Pixie Lott Chats To I Like Music

Having earnt a scholarship to the infamous Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts aged 11, Pixie has been performing since day one. She entered our hearts aged 18 with her debut album Turn It Up. Since then, the young popstress has scored a string of top charting hits, appeared as a guest judge on the X-Factor and re-issued her debut album Turn It Up Louder with a whopping 10 extra tracks!
As if this wasn’t enough, the young starlet has now made her film debut in Fred: The Movie. Featuring youtube sensation Lucas Cruikshank as Fred, the film documents his dream to sing alongside the beautiful Judy…played by (yup, you guessed it!) the lovely Pixie Lott! I Like Music caught up with Pixie to chat about her first film, her headline 2011 tour, her exciting musical ideas for the future and holding back giggles on the set of Fred…
ILM: We chatted to you just before the release of your debut single! You’ve come a long way since then, now you’re starring in a film! How have you found the journey so far?
Pixie: It’s been so busy! I think that’s the only thing that’s really changed…just that it’s got so busy! There’s always so many people to talk to! But it’s been fun! I mean, I didn’t know what to expect at all when I started, so yeah…it’s been really fun. The thing I’m most looking forward to now is the tour!

ILM: You star in Fred: The Movie, how did you find the acting side of things? We know you best for your singing…
Pixie: I grew up acting from the age of five! I studied it at school and we did different TV shows and lots of plays. The audition for Fred just popped up when I was in LA doing showcases. I wanted to do films but I wasn’t planning on doing it so early! But…I do always think things are meant to be, so I just thought I’d go along! It just seemed like a fun first film to do, it’s light-hearted and it’s a comedy. Plus everyone there was really nice.
ILM: And it’s about music too, which must have helped! What are some of your favourite moments from the film?
Pixie: The fantasy scenes were some of my favourites, because you could do a bit more and exaggerate a bit more. You could go over the top and they were just really funny scenes! There was a scene with me and Lucas at the end holding a little dog. When we were shooting it the dog just wouldn’t stop making these really weird noises! I was trying to act and this little dog was looking at us! Especially when the smoke machine went off, it kept on making the weirdest noises! Haha! Me and Lucas could not stop laughing! It was really funny! Haha!
ILM: Considering this is your first film, were there any big challenges for you?
Pixie: Well, films are completely different to doing just a performance all in one, you have to stop and try the take again and try and get back into character… there’s a massive boom microphone and cameras all around, so it was a really different experience for me. But once I got used to everything, it was really fun! Now I’ve had a taste of it I’d definitely like to do more…
ILM: What are some of your favourite films?
Pixie: I love loads of different films, that’s quite a tricky question! I love all different genres; I love, love romantic comedies, I love comedies, I love scary films, I really love girly films… I like all sorts.
ILM: The film is all about the incredibly crazy Fred whose mission is to sing with your character Judy. You’ve collaborated with a few artists already, who else would you like to sing with?
Pixie: There’s loads of people! I’m really up for collaborating. It would be amazing to do something with one of my idols like Stevie Wonder, someone I’ve grown up listening to. But any new, young, fresh artists I’d be up for. I just did one with Jason Derulo. The track is on my repackage of Turn It Up, Turn It Up Louder, so hopefully people will be hearing that if they buy the album!
ILM: What was it like working with Jason Derulo?
Pixie: He was great, I didn’t know what to expect but he was even more talented in real life. His singing was amazing, and in the studio he was really professional. And he produces, he writes – he’s just really talented.
ILM: Lucas Cruikshank who stars as Fred found fame via youtube, eventually landing himself a film! On the other hand, your path to stardom was quite traditional – taking the drama school route. Having worked with Lucas, what would be your advice be to young artists on pursuing their dream?
Pixie: For me, I think it takes a lot of hard work if you’re doing it that way – through youtube or something. I first started looking outside of school for auditions, things on the Internet and in the newspapers, from about 12 or 13. I’d meet different people, then I’d meet more people like today, in the studio, after school and on the weekends… I suppose my advice is just try and go to every audition possible. And it takes ages. I was frustrated that it took such a long time, because I wanted to release when I was 15 or 16 and it wasn’t until I was 18 that it happened. It just takes a lot of perseverance. I think if you’re really passionate and can’t really imagine doing anything else, then you have to keep trying and can’t really give up. If your determined enough then anyone can do it!
ILM: How do you find fame?
Pixie: That’s the other thing that’s changed from before. I guess I just have to get used to the paparazzi thing. Nothing really fazes me though, that’s the thing – I don’t really pay too much attention to it. Obviously there’s a lot of press and stuff but not all of it’s true, loads of it is made up. But I’ve kind of just learnt to ignore it and focus on the positive things and just really enjoy it, because I feel lucky that I get to do what I love anyway.
ILM: In terms of music, what’s next for you?
Pixie: I release my music in America next year in February and start promoting, and then it comes out in Spring. I’m excited just to give it a go and see what happens ’cause I like spending time out there. And then I’ll go a bit more behind the scenes and start writing my second album, which hopefully will be out at the end of next year. But I want to spend a good chunk of time in the studio, not really going out to too many things, and just really work on it and have a slightly different sound to the first album.
ILM: Do you write songs in your spare time?
Pixie: Yeah, that’s how the repackage came about. I had days and days where I was writing. I was writing all these songs that weren’t really going anywhere… I didn’t want to put them towards my second album ’cause they were still kind of in the first album vein, so I just thought I’d add ten extra tracks for Christmas! But for the next album I want to take it in a slightly different direction and tap more into the soul, mo-towny vibe.
ILM: What have you been listening to lately?
Pixie: I still listen to loads of old stuff. I’ve got old funk and soul classics, obviously Stevie and Aretha and Whitney and Gladys Knight, all the greats! But still lots of new stuff, I like all different genres so I like a lot of bands. I always say I love Kings of Leon, I like MGMT, The Kooks, Arctic Monkeys, I like Jamie T and Jack Pinata. I love Adele, I think she’s got a great voice. There’s a wide variety. I like a lot of RnB, I love John Legend! I listen to Kanye West… Loads of people!
ILM: What are your future plans?
Pixie: I guess I just want to make sure it’s long-lasting, because I can’t imagine really doing anything else. This is my first headline tour, but I’d love to play bigger venues next year. See what happens in America, who knows! Hopefully I can get more involved in film, do some films that are more challenging and more of a stretch. More fashion stuff too… but obviously I just can’t wait to get going on the second album now and see if I can make sure that it does last long!
Source: I Like Music