Double Page Spread Q&A

Draft 2

The newest and hottest pop artist chats exclusively to Download to show the world who she really is.

Since newly finding fame, how have you been coping with all the media attention?

It's demanding for sure, it's difficult adjusting to a completely new life which is completely different to what I've ever experienced before. Every time I’m swamped by the paps I feel like I have to stop for a photo and quick interview. Don't get me wrong, I love my new life and how much it has changed just sometimes I find it hard to deal with. I don't understand what to do sometimes, especially when the press are about. Like the day right after I dropped my debut single ‘fire’, which if I say so myself blew up the charts, the second I opened my front door I was blinded by the flashing lights from the paparazzi’s cameras. My first instinct was to slam shut the door, I was so scared and confused, needless to say my trip to the shops had to be postponed! Things like that are annoying and that’s not me being a diva at all, I just think I deserve privacy like I used to have. It’s things like that which make me feel like an animal in a zoo. Enough with the negatives, there are many perks of fame too. The traveling is unreal, growing up as a working class citizen I never got the opportunities to see the world as I’ve seen it these past few months.

What has been your favourite country that you’ve visited?

That's a hard question... I’m gonna say that it’s got to be Australia. The culture is the complete opposite to how it is in the UK and it’s full of creepy crawlies! I’m petrified of bugs but I didn’t let them get in the way of my trip. As a kid, Australia is always the place that I’ve always wanted to visit. It did live up to my expectations, it’s an island paradise for sure! I also thoroughly enjoyed touring North America but there are some famous monuments that are on my bucket list; like seeing the world famous Hollywood sign.

How do family and friends feel about your new found fame?

My family and friends are obviously thrilled for me as becoming a pop star has always been a dream of mine and they've been nothing but supportive throughout all the years. They were the ones who were there for me during my struggle and rise to fame and they are still as shocked as me! My family find it hard to believe that their little Shona has grown up to turned into a professional recording artist. The biggest shock has come to my mum who I caught googling my name! She always gets emotional as many of you will know who saw her appearance on Daybreak where I first preformed on live TV.

As it is relatively new to you, how do you cope with pre-concert jitters?

I have always loved preforming since I was a little girl and have taken part in choir performances where I've always been nervous for them but I was able to have my parents there cheering me on in the audience. But now every thing's changed and become a 100x bigger. Preforming the EMAs was the biggest gig I've ever done and my parents cheering me on in the audience wasn't enough to calm me down. I was constantly worried and kept thinking 'what if I mess up!?' I couldn't sleep for weeks, it was all I was thinking about. The thing that spurred me on to get on the stage was looking from the wings at the thousands of people cheering for me and screaming my name, I knew I had to deliver and that everything would be OK.

Not forgetting your mentor (Lady GaGa), what is your relationship like?

She's really cool and she's nothing like what I expected, but that is defiantly a good thing. At first I was extremely nervous and scared about meeting her, especially as she held my fate in her hands. But over the last few months we've got on really well as we've got to know each other and hopefully she'll be a life long friend who is always there to give me tips with how to handle fame. She’s also given me the perfect platform for my rise to fame by letting me be a support act on her ‘Born This Way Ball’ which is her world tour. I’m really excited for this opportunity which will be stopping off in LA so that’ll be the perfect time to see the Hollywood sign!

As well as touring with Gaga, what else can we expect from you in the future?

Since releasing my first single 'fire' I have decided to write some more of my own songs which feature on my upcoming album which will hopefully be out by late November, just in time for Christmas! I'm hoping this album will surprise everyone and be different to every other artist that they have heard, I'm aiming to do this by having my own songs and having some collaborations with artists which you might not expect from me.

Can you give us any hinters to any collaborations that feature on the album?

I don't want to give to much away, I'm being very secretive with who is on the album, not even my friends know! I want it to be a surprise but I guess I can't be too harsh and not reveal any artists so I'm willing to compromise by giving y'all a clue. One of the artists who features on a love song which was produced by Will.I.Am is also a UK born star who came on the scene a few years back and is a lyrical rap genius.

