Official Catch-up, July 2011 - Part Two

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: http://www.sophieellisbextor.net/news?id=357&msg=1#comments

Did you meet the Erasure chaps on that tour?
Yeah, they were very nice. They've got such diehard fans. There was one gig where it was raining and hailing - it was just horrendous - but the crowd just stayed there and watched. I felt a bit bad actually, cos it was totally dry for my bit and then the heavens just opened shortly after I finished my last song.

Were they responsive to your sets?
Yeah, they really were. Without wanting to sound smug, I think me and the band feel quite confident in the set now. It does a lot of the work for you, really. And I think if you're performing at a show like that, you just have to be sympathetic to the fact that people haven't come to see you. As long as you're aware of that and you keep your role very clear in your mind, I think you can't help but enjoy it. You have to remember you're a support act who's there to get everybody worked up before the main act comes on.

And you've supported some big 'uns. Take That and George Michael spring to mind.
Exactly. I'm like a professional support act! Hahaha! But I actually think it's been the making of me live, in many ways. It just forces you to go out there in front of people who maybe don't want to be listening to you at that precise moment and try to win them over. I think it's made me improve a lot.

What have you got coming up in the next couple of months?
There's talk of doing Off And On as the next single from my album. And then I've got some club shows in August and I'm still looking at some dates in September and October in South America and Australia. That's still coming together.

What do you do with the kids if you have to go somewhere as far as Australia?
It's not something I've really had to deal with yet, but I don't think it would be very fair to take them. Big time difference, long flights and all that. So I'd probably leave them here and only be away for a maximum of maybe 10 days. Actually, at the end of the month I'm going to Moscow and I'm going to take my eldest boy with me.

Oh, cool.
Yeah, I always thought in my mind that when he was 7 he could come somewhere with me. I thought then he would actually take it in properly and remember it when he was older. The Russians are quite sticklers on paperwork, so I had to get copies of his birth certificate to prove I'm his mother, because we've got different surnames - cos he's Jones. And then I had to get a letter from Richard saying, "Yes, I know that my wife is taking our son out of the country and I give permission".

What are you actually out there for?
It's just a 20 minute outdoor show for radio, rather than a whole gig. So we'll leave on the Saturday morning, get there for Saturday afternoon and do the show. Then the next day we're not getting a flight until about 9 o'clock at night, so we'll be able to go and have a wander around Red Square and that kind of thing. It should be really fun.

Is he excited?
I think so, yeah. Although he really just wants to know whether he can play on my iPhone on the way!

Have you been going out much?
I'm actually going out on Wednesday to see Adam Buxton do his thing at the BFI about music videos. It's really funny, so I'm looking forward to that. But I haven't really had much time off. I still haven't seen Bridesmaids, which I'd really like to see.

Is there any more press coming up?
Well, I did a photoshoot for the Sunday Times Style Magazine which was an at-home thing. And now a German magazine called Brigitte - which is apparently the biggest women's monthly in Germany - is coming here next week to take some pictures. So I need to get the house tidied up and organised for that!

It looked very tidy in the Sunday Times one.
Yeah, but they were really sweet, with moving stuff about and angling things the right way. I bought about three copies because it said something on the front cover like "Inside the coolest house in Britain".

Wow. You should put a sign on the front door.
Exactly! "Are you aware you're entering the coolest house in Britain?!" Hahaha!

Disney and GOSH team up with Sophie

ORIGINAL POST: http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/203182/Sophie-Ellis-Bextor-asks-us-to-recall-our-top-Disney-moments/

CRADLING little Charlie in her arms, gorgeous Sophie Ellis-Bextor gently rocks him to sleep.

It's a world away from her life on tour as a pop star, but one close to her heart as a mum.

Next month she will play to thousands of clubbers at party-lovers' paradise Amnesia in Ibiza, before going home to her two little ones.

But like tiny tot Charlie Hewson, both of her children have needed medical attention in the past.

The 17-month old from Lee, south London, is a patient at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and has spent the last nine months fighting Ewing's sarcoma, a deadly tumour in his leg.

Mum to seven-year-old Sonny and Kit, two, Sophie says: "My little boys spent time in hospital when they were younger and I know what a horrible time it can be.

"Sonny was born nine weeks early and Kit two months early."

In fact, little Kit was born weighing just 2lb 10z and was immediately placed in an incubator.

"When you have a sick child you are incredibly grateful that places like GOSH exist, " Sophie continues.

