Psycho Flower Child

Lily Allen is the 21 year old strange glint in her eyes singer/writer who has been tearing up the web at a rate of knots. When she was a young girl- "I was very lonely actually. I went to 13 different schools so never had time to make enduring friendships. Music became a lifeline to me."

Born in Hammersmith, Lily grew up fast. "I listened to punk, ska and reggae when I grew up, courtesy of my parents' record collections. We moved around London... Shepherds Bush, Bloomsbury, Islington... and I absorbed all the music around me. I got expelled from various schools and was sent to boarding school as they thought it would be a restraining influence, but I ran away to Glastonbury and other places when I was 14. I was into jungle and drum and bass. It was obvious I didn't like authority. I guess I knew from an early age that I could never do a job where I'd have to sit in an office all day long."

Lily finally left school at 15 when it became obvious her creative needs were not being met. "I always read a lot. It was frustrating moving schools so much because I always felt I couldn't articulate my feelings as much as I wanted to. Books and music helped me do that. I became obsessed by quite arcane subjects, like second world war evacuation stories and books about 18th century aristocracy. I started to feel like I could have a voice. But I wanted to write about my own world in an entertaining way. So I did."

Lily's incisive lyrical observations belie her years. "A lot of female artists, and male ones for that matter, are boring singers who don't say anything. Certainly not to my generation. With the kind of music I do you have to be direct and quite literal. I don't play an instrument, which really makes me focus on the vocal melody, and the lyrics are incredibly important to me. I don't want to be part of a scene... the whole idea of that makes me feel sick... and most of the music I listen to is by outsider figures, which is where I feel happiest."

Lily's current listening is not that of an average 20 year old. Even a cursory glimpse at her site shows a breathtaking appreciation of diverse music. Listed amongst a host of current and unsigned dance artists are names like The Specials, Rip Rig and Panic, T.Rex ("possibly the best band ever, ever!") The Slits, Blondie and Wreckless Eric. Oh, and Kate Bush "when she was my age", Prince and Eminem.

Lily signed to Parlophone in December. "Since then it's gone mad. The online support I got for my music grew quickly, then the next thrill was hearing it on the radio. The reaction has been so positive it's left me reeling a bit. But I'm happy and I know the songs can live up to people's expectations. I chose to make LDN a low key 7" release to start things at a decent level ' also I know that all the songs on the album are so strong that we have loads more singles in the bag."


If you would like to be added to the fan list, just ask or PM the thread starter!

clueless01

Hey! Add me? I'm looking forward to Stuck on the naughty step, sucks that it's been postponed. Have you listened to the songs she's got up on Myspace?

missy7280

Does anyone else besides me want to bring this thread back to life?

I am obsessed with Lily. Have been since Alright, Still, which is one of my favorite albums ever.

heartlines

Can I be added? I love Lily.

For anyone that's interested, she has a campaign thread

Euphoric

Can I please be added?

**SuperGirl**

Sorry, I'll go ahead and add you guys and add this to the Board Guide.

I just finally started listening to some of her songs, and she's pretty good. Do you guys have a favorite?

diggerdrogo

The first post needs to be updated I think

Her new album is so funny

missy7280

Yay, more people!

I love many of her songs. "Friend of Mine" is one of my faves on Alright, Still, and I like "Never Gonna Happen" on her new CD.

diggerdrogo

Haha Never Gonna Happen is a great song.

I also love Everyone's At It.

GlitterCupcake

add me i love herrrr

AndItWasLovex3

May I be added?
I have both Alright, Still & Its not me its you

fictitious ways

missy7280

Lily!
I love her voice.

fictitious ways

Me too! I love that you can hear her accent when she sings.

missy7280

Her accent is so adorable.
I love that she's a real person, not fake like a lot of celebrities. She is who she is, take her or leave her. Either way I'd still love her music.