IN CONVERSATION WITH PERRIE

interview by JANA LETONJA

English singer and songwriter Perrie is best known to the fans for being a member of Little Mix, one of the best-selling girl groups of all time. In 2024, Perrie launched her solo career with her first single ‘Forget About Us’ and will soon release her debut solo album. In June 2024, she will also make her solo debut at the Summertime Ball.

We all know you from the years you’ve been a member of one of the best-selling groups of all time, Little Mix. How do you look back on this immensely successful period of your life and career?
I look back on it with nothing but amazing memories, really proud. It was one of the most incredible times of my life and I’m so appreciative of it. I’m grateful for it every day.

How did your interest in music begin? Have you always known this is a career you wanted to explore?
My parents are singers, so I grew up just constantly surrounded by music, and I knew that was what I was born to do.

Recently, you launched your solo career with the single ‘Forget About Us’. How excited are you to embark on your journey as a solo artist, and how does it differ from being used to being in a group for so long?
I think it’s just different because it’s all on me now and I haven’t got the other girls to fall on. I haven’t got them there for safety. But it’s been such a new and amazing experience, and I’ve loved every second of it. I just hope I continue to grow as an artist.

How would you say you evolved as an artist since Little Mix to now being a solo artist?
I’m way more confident now because I don’t have people to hide behind. I was used to having the girls as my comfort blanket, whereas now I have to step up. I have to push myself out of my comfort zone a lot more than I’ve ever done before.

You will also soon release your debut solo album. What can we expect from the album and the songs on it? How would you describe the album as a whole?
The album is something that I’m so insanely proud of. It means the absolute world to me. It’s so true and honest. It’s feel good and it has so many genres on there that I love. It’s an uplifting album with some ballads thrown in there to make you cry.

With your upcoming music, you’ve done a lot of songwriting yourself. What inspired you the most when pinning them down?
I took inspiration from everywhere in my life. I took inspiration from my relationship with Alex, my son Axel, past friendships, relationships, how being in love makes you feel, my anxiety. Literally everything that I kind of feel I’ve been through, I’ve put into a song on the album. 

On the album, you’ve also worked with artists like Ed Sheeran and Raye. How did working with them elevated your work?
They are huge artists and I look up to them a lot. I have a lot of respect for Ed and how incredible he is as a songwriter. The same for Raye. I think she’s absolutely so deserving of everything she’s getting now with the awards and all her success. I just absolutely adore her and I feel really lucky and blessed to have even been in the same room, or to have worked with people of that calibre.

Besides music, you also launched your own fashion brand Disora in 2021. What made you step into the fashion waters and what are your future plans for the brand?
I’ve always loved fashion and I’ve always wanted to explore fashion, I just didn’t know how to do it. And then I just kind of went for it and thought why not. It’s been absolutely amazing. It’s doing so well and I’m really proud of it. There’s so many more plans, so many more things dropping, so a lot to look forward to.

2021 also marked you becoming a mom. How did having your son impacted your outlook on life, your priorities and your career?
It completely changed me as a person in the best way possible. It made me not take life so seriously and not sweat about the small stuff. He’s the best thing that ever happened. He inspires me every day and I think he’s made me a better person.

How do you balance motherhood with a demanding music career, which is about to get a whole lot more busy this year?
I think I’ve got to the point where I have the perfect balance of work, life and personal life, and I’m really proud of that. I’m just really lucky. I’ve got an incredible support system around me, an incredible team around me, and they’re very respectful of my time with my son. We just make it work.

This June, you’ll also make you solo debut at the Summertime Ball. What are you most excited about this performance, after being a part of the Ball many times with Little Mix in the past?
I’m excited to step out on the stage and feel that adrenaline rush that I’ve missed so much. I mean, nothing like throwing myself in the deep end. From nothing to 80.000 people. 

Besides the album coming out and performing at the Summertime Ball, what other projects are you planning this year?
This month, I will release my new single ‘Tears’. The song is about coming out of a bad situation and letting go of what has happened in the past. It’s that point where you feel empowered and you leave the tears behind because you’ve come out the other side. It’s a sultry and smooth track that I’m really excited for everyone to hear.

Then there are so many more things to come. More music, more music videos and more live performances.

TEAM CREDITS:
talent PERRIE
photography SIMON LIPMAN
styling and art direction HASAN HEJAZI
makeup CASSIE LOMAS at Creatives Agency
hair and creative consultant AARON CARLO using Color WOW
nails MICHAEL DO
videography JAMES SHARPE
styling assistant KRISTINA VALDEZ
photo studio SW10 STUDIOS
editor-in-chief TIMOTEJ LETONJA
interview JANA LETONJA
cover design ARTHUR ROELOFFZEN