Paloma Faith discusses motherhood and music amid busy schedule
Paloma Faith is currently en route to a wedding while juggling a conversation with her newborn baby, a testament to her hectic yet dedicated lifestyle as she balances her roles as a mother and a performer, reports BritPanorama.
In a candid moment, Faith reflects on her journey through motherhood, particularly the contrasts from her first experience. “Obviously the first one’s filled with anxiety because you don’t know what you’re doing, and you’re shellshocked,” she shares. However, she finds her current experience more rewarding due to her previous challenges and the support from others, stating, “There are so many variables, and we women blame ourselves – but you need your partner to be involved, and if they’re not, then other people need to step in.”
As she manages her responsibilities, Faith also shares light-hearted banter with the father of her child, Stevie Thomas, remarking on the disproportionate praise men receive for participating in childcare. “We need to abolish the word ‘help’ when it comes to dads. They’re not ‘helping’ [by looking after their baby] – they’re doing what they’re meant to do,” she asserts.
Despite her busy schedule, Faith is selective about her engagements, prioritising significant events such as the Baftas, which she attended alongside her friend Alan Carr. She emphasises the importance of this appearance in relation to public perception following a controversial moment on a televised show last year. “Going to the Baftas was important to me and Alan because we wanted people to stop saying that he was a meanie,” she laughed.
Paloma Faith (right) is a mentor on ‘Your Song’, along with Sam Ryder, with Alison Hammond as presenter (Photo: Channel 4)Recognised as a prominent figure in the music industry since her debut album in 2008, Faith has diversified her career to include roles in acting and mentoring, currently featured as a mentor on Channel 4’s amateur singing competition Your Song. She views this role as a significant achievement, noting, “the reason why I like this show is because it’s not really a competition.”
Faith values the accessibility of singing, emphasising its universal appeal. “[Your Song is made by] the same production company as The Piano, but the joy of singing is that anyone can do it,” she observes. This perspective extends to her belief in the importance of equal opportunities within the arts, stating, “What’s great about this show…is that it’s for everyone.”
While Faith acknowledges the challenges of entering the music industry today, she encourages aspiring artists to utilize available platforms. She reflects on her own beginnings, highlighting the relevance of digital platforms like MySpace in her rise to success. “Even then, it was quite elitist – most of the people came from privilege, and I didn’t,” she recalls.
Her views on creating music have evolved alongside her experiences as a mother. “I think that women’s lives are in chapters,” Faith suggests, acknowledging the changes in her artistic expression correlated with different life stages. With a new album already written during her pregnancy, she is now focused on its production, keenly aware of how her experiences shape her music.
“I’ve written my new album already,” Faith shares. “I wrote it when I was pregnant – so I’m now working on the production side.” This creative process is a reflection of her ongoing journey in both motherhood and music.
‘Your Song: The Grand Finale’ airs on Sunday at 9pm on Channel 4
