Congratulations are most certainly in order for singer/songwriter Paloma Faith, who’s sophomore album, Fall To Grace, debuted on the UK charts this weekend at an impressive #2, beaten only by Gary Barlow‘s album commemorating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Paloma had promised a little concert on an open top bus should her album take the coveted #1 spot, but alas, that promise will have to wait until the third album. While first single “Picking Up The Pieces” was released only a couple of weeks ago, Paloma already appears to have singles number two and three picked out. Bring it on!
second single, “30 Minute Love Affair” was inspired by an experience Paloma had when she was just fourteen years old, singing along with a busker (street performer) in Leicester Square. Innocently and briefly falling in love with this talented man, Faith would come back to the same spot every day, hoping to see him again, but she never did. The song was written by Paloma and Chris Braide (Lana Del Rey, Sia), the song was sonically inspired by the soundtrack to Ryan Gosling‘s 2011 hit film Drive. “It has an 80’s road movie type of feel to it and I wanted to give that feel to my song. A sense of freedom and escape.”
The third single will be one of my personal favorites off of the album, a GORGEOUS ballad called “Just Be,” co-penned by Faith, Greg Wells (Adele, Rufus Wainwright), and Matt Hales (from the band Aqualung). For Paloma, “Just Be” is all about “being open and honest and vulnerable.” Musically, the song was inspired by many films that explore this theme of vulnerability, 2005’s romantic comedy, Me You and Everyone We Know, cited as a specific example.
While I’m a little bit disappointed that Paloma’s not choosing to go with something more up-tempo as her next single – something like the disco-inspired “Blood, Sweat & Tears,” for instance – I’m excited to see the visual complements Paloma comes up with for each of these songs.
In the ‘Behind The Scenes‘ video posted last week on Faith’s VEVO page we get a nice little sneak peek of what we can expect from the single artwork for both “30 Minute Love Affair” and “Just Be.” Photographed by David Standish and styled by Karl Willet, the artwork campaign features a different side to Paloma Faith than we’re used to seeing. While there are certainly elements of whimsy and glamour here, the chanteuse is channeling a completely different set of emotions on this album, sharing a more “distraught,” “terrorized” and “vulnerable” Paloma Faith with the world.
In the artwork for “30 Minute Love Affair,” Paloma serves up 80s glamour in a stunning purple gown, finished off with her hair piled high, bright red lips and some bold purple earrings. “Just Be,” on the other hand, is a song that showcases Paloma at her most vulnerable and the artwork needed to reflect that vulnerability. On the shoot we catch glimpses of Paloma staring wistfully out the window, sitting pretty in a gorgeous high collared, lacy white gown. I can’t wait to see what the final versions of these photographs look like!
Stay tuned for further release details on Paloma’s second single. In the meantime, make sure you read my review and pick up the album, Fall To Grace, available now (iTunes UK).
