18-Year-Old British Pop Star Pixie Lott

Recently the subject of considerable praise in The Sunday Times of London’s Culture section, 18-year-old Pixie Lott of Kent, England is preparing for the release of her debut single. Pixie’s “Mama Do” will be released on June 8th in the UK. (The video for the single can be seen on You Tube.) Her next single is due for UK release on August 31st and her debut album, Turn It Up, will follow, with a UK release on September 7th.

When Pixie was 14 years old, she saw an ad for auditions in the show-biz newspaper The Stage. That ad led to her getting a manager and, eventually, to travel to New York City to record some demos. At 16, Pixie signed a management deal with the US-based firm DAS Communications, the firm that also manages the Black Eyed Peas and Fergie.

Pixie has spent the last two years working on songs and considering offers from record companies. Following a huge bidding war for her recording contract, Pixie signed deals with Mercury Records in the UK and Interscope in the United States. Pixie has also made a series of video diaries, which can be seen on You Tube, so that her rapidly growing fan base can keep up with the latest events in her career.

Pixie’s voice is very impressive indeed. I am not a fan of a lot of the pop music that’s being produced today, but I was really bowled over when I heard Pixie sing. Her cover of the Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody” is stunning. Check it out on You Tube. It’s not going to be long before Pixie Lott is a household name.

Pixie has very kindly agreed to an exclusive e-mail Q&A with Powerline A.D. The results of the Q&A follow:

Powerline A.D.: Are you still at school or have you left?
Pixie Lott: I left when I was 17 and I’m 18 now…so not too long ago! It was hard to keep going in because I was getting so busy. I did all my GCSEs and the first year of college.

Powerline A.D.: Have your friends and schoolmates been supportive of your musical endeavors?
Pixie Lott: Yeah…they cannot wait for it all to get released and get out there – just like me!

Powerline A.D.: How old were you when you started singing?
Pixie Lott: As young as I can remember…always wherever I was I was singing to the radio, around the house or for the family. Apparently, I was even singing in my cot!

Powerline A.D.: Do you come from a musical family?
Pixie Lott: I come from the least musical family ever. Literally nobody can sing a note – tone deaf!

Powerline A.D.: Is there any one artist or band that was very inspirational to you during your formative years? If so, which band or artist was it, and what was it about them that appealed to you?
Pixie Lott: My inspirations have always been the big voices with the raw talent…i.e., Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Donnie Hathaway, and Otis Redding because of the soulfulness and emotion to their voices. Also people like Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears for their amazing performances.

Powerline A.D.: How did growing up in Kent shape you as a person and as a performer?
Pixie Lott: I started off at Italia Conti Saturday school which was in Chislehurst in Kent and I used to go to other local dance schools which helped me get into the main school. There are lots of good dance schools in Kent.

Powerline A.D.: You attended the Italia Conti stage school in London. Do you believe that attending the school played a large role in shaping the musical direction that you’re following?
Pixie Lott: To be honest, Italia Conti teaches more musical theatre and so the musical direction I follow just came naturally from me. I did learn a lot but I always knew I was more into the soul/pop side of music.

Powerline A.D.: You auditioned for the Grammy Award-winning songwriter and producer L.A. Reid when you were 14 years old. How did you come to his attention? And what songs did you sing for him at the audition?
Pixie Lott: I had a manager at the time that I found through The Stage newspaper. He introduced me to lots of songwriters and we recorded a few tracks. L.A. Reid heard a song that he really liked, and so he flew over to London and I sang for him in his hotel room. I was going to sing the song he liked to a CD, but the CD wouldn’t work! He asked me what I had auditioned with to get my manager and I said, “Mariah Carey – ‘Hero’” and so I sang that to him instead!

Powerline A.D.: In a feature article about you in the Sunday, March 1st edition of The Sunday Times of London, writer Dan Cairns stated that you are “one of the best and most naturally gifted female singers this country has produced in years.” What does it mean to you to be the subject of that type of praise this early in your career?
Pixie Lott: Wow, is my reaction every time! To hear things like that is amazing, I feel really fortunate to have things like that said about me. It is definitely the impression I want to portray!