I think I have a good idea to who it could be!

Do you have any plans in the near future of trying to crack America?

It's defiantly on the cards and would be a dream come true if that happened. But right now I'm just focusing on cracking the UK before even thinking about going worldwide, there's so much fierce competition out there right now and it's gonna be a tough journey for sure. I am confident that I will be able to crack the US as I do have the perfect platform of having a phenomenal mentor constantly helping me.

What are some of the things that you're going to do to keep yourself grounded?

I'm gonna keep myself surrounded with family at all times because I know they won't let me get away with becoming obnoxious or anything like that! Every time I'm at home I know that my parents will keep me in check and will make me tidy my room and help around the house just like I do now. I’ve also got Gaga, who despite being a worldwide success for the last 6 years has stayed extremely modest and grounded, to help me. I would never want to be one of them people who are so demanding and treat other people like rubbish like some celebrities are today! I was shocked to hear about an instance where a pop star made her PA pick out all the green Skittles from the packet because they are the only ones that she likes.

Can you comment on the relationship rumours between you and A-List hottie Justin Bieber?

There's nothing going with us like that at all! The kissing rumours have been made into something that they're not, I just gave him a friendly kiss on the cheek as a congratulations for him winning his awards at the EMAs. I feel sorry for Justin because at every opportunity the media are always creating stories about him. With this story the media portrayed me in a negative light which did upset me. They were saying how I’m looking for attention and calling me a ‘fame whore’ which is not what I’m doing at all! I don’t want to be known for dating another celebrity, I want to be known for my music.

Can you clear up the rumours about you bad mouthing Cher Lloyd?

I have been wanting to clear these up for a while now, something I said was misinterpreted. By saying that I personally wasn't a fan of her music, people insinuated that I was saying that her music was poor. From this I got a lot of hate, especially from her fan base claiming that I was jealous when all I meant was to harmlessly say that her music isn't my cup of tea just like my sound is probably not to her preference. 

Draft 3

The newest and hottest pop artist chats exclusively to 'Download' to show the world who she really is.

Since newly finding fame, how have you been coping with all the media attention?

It's demanding for sure, it's difficult adjusting to a completely new life which is completely different to what I've ever experienced before. Every time I’m swamped by the paps I feel like I have to stop for a photo and quick interview. Don't get me wrong, I love my new life and how much it has changed just sometimes I find it hard to deal with. I don't understand what to do sometimes, especially when the press are about. Like the day right after I dropped my debut single ‘Fire’, which if I say so myself blew up the charts, the second I opened my front door I was blinded by the flashing lights from the paparazzi’s cameras. My first instinct was to slam shut the door, I was so scared and confused, needless to say my trip to the shops had to be postponed! Things like that are annoying and that’s not me being a diva at all, I just think I deserve privacy like I used to have. It’s things like that which make me feel like an animal in a zoo. Enough with the negatives, there are many perks of fame too. The traveling is unreal, growing up as a working class citizen I never got the opportunities to see the world as I’ve seen it these past few months.

What has been your favourite country that you’ve visited?

That's a hard question... I’m gonna say that it’s got to be Australia. The culture is the complete opposite to how it is in the UK and it’s full of creepy crawlies! I’m petrified of bugs but I didn’t let them get in the way of my trip. As a kid, Australia is always the place that I’ve always wanted to visit. It did live up to my expectations, it’s an island paradise for sure! I also thoroughly enjoyed touring North America but there are some famous monuments that are on my bucket list; like seeing the world famous Hollywood sign.

How do family and friends feel about your new found fame?

My family and friends are obviously thrilled for me as becoming a pop star has always been a dream of mine and they've been nothing but supportive throughout all the years. They were the ones who were there for me during my struggle and rise to fame and they are still as shocked as me! My family find it hard to believe that their little Shona has grown up to turned into a professional recording artist. The biggest shock has come to my mum who I caught googling my name! She always gets emotional as many of you will know who saw her appearance on Daybreak where I first preformed on live TV.

