Her incredible voice blew us away on songs such as Stone Cold Sober, New York and Upside Down; she was a mentor for Team Danny in The

Voice UK and our favourite “Emo” in the St. Trinian’s movie. Now she’s back with a new single Picking Up the Pieces and a new album

Fall to Grace. VIVA were given a world exclusive interview with the pint-sized superstar! >>

VIVA 14

I N T E R V I E W

HELLO PALOMA, HOW ARE YOU TODAY? I’m very well thank you, a bit hungry though because I’ve been fi lming a comedy drama

since 6 this morning for the BBC.

CAN YOU TELL US ANYTHING ABOUT THE SHOW? Well it’s called Blanding and it’s set in the 1930’s. I’m making a cameo in an episode as a cabaret dancer but one of the main actors is Timothy Spall who I love and got to fi lm with today.

SO YOUR NEW ALBUM FALL TO GRACE IS SET TO RELEASE ON MAY 28TH, HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM YOUR LAST ALBUM? This time round I had one producer, Nellee Hooper, so the album has a more defi nitive sound that acts as a thread and keeps all the songs together. I also feel that this album is more grown up and honest. I’m actually really nervous about it being released in case it doesn’t do well. I really hope that there is enough momentum going to make it a success.

NELLEE COOPER HAS WORKED WITH THE LIKES OF BJORK, NO DOUBT AND MADONNA SO YOU’RE IN GOOD HANDS. WHAT WAS IT LIKE WORKING WITH HIM? It was brilliant! I have quite a visual way of speaking and describing my ideas and Nellee interpreted them perfectly. He really understood me and the direction I wanted to take with my music.

WHAT IS YOUR NEW SINGLE PICKING UP THE PIECES ABOUT? Picking Up the Pieces deals with the issues of being in a relationship with someone who is still recovering from a previous relationship with another person. It is a song about self doubt and insecurity.

ARTISTS LIKE ADELE AND TAYLOR SWIFT USE THEIR PAST RELATIONSHIPS TO WRITE SONGS AND THE LYRICS OF YOUR SONGS HAVE A STRONG NARRATIVE. ARE THESE PAST EX-PERIENCES THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT OR DO YOU DRAW INSPIRATION FROM ELSE-WHERE? Erm, I use a mixture of things really; past relationships, present relationships, non-romantic relationships and general observations. Everything I write about is still very personal to me though because it is my interpretation of something.

WHERE DID YOUR PASSION FOR MUSIC COME FROM? I’ve always had a pas-sion for music but it wasn’t until later life that I knew I was going to be a musician. As a child I never said “I’m going to be a singer when I grow up” and I’m still a little afraid of doing only music now because it is such a competitive industry. I don’t want to put all my eggs in one basket as they say, which is why I do acting and whenever I meet someone at an event, I’ll always take their name and number in case they have a project that I can work on. But back to the question, growing up in Hackney I was always surrounded by music lovers and different genres of music so it is something that has always been a key feature in my life.

WHO WOULD YOU SAY YOUR MUSICAL INSPIRATIONS ARE? Etta James and Billie Holiday are my idols but lyrically I love Bob Dylan and Nick Cage; all the song writers from the 1950s and 60s were great lyricists. Career wise Bjork, Grace Jones and David Bowie really inspire me. They were so innovative and combined music and art. They pushed the boundaries of music.

YOU HAVE AN AMAZING SENSE OF STYLE WHICH WE ALL LOVE AT VIVA. WHO WOULD YOU SAY ARE YOUR STYLE ICONS? Marilyn Monroe, Isabella Rossellini and Marlene Dietrich. They all had such classic style and were amazing actresses. Oh and Grace Jones, I just adore her.

EVERY PICTURE WE SEE OF YOU, YOU ALWAYS HAVE INCREDIBLE OUTFITS ON, WHERE DO YOU LIKE TO SHOP? Aww, thank you! I love to shop at vintage shops but also in the high street. My favourite shop is a boutique in Covent Garden called Blackout II and I also love Beyond Retro who have quite a few shops now so it’s fun to go visit them all and see what they have. My absolute favourite shop was called ‘The Girl Can’t Help It’ but they closed down in London and moved to America which is a shame. From the high street I shop at Zara, New Look and Topshop and my favourite designer is D&G.

SO WHAT ARE YOUR KEY WARDROBE STAPLES? I think every girl needs a good pair of black patent stilettos! I have a pair from D&G and from New Look and they are both just as comfy as the other. Erm, what else? I’m loving berets at the moment so I think it’s important to have one of those in the wardrobe...one that goes with a lot of outfi ts.

YOU SAID BEFORE THAT A STILETTO IS STAPLE PIECE. WHAT IS THE HIGH-EST HEEL YOU’VE EVER WORN? Haha, maybe 5 or 6 inches?

WOW, THAT’S HIGH! Yeah but the trick is to have a big wedge at the front. I can’t wear heels that don’t have a front wedge, that would make them impossible to walk in and my feet would just cramp up.

CHANGING THE SUBJECT A BIT NOW. YOU’VE MET A LOT OF PEOPLE DUR-ING YOUR CAREER, WHO’S BEEN YOUR FAVOURITE? Oh Timothy Spall for sure! He is such an incredible actor and working with him today has just been a dream.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ANYONE WANTING TO MAKE IT IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY? Firstly, you will get knock backs but you need to keep on perse-vering especially if you believe in yourself. Secondly, you need to fi nd yourself people that you can trust and that will be honest with you. Those kinds of people are not easy to fi nd, trust me but when you have found them keep hold of them because they are invaluable.

SO WE ARE A MANCHESTER BASED MAGAZINE AND WE ALWAYS LIKE TO KNOW WHAT PEOPLE LOVE ABOUT OUR CITY. SO PALOMA FAITH, TELL ME, WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT MANCHESTER? The vintage shops! And I love the people; I used to live in Leeds and I feel like I should be a bit Northern. You guys talk to anyone which I love to do and you’re a lot friendlier. I’ll go into Sainsburys and have a good old chat with anyone.

A BIT OF A RANDOM QUESTION TO FINISH ON. IF YOU COULD BE A COCKTAIL WHICH ONE WOULD YOU BE? (very defi nitely) A Margarita. With a salt rim!

So there we have it! Her new single Picking Up the Pieces is out May 20th and her album Fall to Grace follows 8 days later!

I used to live in LEEDS and I feel like I should be a bit NORTHERN. You guys TALK to anyone which I love to do and you’re a lot FRIENDLIER...

VIVA I N T E R V I E W

interview by: Hayley Ashworth