Powerline A.D.: What kind of response have you received to your You Tube video diaries? Do your fans find the video diaries a good way to keep up with what’s going on in your career?
Pixie Lott: Yeah, I think they like to have a little update here and there! It’s a fun way to keep the fans involved in what I get up to and I enjoy doing them too!

Powerline A.D.: Do you have any acting ambitions? Or do you want to concentrate solely on music at the moment?
Pixie Lott: I’m really focused on my music right now because I am so passionate about it! But, I would love also to get involved in acting like films and stuff…just wanna do it all, really!

Powerline A.D.: How would you describe your musical style?
Pixie Lott: It has a pop commercial sound but still kept very soulful with R&B/retro influences but still very contemporary and fresh sounding!

Powerline A.D.: Is your debut album going to be released in the UK and America at the same time?
Pixie Lott: No. It’s coming out in the UK first, because that is where I am from! I can’t wait to release it in America afterwards.

Powerline A.D.: You worked with some powerhouse songwriters for the material on your album, including the songwriter and American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi. Do you write songs on your own as well? If so, will any of those appear on the album?
Pixie Lott: I think it’s great to co-write with people because it always pushes you to be your best. I’ve been so lucky to work with the most amazing songwriters and producers and it has definitely helped my songwriting develop. I do write songs on my own…either on the piano, garageband or to tracks but none of the ones completely written by me are on the album – they are more personal.

Powerline A.D.: What songs on the album are your favorites?
Pixie Lott: I change all the time…but right now it is “Cry Me Out.” I’ve been rehearsing lots with my band recently and I love to sing it live.

Powerline A.D.: Your debut single, “Mama Do,” will be released on June 8th in the UK. How will you be promoting the single?
Pixie Lott: Weeelllll, I will be doing lots of interviews (like this one haha). I have a Bebo series that I will be filming pretty soon…TV performances…festivals…gigs…tours…MySpace…everything I can!

Powerline A.D.: What do you think of American music fans compared to their counterparts in the UK? Which fans are more passionate about the music that they like—the Americans or the British?
Pixie Lott: My American and British fans are both really enthusiastic, which is great…I’m so happy that I have fans from all different places in the world…i.e., Japan, Saudi Arabia…with the help of MySpace! I found a cover version of my song “Mama Do” the other day on You Tube…and a girl from Brazil was singing it!

Powerline A.D.: As an Englishwoman, why do you think the UK has produced so many phenomenal musical talents?
Pixie Lott: I think the UK has so many amazing musical talents and I think it’s because they are more about the music and are so passionate. The focus is more on the songs and the voice.

Powerline A.D.: One of your video diaries on You Tube features you taking a dance class. Will your live performances feature you dancing as well as singing?
Pixie Lott: I love a bit of dancing whilst performing! Yes, you can expect me to show you a few moves on the stage. I love to see recording artists do the whole package.

Powerline A.D.: Do you know yet when you will be performing in America?
Pixie Lott: I have nooo idea, but I cannot wait!

Powerline A.D.: What artists and bands are on your iPod at the moment?
Pixie Lott: I am loving Kings of Leon, MGMT, Jazmine Sullivan, James Morrison, Adele, Lady Gaga, and Robyn at the moment.

Powerline A.D.: FINAL QUESTION: What does the word “success” mean to you?
Pixie Lott: It means to have completed most of your goals and for people to know your music everywhere! I want to do loads of shows with massive crowds, sell lots of records, and to get involved in everything possible, stay in the business as long as I can!

Special thanks to Katerina Marka of the Mercury Music Group in London for her assistance in putting this Q&A session together.

For additional information on Pixie Lott, go to:
www.pixielott.com
www.myspace.com/pixiesongs
www.youtube.com/user/pixieofficial

Interview by John Curley (April 2009)