PalomaFaith…It’sAKindofMagicActress: check. Dancer: check. Talented musician: check. Magician’s assistant: err, check.

With such a captivating CV, it is hardly a surprise that 2010 has already been named as Paloma Faith’s year.

The seemingly unknown singer exploded on to radio stations last year with her debut single Stone Cold Sober, a track about being the only person at a party not entirely legless.

The track’s release date was brought forward a month after ripples began to spread and arouse interest with music-lovers across the UK, and the question being asked was, who does this powerful voice belong to? Answer: a petite Hackney girl with a penchant for burlesque costumes and a back-catalogue of jobs that would have any recruiter scratching their heads with confusion.

Now her debut album ‘Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?’ has gone gold, her new single Smoke and Mirrors is already track of the week on countless radio stations and the nameless voice from the radio has a definite, albeit outlandish identity.

Paloma Faith, 25, grew up listening to golden oldies such as Etta James and Billie Holiday instead of the likes of Wham or Duran Duran.

“My mum brought me up on her own,” she says, “She was always listening to music and influencing me.” A short time

later, she attended the Northern School of Contemporary Dance where creative differences made it difficult for Paloma to fit in.

“I don’t think that time in my life was particularly nice. It was quite an upsetting time. It was very demanding and I don’t think that the teachers really knew exactly how to teach me. I think creatively they were quite shocked by me.”

Her rebellious nature continued through the years. Determined not to conform to the humdrum jobs that most teens get by on, Paloma worked in Agent Provocateur and, eventually, as a magician’s assistant.

“I’ve been a ghost on a ghost train as well,” she quips. “As a magician’s assistant I was sawed in half. There’s a video on the internet and everything. I’m very much a ‘yes’ person so I just sort of fell into the job.”

But it wasn’t until she began singing in burlesque clubs that Paloma’s voice was truly appreciated. Now signed with Epic, Paloma remains quite humble about her mounting fame.

“It is definitely quite a lovely time to be a female artist. Florence and the Machine are doing amazing at the moment and I’m not quite as big as that just yet. Right now it’s about plugging away and hoping that people will like the music all over the world.”

It seems her talents span much further than just singing and song writing. She has played

an ‘emo’ in St Tinian’s and even appeared in Terry Gilliam’s the Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus alongside one of her favourite artists, growly singer Tom Waits, who played the devil.

“That was amazing. I was really overwhelmed and happy about being cast to play the devil’s girlfriend and with Tom. He’s exactly how you think he would be in person.”

Also famed for her glamorous and usually odd dress sense, Paloma hopes to one day start her own clothing range. “I’d love to do a range of clothes but right now I haven’t earned enough money to buy a flat so that’s my first aim.”

But concentrating on her music career for now, Paloma is currently on her biggest tour yet, with dates in the UK and Europe.

The video for her new single, ‘Smoke and Mirrors’ sees Paloma returning to her quirky roots, playing a disgruntled magician’s assistant in a cheesy B&B who eventually gets her revenge. But staying true to fans of not only music but magic, Paloma turns stern when asked to reveal the secret of how she is cut in half on stage.

“I would never reveal that. I’m in the circle.” But returning back to her bubbly self she laughs: “They really did it! It’s real!” Good job they sewed her back up, then.

Smoke and MirrorsandYou Want the Truth or Something Beautiful? are out now.VictoriaIrvine

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