"As a parent your instinct is to provide the best for your children and when they get ill it goes outside your realm of care and you need that extra support.

"You feel helpless and I know it can be a stressful time.

"Luckily, thanks to the hard work of the staff, they didn't feel scared and there were lots of toys so I know what great work hospitals like GOSH do."

Sophie hears Charlie's story from mum Kate, who says: "It's devastating to find out your child is sick.

"Charlie's tumour means unfortunately he has lost his leg and it has been a long journey.

"Thankfully the road to recovery has been helped by the amazing staff at GOSH, who have achieved miracles, meaning we can soon take our little boy home."

She might be a celebrity in demand but 32-year-old Sophie, who is married to The Feeling's bassist Richard Jones, is dedicating her time to helping charities and families like Charlie's through her work with Disney and GOSH.

"I love being a mum, " she says.

"It's the start of the summer holidays and like many other families we are off to the beach for a week, away from all the craziness of our lives in London.

"It will be just the four of us and sometimes I think that's when everything makes the most sense.

"As you can see, GOSH is an amazing place and it desperately needs donations from the public.

"These little people are too young to understand what's happening to them so it's about giving them a quality of life and remembering they are still children."

Which is why Sophie is teaming up with new pre-school channel Disney Junior to launch an incredible bid to collect a million Disney memories in aid of GOSH.

Families across Britain are being asked to donate not money but memories to the campaign, which Disney will turn into ?million for the hospital when they hit the magic number of a million memories on their Facebook site.

A host of stars including Thandie Newton, 38, Sir Michael Caine, 78, Dame Judi Dench, 76, Lewis Hamilton, 26, and Spice Girls Emma Bunton, 35, and Mel C, 37, have already joined Sophie in donating a memory to the Million Disney Memories campaign.

During her visit to the hospital, Sophie tells families on Lion ward of her own first Disney memory: "I remember watching Mary Poppins over and over and over when I was five or six.

"Even now I could probably turn down the sound and recite all the songs."

And Boel Ferguson, from Disney Junior UK and Ireland, adds: "This campaign is all about encouraging families to share these fond memories with each other, as well as with us, to help GOSH."

Another Disney fan is five-year old Chian?Cloete from Southgate, north London.

She arrived at the hospital last month after being diagnosed with a very rare cancer of the brain.

Dad Chris says: "We're frightened but we have to believe that she will be OK.

"The doctors and nurses here are some of the best in the world so we know we are in the best place.

Chian?isn't frightened and has a play specialist to make sure she can still have fun."

Across the hall, New Yorker Tara Kar, mum to 19-month-old Luca, says she is thankful that her little boy is being treated here: "We've been so well looked after.

"Every penny here makes a huge difference. Miracles happen every day at GOSH."

Little Harash Bhadenegar, five, shows Sophie his painting in the playroom and then she goes to meet cheeky Vincent Oenning, age four.

His mum Sophie, from Upminster, Essex, says: "He was diagnosed three years ago but never feels scared coming back here. He sees it as a safe place full of fun."

Other children excited to meet Sophie are music fan Rose-Anne Ofori, eight, from Dagenham in east London and nine-year-old Ciaran Monohan from Longford in Ireland.

His mum Adel tells us: "GOSH goes above and beyond to make things as easy as they can for you.

"I can stay with him in his room and his brother Patrick can come and visit too.

"At first he couldn't even come out of his room but he's been really responsive to treatment.

"GOSH is a great place and anything that anyone can do to help it stay that way is appreciated."

The Disney Junior Million Memories campaign builds on Disney's long-standing relationship with Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity, which is aiming to raise £10million. Share your first Disney memory at facebook.com/disneyjunioruk.

For more info on Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity see gosh.org

Official Catch-up, July 2011 - Part One

ORIGINAL POST: http://www.sophieellisbextor.net/news?id=355

Hi Sophie, how are you?
Not too bad. But a bit rough. I've got tonsillitis.

Oh no!
Yeah. Which is pretty crappy. So it hurts when I swallow and I'm a bit fevery and achey. But I'm on penicillin and I should be better soon.

This is not good news.
No, it's a bit of a pain.

Tonsillitis tends to come when one's tired, right?
Yeah, well it has been quite full-on and relentless over the last few weeks. Doing lots of really nice things, but a bit non-stop. I think maybe I overdid it a little. At the weekend I did Kings Lynn on the Friday, then supported Bryan Ferry at Kew on the Saturday and got straight in the car after that because I'd been booked to sing at someone's birthday. So I got home at like 4am on Sunday morning. That probably didn't do me any favours! But never mind.

