Christina Novelli flew in from LA about 6 hours ago. She was
driven from the airport to rehearsals, and from there straight to
the O2. She now sits, coffee in one hand and whisky in the other,
flanked by hairdressers and make-up artists, publicists and
photographers. It's all a bit rock & roll.
I chat to her cohort while she preps for her gig at the O2
December Sessions, and they fill me in on her news. She's just been
in LA filming a music video; influential trance DJ Gareth Emery has
picked up and remixed Christina's song Concrete Angel, and is
releasing it as a single in the new year. "She's going to be huge,"
I'm assured.
A jet-lagged and exhausted Christina, whose hair is being tugged
and tussled by none other than Candy Bar Girls' Natalie State, is
friendly and chatty regardless. Half an hour later and Danni Orsi -
formerly of the Candy Bar Girls and Christina's assistant, breezes
in wearing an "I heart LA" t-shirt and wheeling a suitcase behind
her, fresh off a flight herself. I feel like I have been immersed
into an episode of the TV show.
Chatting to Christina, it seems she is utterly gung-ho - her
hard work over the last few years is finally starting to pay
off.
"I started off singing open mic nights and stuff, moved to
London, got a band together, gigged and gigged and gigged. I used
to work at certain venues just so my band could play - you have to
be really pushy and get yourself out there."
Christina is now a solo artist making a name for herself. This
year has seen her play several gigs across the country, and after a
restful Christmas home in Bournemouth with her mum, she's got even
bigger plans for 2012. "Next year is going to be really, really,
really good! That's why I'm bloody resting over Christmas."
And she certainly sounds like she's been busy, with an
impassioned set at the O2 December Sessions. Comprised of mostly
her own catchy songs (think Katy Perry meets Pink) she also covers
Cyndi Lauper's Time After Time and throws an Ed Sheeran verse into
one of her own tunes.
Christina's musical loves range from Damien Rice to Marvin Gaye,
Dashboard Confessional to - believe it or not - Michael Bolton. How
does she feel about X Factor winners Little Mix's cover of Damien
Rice's Cannonball?
"There are three of his tracks - Cannonball, Volcano and
Blower's Daughter - that are like my ultimate 'in love' songs. And
then to hear that…" Christina trails off, as if not wanting to be
unkind. "As a band they're good," she continues diplomatically. "I
don't ever really judge, because it's fucking hard. And if you can
sing, fair play. But I don't think that they should have had that
song. No way. That will go to number 1 though," she
prophesises.
Sceptical as one might be about this prediction, this attitude
sums Christina up perfectly: positive. She's positive about music,
positive about her career, and positive about her fans - "They make
it worth it. People who truly love your songs, who listen to you
and support you. That's the best feeling ever." It's also worth
mentioning that she's equally positive about her pick-up abilities:
"If I don't win someone over with my singing, I'll invite them to
have dinner, and then I'll know I've sorted it!"
But right now she's totally focussed on her career. "Too busy to
date, unfortunately. I do get a bit lonely, though because I've got
a lot of love to give. I'm a big cuddler! I like to get under the
quilt and watch movies! But sadly it's so true in the music
industry that you can't have both." Though that doesn't stop her
entirely as she adds with a naughty grin: "I like to go out to
dinner though. Meet people - flirt." And has she met any 'people'?
"Yes I've met some people," she giggles coyly. "Some people, dot,
dot, dot!"
Dot, dot, dot indeed, in more ways than one. Watch this
space…
