I am,” says Caillat in a recent interview with Boston Music Spotlight. “I don’t feel like I have to write a certain way. I write from my experiences; I write whatever I’m going through.”

“When I write songs, I do try to make them optimistic” she admits. “When I’m feeling sad or upset or a friend is going through a hard time, I write about it – I write about what’s going on. But I change it halfway through the song and try to make it how I want it to be or how it should be or how it can be if we make changes. I don’t like feeling that way for too long, so I want to turn things around as quick as possible and make them happy. And even if it doesn’t work for me or someone, maybe it will work for one person.”

The 26-year-old will be bringing her optimistic music and positive vibes to audiences in Boston this Friday for a show at the House of Blues. When asked if she feels pigeon-holed into her particularly “sunny” pop sound, she is emphatic in her reply.

“I know that growing up in Southern California and living the lifestyle that I did where everything is laid back and easy and the weather’s always sunny and beautiful… growing up around classic rock music [her father, Ken Caillat, produced the Fleetwood Mac albums Rumours and Tusk and was friends with the band] and reggae, [all of] that really influenced who I am and, because of that, the songs that I write and the music I listen to. So, I know for sure that that’s why I write the way that I do.”

Her latest album, All of You, marks a more introspective – yet characteristically upbeat – turn in her songwriting, and audiences are loving the new tunes.

“Now that the record’s out and everyone’s at these shows,” she says, “it’s really fun to play like five or six new songs and everyone knows them. So, that makes me happy.

“It’s cool seeing people sing them to each other or hugging and kissing,” she continues. “It’s really cool to know that I, like, wrote that song in my room or wherever I was and now I’m traveling around the world singing it for people and they like it and are singing it back to me. It’s really fun.”

The new songs on All of You were written by Caillat and multiple collaborators including singer/songwriter Jason Reeves and her guitarist/boyfriend, Justin Young.

“I wanted to work with the same producers and writers that I had worked with on Breakthrough. So, I worked with most of them again and I did a collaboration with Common and Ryan Tedder [of OneRepublic]. I’ve always loved their music and always wanted to write with both of them.”

When it comes to playing Boston, the Southern California girl has lots of reasons to be excited for this Friday’s gig at the House of Blues.

“I love the East Coast,” Caillat proclaims. “I think it’s so different than back home. And especially in the summertime and fall. Being here right now I’m really excited about because it’s perfect weather – it’s not too hot, it’s not cold yet – the leaves are starting to change. Back home we don’t really get that, you know?

“I’m excited for the show, I’m really looking forward to being back in Boston.”

Colbie Caillat will perform at the House of Blues in Boston on Friday, September 23. Tickets for the show are available through Live Nation for $25 and $40.