Award-winning singer, songwriter, actor and TV personality Paloma Faith is back with the release of the single, How You Leave A Man – her first new music since 2020. Her sixth studio album, The Glorification of Sadness (RCA Records), is out in February 2024; her most personal album to date, it is the first time she has executively produced a record.
Born and raised in London, Paloma has released five critically acclaimed albums since her 2009 debut, Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful? The Brit Award winner has starred in the TV series Pennyworth and films including The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, as well as being a judge on The Voice. She has also served as an ambassador for Greenpeace and Oxfam and recently launched her own interiors brand, Paloma Home. She will be touring the UK and Ireland in 2024.
The first album I loved was Madonna’s True Blue. I bought it on cassette in Woolworths and I am going to see her live for the first time this year. I’m tearful thinking about it.
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I keep listening to this song called Believer by SYML. It actually makes me weep every time I hear it. I think I’m hormonal.
The book that influenced me the most is Immortality by Milan Kundera. It made me think about the human condition and what elements of a person actually can live forever.
While writing my new album I was really helped by On Failure from The School of Life – a bit embarrassing but it’s so good.
My favourite film changes all the time but today it’s Happiness by Todd Solondz.
I’m watching Scenes from a Marriage – again. It really helped me process my breakup and write my new album. Such an interesting insight into the perils of modern love.
I spend far too much time wiping bums. I wipe both my kids’ and my own every day.
The best hotel room in the world is the ‘Caveman’ suite at the Madonna Inn. I love The Flintstones.
The most memorable exhibition I’ve ever seen was Tracey Emin at the White Cube. Her work really speaks to me about the strength and suffering of women.
If I won the lottery I would buy my sister a house and give a load of money to my friend Dennis Okwera’s charity, the Lumule Foundation, which helps children get an education in Uganda, where he is from.
My favourite place in the world is anywhere where my children are.
This year, I’m looking forward to releasing new music after being in hiding for a while, and playing live shows again.
If I could bring back one trend it would be the plimsolls we wore as kids with the bit of elastic on the top. They were also from Woolworths (like my Madonna cassette) – very comfortable and affordable!
The greatest meal I ever had was from Dim Sum Duck. They make all the dumplings from scratch every day. It’s amazing and reminds me of my childhood. My stepfather is Chinese and we usually had dim sum on Sundays.
The Glorification of Sadness is out on 16 February and can be pre-ordered here.
