Singer Paloma Faith is returning to Chicago on tour this October and she's on a mission to convert new followers.
This British bombshell is taking listeners through the ages on her latest endeavor, A Perfect Contradiction. Thanks to a little help from her friends Pharrell Williams and Raphael Saadiq, the writing is top-notch and her voice just soars.
The talented songstress scored her first number-one single in the United Kingdom recently with her Sigma collaboration "Changing."
WCT phoned Faith, discussing Diane Warren's favorite word before she dances under the disco ball at the Park West.
Windy City Times: Hey, Paloma. Where in the world are you calling me from right now?
Paloma Faith: I'm at home in London for a change.
WCT: I'm excited about seeing you play live again in Chicago. I interviewed the last time you were here.
Paloma Faith: You are just coming back for more...
WCT: Yes. Where did the title for the new album A Perfect Contradiction come from?
Paloma Faith: Basically, it came out of a conversation with Pharrell because I was working with him on one of the songs for this record. When you work with a producers they want to get to know you and put a sprinkling of your personality into it. He was asking a few questions to gauge what I was like as a person. I told him I am a mix of contradictions. I like people who you think are one thing and they are another. It is okay to be like that but a contradiction. He told me I should call my album that and I said, "That's a bit long!" This was coming from the woman that called her past album Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful? [Both laugh.]
I started thinking about it and it defined so much of what I was feeling. I am quite... well, I say realistic but people say melancholic, but I feel you can experience light without having experienced the dark in life. For example, if you have a shit relationship then meet someone who is very lovely to you then you really appreciate it. You have something to offset it against.
WCT: What is the concept of the album?
Paloma Faith: I wanted to write an upbeat record because I was happier than I had ever been in love. I also didn't want to negate the fact that there is sadness at times. I just thought A Perfect Contradiction makes sense of that. It doesn't just describe that but also what I am as a person. It is a good answer to a lot of questions.
Sometimes, journalists try to be clever and say I said something contradictory in another interview but I might have just felt that way for that day [and] today I don't.
WCT: Well, I am not one of those journalists!
Paloma Faith: [Laughs] I called my record that to avoid those situations.
WCT: I listened to the track "Impossible Heart" on the new album. Is it talking about being in love with gay boys?
Paloma Faith: Yes. I had and have quite a lot close relationships with gay boys in my time. I went to dance school and it was inevitable. Sometimes the lines can be blurred.
WCT: Disco seems to be a big influence on this album. Was it from working with Pharrell or more you?
Paloma Faith: I only did one song with him so I am not going to give him credit for that one. It was me. I wanted to make a record that was an homage and history of soul so there are '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s, and '90s references running through the album. Songs like "Taste My Own Tears" and "Only Love Can Hurt Like This" production-wise would be a more sixties thing with something like The Ronettes vibe. The '50s things is "Can't Rely on You" and '90s with "Trouble with My Baby." The '70s is "The Bigger You Love ( The Harder You Fall )" and '80s with "Impossible Heart."
WCT: For all the different styles, it still sounds cohesive.
Paloma Faith: I was really inspired by working with Raphael Saadiq on this album. I wrote two songs with him that he also produced "Love Only Leaves You Lonely" and "Mouth to Mouth" which is actually my favorite track on the record.
Out of everyone I have worked with he has got my references because he has such musical taste and a real musician's musician. He's really unadulterated in love with music. There's no other reason that he does anything. I have a lot of respect for him. I met him when we were both opening for Prince in Copenhagen. I thought, "Prince has just asked me to perform, so I might as well try to ask Raphael to work with me."
WCT: I have seen him perform a few times and he's great.
Paloma Faith: Yeah, he's brilliant and very easy on the eyes.
WCT: How did you meet songwriter Diane Warren?
Paloma Faith: Oh, she's amazing. Her favorite word is "cunt" for a start, which is not very American, but we love this word in the UK. Apart from Diane Warren and Azealia Banks, I have not heard anyone use it in America.
She got me a present because we went to number one in Australia with our song. She bought me a bracelet that is very prissy and engraved with beautiful handwriting with "Number One Cunt" on it.
WCT: I don't even know what to say to that. I'm turning red right now if you could see me through the phone. I saw on Twitter you finally met Debbie Harry.
Paloma Faith: I'm in love with her. I've met her before but I didn't have a picture with her. I didn't want to be the one asking for a picture so I accosted the photographer to take it because I was too embarrassed to ask.
WCT: With the song "Only Love Can't Hurt Like This," it has to be hard to perform live. How do you take care of your voice?
Paloma Faith: There are things you can do to cheat like pitch it down and nobody will notice that I sing it in a different key. These are tricks of the trade.
WCT: Do you drink a lot of tea to help it?
Paloma Faith: Yeah, I do steaming when I exercise it. I'm not very disciplined so I usually don't but just by default when I am working all the time. I do try to warm up and warm down.
WCT: Talk about your new guest vocals on "Changing."
Paloma Faith: It is number one in the UK this week. I hope this will happen in other places like America because I'm number one in Australia and the UK. That is a first for me.
WCT: I want you to be huge here so what do we need to do?
Paloma Faith: Sell our asses, I think! If people just hear me then they will love me.
WCT: I think you need to have the one big song in America and it is easier.
Paloma Faith: Yeah, we will see.
WCT: Where does your fashion sense come from?
Paloma Faith: I think I just always liked getting dressed up. My family is quite female-heavy, and they are all into dressing up on occasion. When bad things used to happen to us my mom made us dress up. I think it is sort of a mask or a coping mechanism. It has translated into my work. Being a songwriter is a vulnerable place to be so it is like a coat of armor in a way. It is vulnerable enough without going onstage looking like shit as well!
You know I went to a fashion party the other day because it is London Fashion Week. Someone said they feel inadequate at parties like this but I don't. I feel bored. The only time I feel inadequate is around the drag queens at those parties. They all look so amazing. I feel completely inferior. I can be full of life then see a drag queen and go into my shell. I'm not worthy!
WCT: I was with a drag-queen friend of mine at your last show in Chicago.
Paloma Faith: Well, bring lots of drag to this show although I will feel inferior.
WCT: No, they should be carrying you out on a pedestal. You just have to pack some good outfits when you come to Chicago.
Paloma Faith: Yes, I will.
WCT: The venue has a disco ball continually spinning the ceiling.
Paloma Faith: Excellent. It will be very in keeping with the music, then!
Find Faith at Park West, 322 W. Armitage Ave., on Wed., Oct. 1, at 7:30 p.m. Visit jamusa.com for ticket information.
Five new songs will be repacked for A Perfect Contradiction: Outsiders' Edition on Monday, Nov. 3. Look for that information and more on www.palomafaith.com .