As it is relatively new to you, how do you cope with pre-concert jitters?

I have always loved preforming since I was a little girl and have taken part in choir performances where I've always been nervous for them but I was able to have my parents there cheering me on in the audience. But now every thing's changed and become a 100x bigger. Preforming the EMAs was the biggest gig I've ever done and my parents cheering me on in the audience wasn't enough to calm me down. I was constantly worried and kept thinking 'what if I mess up!?' I couldn't sleep for weeks, it was all I was thinking about. The thing that spurred me on to get on the stage was looking from the wings at the thousands of people cheering for me and screaming my name, I knew I had to deliver and that everything would be OK.

Not forgetting your mentor (Lady GaGa), what is your relationship like?

She's really cool and she's nothing like what I expected, but that is defiantly a good thing. At first I was extremely nervous and scared about meeting her, especially as she held my fate in her hands. But over the last few months we've got on really well as we've got to know each other and hopefully she'll be a life long friend who is always there to give me tips with how to handle fame. She’s also given me the perfect platform for my rise to fame by letting me be a support act on her ‘Born This Way Ball’ which is her world tour. I’m really excited for this opportunity which will be stopping off in LA so that’ll be the perfect time to see the Hollywood sign!

As well as touring with Gaga, what else can we expect from you in the future?

Since releasing my first single 'fire' I have decided to write some more of my own songs which feature on my upcoming album which will hopefully be out by late November, just in time for Christmas! I'm hoping this album will surprise everyone and be different to every other artist that they have heard, I'm aiming to do this by having my own songs and having some collaborations with artists which you might not expect from me.

Can you give us any hinters to any collaborations that feature on the album?

I don't want to give to much away, I'm being very secretive with who is on the album, not even my friends know! I want it to be a surprise but I guess I can't be too harsh and not reveal any artists so I'm willing to compromise by giving y'all a clue. One of the artists who features on a love song which was produced by Will.I.Am is also a UK born star who came on the scene a few years back and is a lyrical rap genius.

I think I have a good idea to who it could be!

Do you have any plans in the near future of trying to crack America?

It's defiantly on the cards and would be a dream come true if that happened. But right now I'm just focusing on cracking the UK before even thinking about going worldwide, there's so much fierce competition out there right now and it's gonna be a tough journey for sure. I am confident that I will be able to crack the US as I do have the perfect platform of having a phenomenal mentor constantly helping me.

What are some of the things that you're going to do to keep yourself grounded?

I'm gonna keep myself surrounded with family at all times because I know they won't let me get away with becoming obnoxious or anything like that! Every time I'm at home I know that my parents will keep me in check and will make me tidy my room and help around the house just like I do now. I’ve also got Gaga, who despite being a worldwide success for the last 6 years has stayed extremely modest and grounded, to help me. I would never want to be one of them people who are so demanding and treat other people like rubbish like some celebrities are today! I was shocked to hear about an instance where a pop star made her PA pick out all the green Skittles from the packet because they are the only ones that she likes.

Can you comment on the relationship rumours between you and A-List hottie Justin Bieber?

There's nothing going with us like that at all! The kissing rumours have been made into something that they're not, I just gave him a friendly kiss on the cheek as a congratulations for him winning his awards at the EMAs. I feel sorry for Justin because at every opportunity the media are always creating stories about him. With this story the media portrayed me in a negative light which did upset me. They were saying how I’m looking for attention and calling me a ‘fame whore’ which is not what I’m doing at all! I don’t want to be known for dating another celebrity, I want to be known for my music.

Can you clear up the rumours about you bad mouthing Cher Lloyd?

I have been wanting to clear these up for a while now, something I said was misinterpreted. By saying that I personally wasn't a fan of her music, people insinuated that I was saying that her music was poor. From this I got a lot of hate, especially from her fan base claiming that I was jealous when all I meant was to harmlessly say that her music isn't my cup of tea just like my sound is probably not to her liking. At the end of the day, if she and her fan base want to drag this out then they can, I'm not bothered all I wanna do is focus on my music.