A Question of Faith

Paloma Faith by Fetherstonhaugh

The utterly glamorous singer and actress Paloma Faith talks to Emilia Hungerford about the big things in life: truth, beauty and… Faith

How would you describe your music?

My music is like a fairy tale meets the circus meets the freak show, and there’s a cinematic, quite epic element to it.

Where do you find inspiration for it?

From my life experience and films. I’m an avid film watcher – I am inspired by cinema and, even though I’ve experienced the reality of lots of jobs and experiences, I try and add an element of fantasy or storytelling, of blowing the audience into hyper-real situations in my songwriting.

You sing about truth and beauty. What do these mean to you?

I read Antonin Artaud’s book The Theatre and Its Double, and it’s about how life’s a performance and how we’re all playing our roles in a massive act. And I think there’s a lot to be said about that. I guess I’m playing with the idea that we’re all acting, and I am presenting something quite glamorous and iconic with all my imagery and the language and visuals I use.

I think some of the most beautiful things go unnoticed. I had this amazing experience that has never left me. I was on the bus going through Islington and I looked out the window and there was a lady who would be perceived by any rational person’s perspective as mad. She was dressed in a scrappy old dress and had bare feet and really long arms, and her arms were in the air, as if she was saying to something above, “Please just take me”, and she was spinning around on the spot like a kid. It was during peak time, when loads of businessmen were walking past and most people tried to ignore her and walked or rushed past. I think they thought she was mad, but I thought it was a really beautiful thing to see.

You’ve had a wonderfully colourful journey so far. Do any highlights come to mind?

I always had four or five things I wanted to achieve and they seem quite simple, but I like simple things. One was to finish an album, which I did, and I feel that was an accomplishment. One was to be in a film, and I’ve done a few. One was to be on Jools Holland and I did that twice last year, which was amazing. The last one was to be able to buy a flat, which I haven’t been able to afford quite yet, but I’m working towards that. I never thought I’d write an album or be in a film but I’ve done both, and I feel proud.

What about any low points and challenges?

I was on the circuit as a musician before I got a record deal and only a small group of people knew who I was. They couldn’t fathom why I didn’t have any support so I guess that was hard. However, I have always worked. I had my first job at 14 and I’ve never really stopped. I’ve always had money jobs and love jobs but I’ve always been someone who needs constant stimulation and to work all the time. Yes, it’s been hard work but if I don’t have loads of work I get really panicky.

Dreams?

I think everyone is looking for love. I do want to have children and I feel very maternal.

You have a strong sense of style. What does your style say about you?

Sometimes I want to recreate an empowerment of femininity and glamour and other times my style just says I’ve got a bloody good sense of humour.

What is your favourite thing to do in London?

I did have a favourite place in London, but it got knocked down because of the Cross Rail development. It was The Black Gardenia on Dean Street in Soho, my friend’s bar – and it was straight out of a David Lynch film. I am a bit obsessed by that Italian ice-cream place Gelato Mio in west London. It has the best ice cream ever. My favourite flavour is pistachio.

What are your passions other than music?

Food and cooking. I love cooking, eating and nice restaurants. I like The Cow and a Chinese restaurant called Magic Wok on Queensway.

When you are in a mischievous mood, what do you do?

I quite often feel mischievous, so often cause problems! I am not really a hedonist. I don’t take drugs, and never have done, which is weird for someone in this industry. And it takes me one glass of wine to get drunk. But I’m quite mischievous in the sense that I think my favourite pastime is to be controversial and challenging. For example, I could be in a polite situation and say outrageous things, or be in an outrageous situation and pretend I’m excessively well mannered. I just like to do the opposite of the vibe.

What do you enjoy about acting?

It is nice that I get to do both acting and singing. I am in charge of myself as a music personality, and it think it’s good for me to almost be a puppet for another person’s vision. I get to be somebody else and, in my case, that’s someone I wouldn’t normally be. I enjoy that. I’m really hoping for a role that’s really challenging for me, a character that’s a lot more deadpan, because I haven’t had that yet. I’d like to work with someone who’d strip everything away and challenge me with someone less eccentric than I am – something more real and normal, more everyday.

Tags: Paloma Faith, The Theatre and Its Double

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