Hot Fox

Her name is Foxes. She’s only 22 and has just won her first Grammy for the 2.5million selling ‘Clarity’, a collaboration with producer Zedd. She quotes strong female vocalists like Patti Smith, Tori Amos and Bjork as her inspirations and loves the sound of ‘90s pop and dance… which works out well as she’s performing at G-A-Y this week, on the same night as Big Reunion girl band Eternal! Cliff Joannou spoke to the future pop princess…

So, what’s it like to win a Grammy? 

It’s a bit mental. It doesn’t feel quite real. I don’t have the award just yet, it’s in the post. They have to engrave your name into the actual Grammy. So, they don’t give it to you. They give it to you backstage to take your photos then they take it straight back off you.

Did you think you were going to win?

I didn’t. I was across the road drinking beer, that’s how much I thought I was going to win. I didn’t have anything prepared. And you can tell if you watch the speech, it’s obvious because I was chewing gum, then I decided to tell the world that I was taking gum out of my mouth. We didn’t expect to win at all, I threw my purse in the air when it happened. I was completely blown away. I just thought Calvin [Harris] was going to win it.

That’s a benchmark for you now…

Yeah, I don’t know where my dreams can go now!

Did you sit there through the ceremony, because it goes on forever?

I didn’t. We were there in the afternoon, because they split it in half. The one in the morning was 80 categories! So, we went out and got beers because it’s a dry ceremony. So, I was in a gown in a diner ordering beers and then my manager rang me and said “Get back here now, they’re calling your category!”

So, you nearly missed getting your Grammy because you were in a diner getting a beer! Classy. 

Pretty much!

Did you hang out with any celebs after?

I did! I met Paul McCartney. I met Daft Punk. Oh, and I met R Kelly and made him sing ‘Bump N Grind’ for me…. And he did! I sang it with him, which was quite a moment for me.

Do you get star-struck when you meet these people?

I don’t really get star-struck, as such because I find it quite easy to remember that they’re human beings, but I did sort of forget how to walk when I met Paul McCartney.

Do people get star-struck by you? I mean the single was big here but even more-so in the States…

It’s funny because I’m not that sort of person. I’m very chilled and I just forget half the time there’s posters of me around and lots of people have seen a video with me in it. It’s madness, when it blew up there was a crazy amount of tension. When I do shows across the pond, it’s quite weird when there are lots of people there and some are crying for me singing ‘Clarity’.

What’s the weirdest thing that’s happened to you since the success of ‘Clarity’?

I was in Australia and I was just leaving the stage and someone at the front was screaming out “Sign my kettle! Sign my kettle!” I looked down and realized it had my face painted on it, which was weird!

You know you’ve made it when you have your own kettle…

Yeah, I’m gonna start putting it in the merch!

Where does the name Foxes come from?

When I was younger I wrote a song called ‘Like Foxes Do’, but I had to change my name because I was Louisa Rose Allen and Lily Allen is Lily Rose Allen, so I couldn’t be that. But my friend was like “What about Foxes because of that song you wrote?” I thought it was a silly name, but it stuck in my mind, and I rung my mum to ask what she thought about it, and she said “That’s so weird because last night I had this dream about foxes and they were making these beautiful haunting noises and it reminded me of your music!” So, I was like, mum’s always right! I like that it’s weird. I like that it doesn’t sound like a person. It makes it more about the music.

Finally, you know you’re on the road to stardom when you get your G-A-Y gig!

I am, I’m so excited! I’ve always wanted to play G-A-Y and I’ve heard so many stories. And Eternal are on after me, so that’s just brilliant!

• Foxes is at G-A-Y (Heaven, Villiers Street, WC2N 6NG) on Saturday 22nd February.
Discount wristbands from G-A-Y Bar.

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