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Q Interview: Paloma's Glamorous Glasto

Fresh from her first Glastonbury appearance ever, Paloma Faith met with Q looking pineapple-esque in a gold-sequined outfit (topped off with gigantic green hair fastener) for a quick catch-up about her inspired onstage get-up, resembling "a tranny" and generally looking fabulous on a farm.

Q: Hi Paloma, would you like some Red Stripe?
Paloma Faith: No, I don't like it sorry.

Q: You're looking marvellous in this outfit, and earlier you appeared wielding two massive inflatable balls that were attached to your arms...
PF: Aw, I'm pleased you watched it. In the Isle Of Wight festival I did this "Leopard Lady" - we're doing the alter egos of Paloma Faith. For this one, we called her the "Floating Lady" and she's a daydreamer with her head in the clouds, which is one element of my personality. Me and my designer have sort of invented all these personas that are all parts of my personality. So today was dreamy. And I was cos it was quite early.

Q: It's a different vibe isn't it? How was the midday slot for you?
PF: Completely. Weirdly, I did feel more tranny-ish than normal because I was putting the glitter and the false lashes on at like 10 this morning [laughing].

Q: But you enjoyed your first Glastonbury?
PF: Yeah, it was amazing. And what a brilliant stage to play on and everything.

Q: You did look like you were going to take off at one point with your balloons...
PF: Yes, they were very strong.

Q: Do you have any tips for a glamorous guide to Glastonbury?
PF: I'd say if I was a punter, I'd worry about the waist up. And don't worry about the waist down cos if you were gonna keep going don't wear stilettos. I know that for years I've said anywhere that it's not worth going if you can't wear stilettos. But if you are gonna come, definitely don't wear them. I've just been walking about for three minutes in them and it's proving quite difficult.

Q: Flip flops are all the rage this year...
PF: Well, it's nice and sunny [smiling]!

Q: What would be your essential item to bring to a festival?
PF: [without hesitation]: A revolving bowtie.

Q: What was your inspiration for the cover you did today of The Korgis' Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime?
PF: I dunno. The lyrics although very simple and beautiful are quite mournful. With my cover, what I wanted to do was sing something that a lot of people might know - as in got quite a commercial hold on it - but that appeals to me. It's that slightly melancholic... it sounds remorseful that song. It's like [indicates heartache]. It moves me.

Q: So, 40 years of Glastonbury. Have you been as a punter?
PF: Yeah, I've been as a punter, I've been as a cabaret artist, I've been as an unsigned artist desperately trying to get noticed, wading through mud to get to a shitty stage with two people watching. [Pauses] Yeah, it feels like a big achievement. I was actually nervous. And it's funny cos I never get nervous and I haven't been this year at all. But this time I felt the expectation was quite high. I feel like I had to prove something.

Q: You said that on Twitter. What do you want to prove?
PF: I just think that like as amazingly overwhelmed by my success as I am, it's funny because the closer you get to success the more you want it. Like just that extra inch. If you're nowhere near then it seems distant. But I feel so kind of close to doing something that I still have this feeling that it's just going to take something very small for me to push it over. I'm still there and I'm sort of feeling like there's that thing... I can see the carrot, you know?

Q: Yes...
PF: But it's an amazing feeling. It's just like [excitedly], OH MY GOD I CAN SEE THE CARROT, I WANT THE CARROT! [Laughing]

Q: When you've been here over the years as a punter, what are the best things you've seen?
PF: Um, last year I loved Shirley Bassey. Paolo Nutini was amazing last year too. I think there was one year that everyone was in mud up to their necks. That was funny cos people were diving into it. That's a memory. I didn't want to get involved. But I've got some brilliant pictures of people sitting on pub benches, drinking coffee with mud up to their wastes.

Q: It's a different atmosphere when the weather's bad but it's always...
PF: It's always positive, yeah.

Q: Are you sticking around?
PF: Yeah I really, really want to see Ray Davies. I've just recorded a song with him. Well, I'm recording this song on Tuesday for his album of covers as a collaboration. We're gonna do Lola. Which is very apt for me cos I feel like a bit of a tranny.

Q: He's on the Pyramid stage now. Are we holding you back?
PF: We're gonna head over soon. It's alright! And then, Stevie Wonder as well.

Q: What's the atmosphere been like back here? Have you bumped into any friends?
PF: I bumped into Will Young over there earlier and he seemed to be enjoying it. It's quite a relaxed atmosphere on Sunday. It's nice.

Q: Have you got any non-stage related recommendations? Food stalls, etc?
PF: I've not been for food yet. I was thinking of looking for an ice cream in a minute.

Q: What's in store in the coming months? Are you working on a new album?
PF: We've just started writing.

Q: What are your plans for it?
PF: I think I'm just gonna try and stay more true to myself. Do what I wanna do.

Q: Try and seek out the carrot...
PF: [Smiling] Seeking the carrot.

Get all of Q's latest Glasto coverage at our dedicated Glastonbury micro-site.

Words: Eve Barlow

Eve's personal music blog can be found on www.boomerang-kid.blogspot.com

6:13 PM | 27/06/2010