Eliza Doolittle Interview - Nottingham 2010

Eliza is without doubt one of the biggest prospects in UK music. Charming, modest, approachable, her rise in popularity has had no effect on her, with feet still planted on Terra Firma. We arrive at Nottingham's Rescue Rooms, and are met by the tour manager. After a few moments, Eliza comes out and greets us and we agree that the best place for the interview would probably be her dressing room.

Who are your influences in music?

I listen to loads of different music so I don’t know what exactly influences me. I hope that it all kind of goes into my brain and then comes out in a big mush and that’s what my music is like a mixture of everything. But at the same time I hope it’s something unique and new as well. I listen to everything from Stevie Wonder, Jeff Buckley to the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Stevie Dann, Carol King was one of my idols, Jodie Mitchell, The Beach Boys I listened a lot for this record actually, I suppose their summary sound influenced me a lot, The Kinks, Paul Simon. There’s tonnes of different music that I love and i just kind of hope that none of it influences me too much but it all influences me a little bit.

Did you always know you wanted to be a singer?

Yeah I did. I always loved singing whether it was at school plays, or in the car listening to my favourite songs, or music channels or what ever. But i think it was always one of those kind of things where everyone asks you what do you want to be when you grow up? And I’d always say it. And then after a while I was like maybe I should actually try and I started writing songs when I was nearly 13 I think I wrote my first song. And then I just kept doing it really, and my mum made up a CD for all my family for Christmas with like three songs with my best friends brother in his studio. And that made me feel a bit more confident about it and kept it up.

Who are your favourite artist that you’ve worked with or supported?

Jaime Cullum was amazing. It was an honour to watch him every night let alone get to support him. I learnt a lot from watching him and seeing how he interacted with the crowd and how perfect all the band were it was amazing. And they were all lovely so it was a great experience.

You filmed the video for ‘Pack Up’ in Jamaica what was that like?

It was really cool I was only there for three days so I didn’t get to feel it out too much but when I was there what I did see was amazing. And the people were lovely and it was perfect for the song because the song is all about realising how lucky a majority of us are being in a country like Jamaica where there is a lot of poverty amongst other things. And seeing that and seeing how everyone gets on with it and is so kind of care free and they’re all like ‘No problem’ that’s like their catchphrase. So to think that they have no problems and to think that we complain, I know we all do a little bit complain about certain things that are meaningless. It just made it the perfect place to shoot the video.

I see you’ve been travelling quite a lot, how to the music scenes compare to the English?

Oh they’re all different everywhere. But that’s what is so good about it and it’s quite a good challenge to get my music heard everywhere, like I’ve had a request from India to go and start promoting my album out there, quite a hard place to break thought because they are quite traditional with their music and that’s going to be quite a good challenge for me.

What would be your dream duet?

Stevie Wonder. He’s my idol I literally love every song he’s ever made he can’t go wrong in my eyes. Hearing his music for the first time was like seeing a colour that doesn’t exist. It was amazing so I’d love to be able to do a song with him.

What is it about his music?

There’s something about it, like the melodies just take you somewhere that you haven’t I’d never really felt from any other artist. He was signed to Motown, you could call it Motown music but it’s not, it’s just Stevie Wonder no one else sounds like him.

What do you do to relax before a show?

I always do a little warm up; always feel better after a warm up. Especially as I, I don’t know if you can hear it have a little croak so it’s good to get rid of that. I’m always just in my dressing room catching up with internet stuff and doing all the blogging and I suppose just chilling out really.

I see you’re an Arsenal fan what do you think of the season so far?

What I’ve seen of it. I’ve been travelling so much every time there’s a game I’m in Finland or something and there’s no way of watching it. It’s been really up and down, like really up and down we’ve been scoring loads in some games and getting mushed in others. But I couldn’t really comment I haven’t been a true fan.

Who’s your favourite player?

Cesc (Fabregas) is my favourite. Obviously I don’t know how things are going to turn out because of him wanting to leave this season. I think I’ll always admire him no matter where he goes, but I hope he stays, but no matter where he goes. I also admire Theo Walcott he’s incredibly talented and I just want to see more of him really.

What has been your biggest challenge so far?

I think for me the biggest challenge was always finding my own sound and that took me a long time to experiment with music and find that and at the same time I would say it was a challenge but it wasn’t a bad thing it was a great journey for me and I’m really happy to finally have an album I can be proud of. And also the fact that it took me so long makes it even more fulfilling and makes me even happier about it.

Finally, what advice would you give to aspiring young artists?

Start writing if you haven’t because I think it’s really important to be involved in your own music. Then once you’ve got some songs under your belt, start gigging and get them out there and if people like them whether it’s a manager or whoever will jump on board and help out with the project. And whether you need that or not its up to you. But I’ve found that helpful with the people around me they have been amazing. So yeah if people like it I think they’ll jump on board.

We thank Eliza for her time, and then cheekily ask for Rhien to have a photograph with her. Eliza being Eliza cheerfuly accepts with a beaming smile, and then we head off, ready for the gig.