You’re still fairly early on in your career, but you’ve already had some pretty amazing experiences and opportunities, including being managed by Dave Stewart of the Eurhythmics – what’s that like, how did that come about?
When I was 12, I started gigging around Camden, doing all the open mics I could. It started off when I had written this song called ‘Stone Tears’. I taught myself three chords on the guitar that I put with the lyrics. The next day I decided I wanted to sing it to people, so with my guitar in tow I headed out the door but my mum stopped me ask where I was going; I explained I had rang up a pub, they said I could go down, and that’s where i was bound - she told me I couldn't go without her. It was maybe the third or forth gig that I did, Stone Tears was recorded and via youtube, a family friend linked it to Twitter which is where Dave saw it and got in touch with my mum; proposing to produce my album and manage me.
I had such and amazing time working with Dave; we recorded between Jamaica and LA. I met so many incredible and talented people. It was a real revelation to be around Dave. When my mum first introduced me to the idea of Dave, I was a very young girl, and to me he seemed like an old man. But when I met him, it was blatant that his heart was still young; he had a million ideas going off in his head at once, this great sense of energy and enthusiasm. It soon became apparent that I could so easily relate to him as his outlook was so similar to mine. He lives in this very creative bubble, where in his words: “everything’s cocopops!” And that was really cool to be privy to - and I really enjoyed the recording process and just hanging out with him - when Dave’s around, there’s never a dull moment.
You’ve started writing music quite early. Tell us about your first song which you sang aged 12.
The first song I wrote, Stone Tears, was the first song that I’d written that made any sense or meant anything. I wrote it about the passing of someone very close to me, and it was my first experience of death where I understood it - before then, my encounters of death had always been filled with confusion and I didn't understand how someone who had always been there would suddenly never be there again. When he died, I knew immediately what the situation was, and it made me very sad - expressing it through words and music became a very good form of therapy for me, and I have done that ever since.
What creative process have you gone through to make your first album?
I never consciously acknowledged anything of what I did whilst making my debut album as a ‘creative process’ so I don't know entirely how to respond to this question. Songwriting and singing are things that come naturally to me. My music is a reflection of my life and a life of others.
How important is it for you to have creative control over the work you produce?
Writing a song for me is a very personal and intimate process - I write a song when words can no longer explain how I’m feeling and I need that further element - music - to explain what words cannot.
What inspires or influences you when you're making music?
Life inspires me. Whatever, Im thinking, feeling, experiencing - that’s what inspires me. People really inspire me too… A combination of everything. Musically, my influences are Jazz, Soul, Blues, Motown, Reggae etc - and I think my sound is a reflection of that.
What aims and aspirations do you have for your career?
I want to be able to sing until the day I die. I want to always be writing, and I hope that people can enjoy my music. My aim is to be the best I can be. I want to make my family proud of me.
Who in the industry would you love to work with in the future and why?
I’d honestly really love to work with Paolo Nutini. I really love his work, I think he’s an incredible lyricist and musician with a beautiful voice. And he’s old school - he’s real to me.
What is it about the world of music that you love?
I love the music side of music. I can't explain how I feel about music, but I’m sure many people can relate to that physical feeling music can induce; when for a moment or two everything makes sense, everything’s beautiful and everything’s possible.
How do you feel about being compared to Amy Winehouse?
I see it as a compliment, because I know who I am and I know there will only ever be one Amy. I think it’s just an easy, lazy, comparison really though. The reason Amy sounds like Amy is because of the influence of the likes of Dinah Washington, Billie Holliday, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone - and all these phenomenal women, that are very much unheard of these days - which is such a tragic shame.
Finally what's next for you?
I’ve got a few gigs here and there, I really want to get some more in the diary, but i feel my main concern at the moment is to write another album. Life is really hectic at the minute and it’s hard for me to sit down with my guitar and pinpoint my emotions of what I want to write about, but I’m sure as things settle and I have a moment to reflect,this next album will write itself.
