Paloma Faith has had quite the year so far. The Only Love Can Hurt Like This singer kicked off 2024 in typically honest fashion, with the release of her new album The Glorification Of Sadness, following her split from her long-term partner, artist Leyman Lahcine.
In the 14 years since her debut album, the mum of two has released Sunday Times bestselling book MILF (an acronym for “Motherhood, Identity, Life, F**kery, fyi), and last month played to a huge crowd at Glastonbury.
heat caught up with Paloma, 42, to talk growing up in London’s buzzy music scene, juggling motherhood with fame, and why she doesn’t think her kids will be trying to be stars anytime soon…
Paloma, you're sharing your favourite parts of London in GetYourGuide's immersive tour. What do you love about this city so much?
As an avid traveller myself, I'm really proud of the city I come from. I've got the most diverse family culturally ever, so I was raised in that melting pot. People are always like, 'Oh, my God, I didn't know that about you' but I feel like that's the London I'm proud of. So when they said, ‘We want to look at places in London that maybe people wouldn't necessarily see as easily,’ I was like, 'Yes, sign me up!’
You must have had some wild teenage years in London…
I used to go to a lot of clubs when I was underage with my illegal ID. As soon as I turned 18, I wasn’t interested any more, because it was legal!
You came up alongside other future stars too…
Yeah, Florence Welch, Duffy… I did a show where me and Adele were backing singers. I used to do my own club nights, as well, where I promoted new musicians. I had Adele perform, Kate Nash, loads of others.
It must feel amazing to be recognised as a legend now?
A few weeks ago I presented a prize at [prestigious songwriting awards] the Ivor Novellos, and I left early, because I only had the babysitter until a certain time. Then my phone was going off and off and off, and it was all these people saying, “Lana Del Rey’s just walked onstage and said that she remembers you from when you both started out together, and she loves you, and she was hoping to speak to you after and you’re not even here.”
That’s wild! Does it feel strange when your home and professional lives overlap?
I feel like they’re quite separate. When they overlap, it’s uncomfortable for me.
You’ve got two daughters – do you think they could follow in your performing footsteps?
Well, one’s three and she’s quite the performer – but I feel like all three year olds are. At the moment, I’m not sure. I’d support whatever they want to do, but I would be very surprised if they wanted to [do what I do]. I think that they can see how unglamorous it is. They’re quite empathetic kids, and they’re like, “Why’d you always work until you’re so tired?” When I’ve spoken to my eldest daughter – who’s seven – about it, she’s like, “It looks terrible. Don’t want to do that.”
You’ve spoken honestly about your fears of getting older and having that affect your career – how do you feel about that now?
I think it’s something that’s inevitable, but I also think that, as an artist, I haven’t followed the rules. People say stuff like, “You’re on the shelf by the age of 33 as a female artist.” I’m not.
You’re more popular than ever!
There’s a lot of demand for me to be on TV, I’ve got a really huge following on social media from a younger crowd, I’ve trended on TikTok. But also I am known in my industry as an anomaly. I’m just dancing to the beat of my own drum.
How has life got better as you’ve got older?
When I was younger, everything was superficially based on how I looked, whether I was sexually attractive or not. When I first came into the music world, people would be like, “Well, she seems so stupid.” I just lack pretension – that’s not the same as being stupid. Now, I feel like people really want to talk to me and treat me with more respect.
Paloma has teamed up with GetYourGuide to take fans on an exclusive immersive music tour of London, exploring the city’s rich cultural history.