• Monday 02 August 2010
• posted by Sophie Hines
• Comments

You grew up in London - where are your favourite places to go in the city?

I'm a Camden girl so I'm going to stay true to Camden. There are a few places I love to go - The Lock Tavern, The Flowerpot, Koko and Roundhouse for gigs.

Any other UK cities you love?

I really love Liverpool. I've been there quite a few times and always had a really nice time. I think it's that whole idea of The Beatles and everything - there's just a great music vibe.

When did you know you wanted to be a singer?

I think I always wanted to be a singer but I just didn't realise that you had to get a job until I was about 12. That's when I decided I actually wanted to work as singer. I started writing straight away and as soon as I had a few songs under my belt I started gigging.

What were your early songs like?

The first song I wrote was called Mr Mysterious - it's actually a little bit of a tune! I think I had beginner's luck because some of the ones after that were crap, but that one was alright. I actually met my management through that song.

You come from a pretty showbiz family  (Eliza's grandmother is theatre school founder Sylvia Young, her dad John Caird is a director and her mum Frances Ruffelle is a singer). How do you respond to people who think you only got where you are because of your background?

Well I just know it's not true. I've worked so hard to get where I am today. It's a bit annoying that people do actually think that but I know the truth so that's all that matters really. 

Whose your biggest inspiration when it comes to music? Any current artists that you really admire?

There are so many but if I had to just pick one I'd probably say Stevie Wonder. I love his song-writing, his voice, his performance - everything about him is just perfect really. I do listen to a lot of new stuff but I wouldn't compare any of them to what I do.

Which instruments can you play?

The piano. I'm not Beethoven but I do love playing. I'm more like a songwriter with the piano - writing chords and stuff like that. I feel like singing is still probably my first instrument though. I wish I could play the guitar but every time I pick it up I can't reach round the frets. My hands are really tiny - I think they're deformed or something! They just get really cramped up every time I try to play.

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You've said that you never really write about love, what would you say your music is about?

Well I think lyrically I'm quite an observational writer. If I see something on the news or on the street or that a friend's gone through, I'll write about that. It's not usually about love - I think it was a streak in me from a young age where I didn't want to write about something that everyone else was talking about. I still think that love is something that we all can relate to and I don't say no to writing about it - if I feel like I've got to get something off my chest then I will. For some reason though I just hardly ever do.

If the singing career didn't work out, is there anything you'd like to do instead?

Not really, I just love singing so much - I guess I'd just be a broke singer! I could always just be a songwriter because that's something I have a huge passion for. 

What do you like to do in your downtime?

At the moment whenever I get a chance I just fall asleep! Usually I love watching football, I'm a huge Arsenal fan. Just going out dancing with my friends, and hanging out - you know, normal things.

How have your friends reacted to your success?

Well it doesn't really feel much different. Every now and again they're like 'Wow Lizy I just saw you on telly'. They're all really happy for me I suppose.

You're going into a very image-obsessed industry, does that worry you at all?

Not really. I've always been really into clothes but to be honest I don't mind if I get put into the 'What were they thinking?' section in a magazine - I'd actually find that quite funny. I'm just going to wear what I feel and express myself through clothes in any way I like. It doesn't matter what people think.

What's your favourite food?

Beans! Baked beans. I love them on anything, whether it's toast, jacket potatos - anything really. I got brought up a vegetarian so I've never really eaten meat, but every time I smell it I'm always like 'I wish I did eat meat'. Every time I try it though I feel a bit sick so that's why I've never really gone for it.

Where did you film the video for Pack up? It looks lovely...

We filmed it in Jamaica. It was amazing. We got to go to this little island that was ten minutes off the mainland by speedboat. It was just like paradise - it was like a screensaver. 

Is there anywhere you'd particularly like to travel?

I've actually been thinking about it because obviously I'm working out other countries that I'd like to get my music to. I'd love to go everywhere really. I want to go to Rome - I've heard it's really beautiful. And South America and Japan apparently are amazing. Those are the first few on my list. Obviously I'd just love the opportunity to visit as many places as possible.

A little closer to home, you're performing at plenty of festivals this year - have you always been into the festival scene?

I actually didn't go to any until I started performing, but I love them. I feel like I missed out. I would've loved to have been one of those crazy little hippy kids running around. I'm going to try to go to as many as possible for the rest of my life.

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Which has been your favourite so far?

I think Secret Garden Party was pretty fantastic. Like a fairy tale - it was weird. 

Any bands or singers you really want to see live?

I'm quite up for seeing The Drums, I've got their album and I really like that. And I really want to see Kings of Leon because I saw them at Glastonbury two years ago but I didn't really know their music then. I'd be quite excited to see them sing all the songs that I now know. They're playing V Fest but I think I'm playing the opposite stage to them which is really annoying.

And means you have to compete with Kings of Leon...

Compete?! I don't think we're on the same level really. 

You're touring with Paloma Faith in November - how do you feel about it? 

I'm really looking forward to that actually. My band are too because my guitarist knows her guitarist. I think we're gonna have a really good time - everyone's really looking forward to it. 

What else have you got coming up in the future?

I think I might do a few of my own dates in between all of the Paloma ones, and I have a single out around October, probably Rollerblades. I'm going to be busy but it's fun.

Finally, what advice would you give to someone who wanted to break into the music industry?

I'd say if you aren't writing start writing now. The more you write the better you get. It's all about being involved in the music. Get out there, gig it and have people hear your music. If people like what you're doing, you'll get noticed. That's just a really nice, gentle way of getting involved in the music industry. 

I feel sorry for some of the people on programmes like the X Factor because it must be really difficult just to have that sudden success without really knowing why you've got it. I'm more satisfied with success after working towards it for years -it's more fulfilling. I like the journey of it.