1. 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! >>

3. VIVA 14
INTERVIEW
H
ELLO PALOMA, HOW ARE YOU TODAY?
I’m very well thank you, a bit hungry though
because I’ve been filming 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 film 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 definitive 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 outfits.
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 find yourself people
that you can trust and that will be honest with you. Those kinds of people are not easy
to find, 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 definitely) 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 INTERVIEW
interview by: Hayley Ashworth