YOUR FAVOURITE MTV SHOWS ARE NOW AVAILABLE ON PARAMOUNT+

Eliza Doolittle Interview

She plays our MTV Presents night this Thursday- so we grabbed a chat…

22 year old Eliza Doolittle is set to storm the charts this weekend with her debut self titled album. She plays our MTV Presents night in Camden this Thursday July 15 with Alex Gardner.

She’s already got fans excited with the single Pack Up- which combines catchy pop and old-school influences. Eliza told MTV about starting her career at 12, her live gigs and visiting Jamaica….
Q: When did you first pick up an instrument?
A: I never picked up an instrument cos it was a piano that I played! I played piano from the age of 5 till 12 then again a few years later. I still feel like I’m more of a singer and that that’s my instrument though.
I always found singing pleasurable, even at nursery school, and I just do it because I like it. My mum sings in musical theatre- so that made me feel that it was normal.
Q: When did you realise you could make it a full time career?
A: When I was about 12 I said I wanted to be a singer and started writing songs straight away. I had management when I was 14 and kept my focus on it.
Q: What music influenced you then?
A: Around then I listened to the Spice Girls, Janet and Michael Jackson and Destiny’s Child. Now I love Stevie Wonder, Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead too.
Q: Did you ever have other ‘normal’ jobs?
A: I always knew I wanted to be a singer. My only options were singing as a career or being broke!
Q: Why did you pick Pack Up as the first single from your debut album?
A: I lose perspective about what works as a single- it just had a strong, positive reaction from people. I think the old song (covered in the chorus) has a really nice retro lyric.
Q: Is it a good example of your album?
A: It’s a good taster for the album cos its very summery and uplifting. The lyric in Pack Up are thoughtful but it’s still carefree and feelgood.
I’ve felt very comfortable writing the album and it’s quite nice that the album came from one place. I was in this zone where I knew what I wanted to do.
Q: What was the music video to Pack Up like to shoot? Some artists hate filming them.
A: I love music videos and I got to go to Jamaica so I wasn’t complaining. I was there for three days and the beach was stunning!
Q: Who worked on your album?
A: I worked with some people who I’ve been with all my life and then some that the label put me with, It was a bit of a mixture.
Q: You play our MTV Presents night this week- what’s the best thing about playing live?
A: I think it’s the adrenaline rush from people coming to see me. It’s liberating and a great energy boost! I put on a good show and sing my heart out and have a good jam! You should come down.
Q: What are your ambitions and is there a star whose career path you’d like to follow?
A: I’d love to be able to sing around the world and be able to travel with my music. I do want to be myself but I look up to someone like Carole King. Everyone covers her songs and she’s respected. That’s something that I aim for and it’s something to work towards.
By Tom Thorogood.

Latest News