Paloma Faith on her new album The Glorification of Sadness, being a fierce ally to the LGBTQIA+ community and calling Rishi Sunak a “c**t”.
WORDS BY CONOR CLARK PHOTOGRAPHY BY YAN WASIUCHNIK “I’ve been very vocal about lots of things and I don’t regret anything I’ve stood up for because it’s all how I feel,” says Paloma Faith, who has never shied away from speaking out about the things that matter most to her.
She has consistently been a fierce advocate for all aspects of the LGBTQIA+ community, having frequently spoken out in favour of equality and vocally supporting transgender people’s rights. “We have to keep saying it, I think that for me it’s important not to waste my platform,” she tells GAY TIMES. “I do feel a responsibility having a voice to speak on issues that I care about.” Since the release of her debut album, Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?, in 2009, Faith has become known for an array of signature hits, her iconic style and – perhaps most importantly – her camp aesthetic.
She describes herself as walking “the fine line between Liza Minnelli and just a regular Camden goth,” citing the likes of gay icons Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe, Marlene Dietrich and May West as sources of inspiration. “I’ve never really been into modern pop icons unless they’re really camp,” Faith laughs. “The greatest show I just saw was Madonna.