Liz Phair Dishes on 'Eye-Opening' Collaboration With Dave Matthews

One of the year's most surprising musical hook-ups has to be Liz Phair collaborating with Dave Matthews. The jam band leader produced several songs on Phair's latest album, 'Funstyle,' and even performs on one track, the poignant ballad 'You Should Know Me.' It seems no one is more surprised -- and delighted -- at the collaboration than Phair herself.

"Isn't that funny? It's just a mutual admiration that came about a few years ago," the 43-year-old singer tells Spinner. Phair originally met Matthews through her former tour manager, who went on to work with DMB. "Instantly, we liked each other. His entire production was an eye-opening experience. We don't come from the same culture, but the people that he surrounds himself with, and the kind of person he is, is so inspiring that I defy anybody to get to know him and not love him."

Phair says she feels as at home going to see a Dave Matthews Band show as she does heading out to watch one of her indie rock contemporaries. "It seems that everyone I've ever liked in the music business all like him too, so I would go along and see people there," she says. "It's like a reunion."

Clearly, Phair, who will embark on an east coast tour in support of the October-released 'Funstyle' this month, is having plenty of fun with her musical style. Phair flirts with bhangra, rap, R&B and electronic mashing on the record, which was recorded piecemeal, as she pulled together friends and musicians to work with along the way.

"Dipping into different music scenes and recording with people here and there, that was extremely rewarding," adds Phair. Bringing in Matthews, one of rock's biggest names, was no different to working with any of her other musician pals. "As musicians and artists, we express ourselves in music," she says. "When we say 'let's jam,' it's like a mutual respect for each other."