Lady Sovereign
banger langer, but I like them all. I
like So Human, the one that’s out
now and then I like Jigsaw, which
is the one I sing on. There’s some-
Back with a new single and album
thing for everyone on there really,
there’s electronic, there’s guitar
released on her own label Midget Records
based music, there’s hip hop and
there’s stuff that I don’t even know
V
ictim to an era unsure of how tion that I’m just any girl and I’m what the hell it is, but its on there.
to market a white female just trying it, but I’m better than a
rapper from North London, lot of people think. You can’t really Your album includes flavours of
Lady Sovereign was not so hotly categorise me and I guess that Britrock, electro, dance-floor,
received in the UK when she first confuses people. would you say you were pigeon
released her debut album Public holed into the hip hop genre
Warning back in 2006. It was not Why do you think you managed with your last album?
long however before she became to break America? A little bit. That’s why I was getting
part of a very small pantheon I’m likeable and I’m genuine. I’m a bit annoyed that in America they
of UK artists to make a bigger not saying anyone else isn’t, but were just promoting Love Me Or
impression in the U.S than here I went out there quite early, even Hate me because there was other
in the UK.
Drifting off the music scene as “I don’t think I really got the full appreciation I
quickly as she elevated to success
after being discovered by Jay Z
deserved when I first came out because I was
and signed to Def Jam, Lady Sov the originator, but we’ll see what happens.”
is back with her follow up album,
Jigsaw which will be released on before Def Jam picked up on me stuff on my first album that could
her very own record label, Midget and people just took to me quite have defined me a bit more. Now
Records. quickly. I guess when you look I think people will realise that I’m
Flavour caught up with the 23 at me, you expect something a little bit more than what people
year old who detests interviews and then I do something else, thought I was
and managed to have a good con- and I guess the Americans had
versation about where she’s been, never seen or heard anything like Do you think it will be easier to
where she’s going and shedding it before. market your music with other
her ‘chav’ label. British acts such as Lilly Allen
Why did you leave Def Jam? and M.I.A around now?
Why the alias Lady Sovereign? I was tired and fed up. I just felt Yeah definitely. In the past year
There are two reasons, basically I like I was doing the same old thing and a half since I’ve been miss-
was smoking sovereign cigarettes over and over again, you know, ing, people like M.I.A have totally
at the time and then I had loads interviews, interviews, interviews, blown up and you can’t really
of sovereign rings. Seriously that’s promo, promo, promo, all for the define her either because it’s just
the reason why. I’m not going to same song! I was rising so high a genre that doesn’t really have a
say I looked in the dictionary and at that moment that I think they name. I don’t think I really got the
sovereign means power and that could have at least released more full appreciation I deserved when
shit, because that would be a lie. songs off my album then I would I first came out because I was
It was all down to lifestyle I guess have been a bit more excited the originator, but we’ll see what
and it was just iconic at the time. about things. I just got depressed happens.
and walked away from it to live a
What’s so love or hate about normal life for a while. Are the signature ‘chav’ side
you? ways ponytail, gold rings and
A lot of people have this assump- What have you learnt from your baggy tracksuits making a
past experiences that will ben- comeback with you or have you
efit your future career? had a whole image revamp?
To know when to draw the line. No that’s all gone I don’t even
I’m not going to push myself as far wear side ponytails anymore. I like
as I can just because it’s going to to crimp my hair these days and
make me a huge star you know. use a bit of colour. I wear a hat a
I’ve got to think about myself and lot but no side ponytails. I’m not
my well-being. I broke down last a chav anyways. Let’s not even
time and I don’t want to do that go there!
again.
What do you hope to achieve in
What is the concept behind the the near future?
forthcoming album Jigsaw? I want Midget Records to be an
There is no concept. Seriously! I established well-recognised label,
just write songs and I put them with great artists that come out on
on an album, but I guess I do get it. I also want to keep doing what
a little more personal on this one. I’m doing, and there are things
Just a little bit. that I’m not going to say right now
because I don’t want to speak too
What can we expect musically soon, but I’ve made certain things
from your album? happen so you’ll have to wait and
ds by Susanne Singh
Well I sing on this album, or at see.
or
Lady Sovereign: Left her record
least I tried. There’s one song
W
deal at Def Jam to go it alone. called Pennies which is a bit of a
www.ladysovereign.com
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