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This girl’s definitely come a long way from her “Candy” days. But that doesn’t mean her new collection of all-original material isn’t as sweet

While her contemporaries hog the headlines in gossip rags and entertainment news shows, Mandy Moore has been keeping a low profile, quietly writing songs, and supposedly using the long bout with the blues she found herself fighting last year as her muse to pen poetry and songs.

Wild Hope, Mandy’s first studio album of all-original material boast of tracks the thespian has written in collaboration with critically acclaimed singer-songwriters. Produced by John Alagia (John Mayer, Jason Mraz, Dave Matthews Band), the album sees Mandy collaborating with The Weepies, Rachel Yamagata, Chantal Kreviazuk and Laura McKenna.

So, while news of Britney Spears’ infamous VMA performance spearheaded headlines and was the hot topic of the day, we had a quick chat with Mandy via email about her new album and how she manages to still keep that wholesome, girl-next-door image.

Q: A lot of people look up to you as a role model especially since you still keep that wholesome image even after your contemporaries in the business have been headlining the news because of their wild ways. Do you find it difficult to keep that wholesome image?
MANDY MOORE: I actually don’t find it difficult. I think a lot of it is how you are brought up. I really credit my parents as well as those people I continue to stay close to. My career is such a gift that I would never want to jeopardize it by making bad decisions or going against what I or my family feel is right.

Q: You collaborated with a lot of talented people in your new album. How was working it, with John Alagia, The Weepies, and Rachel Yamagata? What important insights did you learn from them about music and writing? Who would you want to collaborate with in the future?
MANDY: Every co-writing experience is different, which is why I think I grew so much during the making of this record. John Alagia allowed me to reallty stretch as a singer as well. I feel really lucky to have worked with such amazingly talented people and I would work with them again!

Q: What’s the one thing that inspired most of the songs in your album?
MANDY: I don’t know if there is one thing. I think the album is about growing into my own and with that came some heartache, some down time and so self-realization.

Q: Would you say, with Wild Hope, that you’ve found your own signature sound? Can you describe this sound for us?
MANDY: I have been listening to a lot of singer-songwriters like Joni Mitchell, Lori McKenna and Rachel Yamagata. I really take to songs that say something whether it’s to myself or a listener. I think the sound of this record is folk/pop and I’m really happy with how it all came out.

Q: How does it feel to be on tour with Paula Cole and Rachel Yamagata, armed with your own songs at last? Is there a difference now that you’re singing your own songs and are more folk-oriented?
MANDY: The whole tour is just amazing. My band are the greatest bunch of guys and it’s like a family. This is really a first time for me. Rachael and I became very good friends during the making of the album so to have her on the road is really the icing on the cake. She is one of the greatest performers out there! Paula’s voice is so beautiful and it’s really freat getting to know her music as I don’t know a lot of it prior to this tour.

Q: What’s your favorite song in the album and why, and what song did you find the most difficult to write?
MANDY: I think my favorite song would have to be “Wild Hope.” It was defnitely the most vivid memory of writing. I have to say that none of these songs really came off as difficult to write. Some of them really came into their own while recording but the chemistry with all of my co-writers was really amazing.

Q: You did a wonderful cover of Rihanna’s “Umbrella” for that Yahoo/Pepsi Smash Hit exclusive. What other new songs would you want to cover or do your own rendition of?
MANDY: We are doing a version of Joni Mitchell’s “Help Me” and Cat Stevens’ “Moon Shadow” on the road–both of which are from my Coverage album. We are also closing the show with a very, very different version of “Candy.” There are lots of songs I would love to cover but we gotta play this album for a while!

Q: What do you enjoy doing more–writing songs and performing on stage or acting?
MANDY: I don’t think there is anything better than playing in front of a live audience. The feedback and the adrenaline are like nothing that the studio or a movie set can bring to the table.

Q: What country, when you were touring before, was most memorable to you?
MANDY: Not to sound cliche but I really love Asia and Australia. I never really toured there properly–it was more promotional. But the fans are so loyal and supportive. Hopefully, I’ll be making my way over soon.

