Feeds
You've got your new single 'Rock 'n' Roll' coming out soon. Can you tell us a bit about the track?
"It's just written about frustration really. It's the fact that people assume I sing R&B and I don't."
So do the lyrics come from a personal experience?
"Yeah, it's totally about personal experience."
Do you feel you've been held back in the music industry because of your race?
"It's not necessarily held me back. It may have just misleaded people."
Do you see yourself as a spokesperson at all now you have managed to break through?
"I don't really feel responsible for everyone. But I understand that there is a responsibility attached to being an artist and I am happy to be attached to that responsibility."
You've been described as quite outspoken in the press. Is that a true reflection of yourself?
"Well I've always been called mouthy, but I'm not a rude or impolite person. I'll say what I feel but I won't be rude about it."
Can you tell us a bit about your debut album My Conscience And I?
"It's got loads of stuff. I think it's got something for everyone. You hear some albums today that sound the same or that have bits which sound the same. All these songs have their own little stories. The album's like a whole story with lots of different books. All the songs tell a story. And yeah, it's cool."
Who were your musical heroes when you were growing up?
"I don't really have any musical heroes. Obviously I appreciate music, as in the greats, like the Beatles and Elvis. But I think of our generation, the only legend that there is, or will be, is Amy Winehouse. I don't think anyone else compares to her. I think all these bands that I hear, they are going to fade into the background. They are all the same. I saw this band on TV the other day and I was like, 'How did they get signed? They sound exactly the same as this band'. They were a boyband. There's the likes of Lily, Kate, and me - people like to group me with that - hopefully, I stand up on my own as well. But, at the end of the day Amy is the only one that vocally, lyrically, everything, stands out of our generation."
What do you think it is about Amy that's caught people's imagination?
"It's her blatant honesty. She is so honest. And she knows how to write a good song. And the reason her songs are so good is because they are so honest. And plus she has got an incredible voice. Unfortunately the tabloid press does help with its publicity. But that's that last part. Even without that, she would still be amazing."
What do you make of all the tabloid frenzy that surrounds her now?
"I think it glamourises it too much. First of all, leave her alone. Second of all, why are you following her and making it worse? It's quite evil. And also you are romanticising it. Making people think it's funny or cool and that's not a good thing."
Do you get annoyed when people compare you with Lily Allen and Kate Nash?
"Yeah completely, because if I tried to be like them, there would be no point in my existence. The fact remains that when I was recording my album that I had heard neither Lily or Kate's album. So I definitely wasn't trying to be like them."
You trained as an actress before you became a singer, can you tell us a bit about that?
"I just went into acting because I had nothing better to do. I just enjoyed it."
Do you think you were any good?
"I was alright, yeah."
What sort of stuff did you do?
"I did a couple of [parts in] Holby City and The Bill, a couple of really good plays."
Do you enjoy going back to acting on your music videos?
"The last music video I really enjoyed."
Did you get involved heavily with the idea behind the the 'Rock 'n' Roll' video?
"It was a mix between mine and the directors."
I've heard you are really into gadgets and the latest technology. What have you been playing with recently?
"At this second I'm on my Blackberry and my Mac's right next to me as well".
Do you think all this new technology has had a positive knock-on effect for musicians?
"Technology has ruined a lot of today's communication, but it's cool because I've just been talking to my friend from America."
Remi Nicole's new single 'Rock 'n' Roll' is released on November 26. Her debut album My Conscience And I is available to buy on December 3.
