True Faith

ACTRESS, dancer, burlesque performer, lingerie salesgirl, magician’s assistant – and singer.

When it comes to a career path, few can match Paloma Faith.

And that’s only half of it.

A born star, Paloma does more than just create great music – she turns it into pure theatre. The half-Spanish Hackney-born style icon is one of the most exciting new artists to swagger on the scene in recent years.

Gold album Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful? and singles Stone Cold Sober, New York and new release Upside Down have jolted jaded listeners into taking notice. But what is it that inspired the famously flamboyant and sharply coiffured Paloma to strike out in such a bold, if deeply retro, direction?

“Everything!” she says excitedly, at home in London.

“All the things I’ve done have helped inform the world I’ve created for my songs – but the most important things have been my time as a magician’s assistant, and a job I had playing a live spook on a ghost train! That’s what inspired the dark imagery.”

Paloma, a former Agent Provocateur assistant, describes her early performances as “David Lynch meeting William Blake at the circus”. Which is hardly surprising for a girl who once made a living out of being sawn in half night after night. “My life has taught me to write songs people can relate to,” explains the 24-year-old, who starred as Andrea the Emo in St Trinian’s and appeared in the Terry Gilliam movie The Imagination of Dr Parnassus.

She has also popped up in TV dramas and even the video for The Beat That My Heart Skipped by Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip (see opposite).

It’s impossible to separate the acting Paloma from the musician. Drama runs through every Paloma show – from her immaculate appearance, showgirl styling, and music hall-style performance.

“I was a singer in burlesque clubs, which came about because I loved dressing up in nostalgic vintage clothes,” she explains. “I’d go to clubs and ask to perform, and one thing led to another.”

And the actress within is loving all the attention. “I’m enjoying it, I’m giving it my best shot.”

Her glacially cool songs are more reminiscent of jazz, soul and blues standards than contemporary pop and indie fare. All of which gives her music a sophisticated feel.

She agrees. “I don’t really like modern music,” she admits. “Everything after the ’70s is a bit rubbish – with a couple of exceptions.

“I should have been born at a different time,” she adds wistfully. “There’s something very beautiful about the past. I like the way things were presented, with attention to detail. Everything was made and done with care.”

A Bohemian, leftfield renaissance woman, Paloma refuses to distinguish between her various incarnations. “They are all an extension of who I am,” she says. “We all have multiple identities and shouldn’t define ourselves as just one thing.”

For Paloma, style is everything, and always has been; even as a ghost train spectre. “I didn’t try to scare people,” she laughs. I was a very polite ghost – and I was glamorous – naturally!

She insists she never slums it – and is definitely not a fan of festivals. “Anywhere you can’t wear stilettos just isn’t worth going,” she claims.

Which, I suggest, might present a problem at Glastonbury and elsewhere this summer, where she will be one of the most sought-after acts.

“I don’t like wellies, so I’ll still wear stilettos,” she answers. “I’ll just a get a big bloke to carry me. Either that or I’ll be in high-heeled snakeskin boots!”

Paloma plays the O2 Academy Oxford on Sunday. And she challenged the people of Oxford to join her in raising the sartorial stakes. “Dress up!” she insists. “Make as much effort as you want!”