A walk with Mandy

A quick recap of Mandy’s rise to fame

1984 - Amanda “Mandy” Leigh Moore is born to former newspaper reporter Stacy and pilot Don Moore in Nashua, New Hampshire. The family moves to Altamonte Springs, Florida shortly after Mandy is born.

1999 - Mandy tours with the Backstreet Boys and is signed to Epic Records. She releases So Real, her debut album, which reaches number 31 in the US Billboard 200 album chart. “Candy,” the single off the album, is certified gold.

2000 - The singer releases I Wanna Be With You, a re-worked version of her debut, featuring new songs as well as remixes of songs from So Real. She also hosts a half-hour talk show on MTV.

2001 - Mandy decides to take over the reins of her career and drastically changes her musical direction and style for her next album. She releases a self-titled album, which include the songs “In My Pocket” and “You Remind Me.” The album is hailed by critics and is certified gold in the U.S. She becomes a spokesperson for Neutrogena and the School and Youth Programs of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and models for Penshoppe and Coach hand bags in Japan. She is also bitten by the acting bug and appears in a small part as the mean cheerleader Lana Thomas in The Princess Diaries.

2002 - Mandy gets her first lead part as Jamie Sullivan opposite Shane West in the film A Walk to Remember, which is based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks. She wins the MTV Movie Award for “Breakthrough Female Performance” for the role. She also lends her voice to the character Aerith Gainsborough in the cross-over video game Kingdom Hearts and guests in the music video for Elton John’s “Original Sin.”

2003 - The young singer stars in How to Deal and falls in love with tennis superstar Andy Roddick, who her mom invites to the set of the romantic comedy. Fans also see a drastic shift in Mandy’s career when she releases Coverage, a cover album featuring songs from the ’70s and the ’80s personally handpicked by the maturing chanteuse herself. The album fails to sell and Epic Records drops Mandy from their roster.

2004 - Mandy rests from music for a while and focuses on her acting career, starring as Anna Foster in another light romantic movie Chasing Liberty, and as Hilary Faye in the religious satire Saved! where she is praised for her performance.

2005 - Fans who fell in love with her because of her music are still left wanting as Mandy decides to lend her voice to Sandy, a character in the animated movie Racing Stripes. She also appears in the TV series Entourage. She also starts dating Scrubs star Zach Braff.

2006 - Mandy stars in the comedy American Dreamz as Sally Kendoo. She also reveals plans of returning to the recording studio to work on a new album. Her relationship with Zach Braff also ends this year.

2007 - The release of her album is pre-empted by a new movie, Because I Said So, where Mandy stars as Milly Wilder opposite Diane Keaton. Mandy also announces that she has signed with a new label, Firm Music and her intentions of penning all her songs for the next album. She consults with Rachel Yamagata, Lori McKenna and The Weepies. Wild Hope is released latter part of this year.

Mandy says…
“I don’t have the self-confidence to walk around in a miniskirt and heels and a tube top. I’m still trying to learn to love and accept my body.”

“I’m extremely-extremely sensitive. I can cry at the drop of a hat. I’m such a girl when it comes to that. Anything upsets me. I cry all the time. I cry when I’m happy too.”

“I don’t want to take fame for granted because that is when you start to think you are better than everyone else. That is when you start thinking that you are someone that you are not.”

“My body is changing. I just got boobs, and I now have hips. I’m like a size 6 or 8 now, and I like the way I look. I’m proud of it.”

“Without suffering there would be no compassion.” in A Walk to Remember

“I am FILLED with Christ’s love! You are just jealous of my success in the Lord.” in Saved!

“The quickest way to ruin a relationship with someone is to actually try to have a relationship with them.” in How to Deal

“Because the things you’re scared of are usually the most worthwhile.” in Chasing Liberty

“I’m not physically attracted to other people, but if you want me, I’m yours.” in American Dreamz