It sounds like your body is perhaps trying to tell you something.
That's what my mum said! But it can be hard to totally take time off when you have two children!

Do you have much coming up?
Well, I go on holiday at the beginning of August, but the diary is still looking pretty busy. It'll be nice to have a little break, though.

And it sounds like you've been having fun.
Yeah, I've been busy, but doing some lovely stuff. Richard and I did some DJing last week at the Chiswick House festival, which was fun. We got to watch Tinie Tempah and Noah & The Whale and bands like that.

Is that the event famed for its amazing food?
Exactly. I didn't do too badly, but I think Richard had at least two lobsters!

You also sang with The Feeling last week at Kew.
Yeah, that was really nice. I thought their gig was brilliant. And I really enjoyed my gig there on the Saturday night too. It's really beautiful, and we were lucky with the weather for both shows.

And the song you performed with The Feeling, Leave Me Out Of It, is their new single.
That's right.



You've already done a couple of TV things with them for that. Will you be doing more?
I think so, yes. I'll do whatever they need me to do. There's been talk of doing a video for it, too. We're going to Abbey Road this week actually, to film an acoustic performance of Leave Me Out Of It.

Is it strange working with your husband?
Well, that's how we met, so it's not completely bizarre. But I suppose I find it hard to stay focused. I feel a bit mischievous - like it's work but not really work.

And it's a great song too.
I think so. I really like it. It's all atmospheric and dramatic. And it tugs your heart strings a little bit.

And were you pleased with the response to Make A Scene?
I was really happy. I think it was quite a big achievement to get an album on my own label into the Top 40. I think the people who worked on it were all great, I love my new PR team and my new TV people. It was all quite exciting - and more so because it was all our own venture. You can really see the fruits of your labour much more easily without the smoke and mirrors of a big label.

What else have you been up to?
Well, I haven't been abroad for about six weeks now, which is quite unusual for me. There was lots of it in May, but since then I've mainly been here, doing things like the Erasure dates.

Ah yes, how was that tour?
It was a really sweet thing to be part of - but it's a shame the weather wasn't better. The crowds were amazing, though. They were just so resilient and determined to have a good time, even when they're standing there in their ponchos in the pouring rain. The weather's actually been better for the ones I've done recently. Cornbury was really nice and Kings Lynn was great too. It does make a difference.

Ellis-Bextor talks about her family

ORIGINAL POST: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/jul/16/sophie-ellis-bextor-family-values

The fact that my mother [Blue Peter presenter Janet Ellis] was on television every week while I was young was occasionally awkward, and often frustrating. My school friends were quite wowed by it, and it had a pretty potent currency, I suppose, because they watched it, and her, every week. But certain people would accuse me of saying things, or acting in a particular way, simply because she was on TV. It made me feel quite impotent.

By the time I was a teenager, my mother was no longer on Blue Peter. Teenagers tend to live very much in the day, and so I was hardly ever reminded of it, fortunately. The subject only came up again when I started dating boys. They would tell me how they used to fancy my mum back then, or, worse, still fancy her today. It's not really something a daughter wants to hear about her mother.

My parents separated when I was four. It wasn't the smoothest of divorces, but then as my mother always says, you can't have a passionate marriage without a passionate divorce. But it's to their credit that it never affected me too badly, because whatever they were going through themselves, it didn't affect their parenting of me.
I was an only child, but then my parents resettled with different partners, and I am now one of six. We are all very different, but I love having such a big family. We don't do too many collective gatherings – I'll very often celebrate Christmas twice, with both sets of families – but it is nice when a whole bunch of us gets together. Last Christmas, there were 18 of us round the table. And, no, it wasn't a disaster.

My mother had three children, but she wanted a fourth. It never happened, though: she had 10 miscarriages. She kept them from me at the time, because she thought I was too young. We sat down and talked about it much later, and I felt so very sorry for her. It was all so breathtakingly sad.

Towards the end of my first pregnancy with my son Sonny [now seven], I developed pre-eclampsia, that really glamorous condition where you get puffy ankles and a puffy face. It's not much fun. He was born two months prematurely, and was absolutely tiny. We spent a lot of time in hospital.

Sonny had meningitis at four months old. I remember that morning vividly. I woke up at 6am on a Saturday, aware that he was late for his feed. I went to him, and he was the hottest thing ever, his feet blocks of ice. I didn't have a clue what to do. We rushed him to the hospital, they pumped him full of Calpol, and then took him off for a lumbar puncture, which I wasn't allowed to attend. It was my very worst experience as a mother.

My second son, Kit [now two], was also very premature, so we had to get used to even more time in hospitals. It's very sobering.

Two premature babies was not a genetic thing; we were just unlucky. Hopefully we won't be next time, and we definitely want more children. How many? Well, if another pregnancy ends prematurely, then maybe we'll have to draw a line under it, but we always did like the idea, perhaps, of four. But don't get me started on that just now. Let me get through the next one first, and then we'll see.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor's new album, Make a Scene, is out now

Pop Dash meets Sophie Ellis-Bextor

ORIGINAL POST: http://popdash.com/news/5897/popdash-meets-sophie-ellis-bextor

Sophie Ellis-Bextor recently released her latest album 'Make A Scene'. It's one of our favourite albums of the year so we thought we'd give Sophie a ring and chat to her about her music, style and performing in shopping centres!

So the new album’s out now, what was the thinking before you made it? Did you have idea of what you wanted to achieve with it?
Not really, I just knew about the people that I wanted to work with so I recorded ‘Heartbreak’ with the Freemasons and then I went into the studio with people like Calvin Harris and Joe from Metronomy.

It was quite a while in the making, was it a difficult album to make?
No, it was quite fun actually. I didn’t really want to stop writing and working with people. It was very enjoyable actually. I like writing anyway and I had maybe 40 or 50 songs for the album, I had to make a decision to stop!

As you mentioned you worked with some really great people, how does that come about? Did you have a list of people that you’d like to collaborate with?
Yeah, pretty much. It’s a bit of a mix really. I’ve worked with people in the past so I knew I wanted to work with them, and then I ask my friends if there’s anything that they’ve been listening to and is there anyone that they think I should know about? I keep my ear to the ground so it's a really mixed bag.

Do you think that four albums in now that there’s a distinctive Sophie Ellis-Bextor sound?
I think I’ve got a distinctive voice. Nobody has ever said anything about my sound but I like to think my voice is one of my strongest assets.

The one thing that I noticed listening to the new album especially is that you have incredibly clear diction, is that something that you practise?
One thing is that when I listen to it I just try to have a look, I think it’s imperative actually because I’ve found thatI like to tell a story so it is important that people can understand me.

Just the way it pierces through above everything else, you hear it above all the other things, it’s a nice quality.
Aw, thank you. I don’t really think too much about it anymore.

And talking about your style, have you ever considered trying different styles or different genres at all?
Yeah absolutely, and in fact I’ve got to do something a bit different, just because I’ve felt like recently it’s been a lot of disco and pop and I completely adore that, definitely, and its my natural habitat, but I'm thinking of making more stripped back stuff in the future. I’m always going to make dance music though, because it’s what I love.

You've mentioned the band Phoenix as an influence, which other current artists and bands do you listen to for inspiration?
Yeah, I really liked Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. I’ve really gone a bit backwards with music actually, a lot of Fleetwood Mac and Dolly Parton, I really love old school disco too.

Is there a track on the album that you’re particularly proud of? One that you see as being your favourite track ?
I do really love Starlight, because I just think it’s really gritty and it has a flawless production.

Are you still DJing a lot with your husband (Richard from The Feeling)?
Yeah, well its not for our day jobs, but we love to do that together. Last week we went to Milan, which was fun.

Do you ever play your own songs when you’re DJing?
I think not, I think that’s quite embarrassing. Generally we get up and put some of our own stuff in there but I always make Richard press play and I just hide under the table when it comes on, I just find it a bit cringey. One day I got asked to play Groovejet and I didn’t have it anywhere.

So what are your guaranteed life-saving floor filler tracks for you when you’re DJing?
Just like classic party tunes that if you’re trying to warm a crowd up but you’re not going to get anything out of them. Some old Michael Jackson, Dizzee Rascal, or play some classic Madonna……something that keeps them on their toes.

Looking back on your career are there any strange gigs that stand out to you?
There are hundreds!

Such as?
I recently performed at Westfield Shopping Centre in London.

Did you take in some window shopping from the stage?
Yeah, pretty much. Performing was the only thing keeping me from temptation and Topshop. That was a bit unusual but I don’t mind, I am an entertainer after all so if you want me to do that, I shall do that.

Very professional...
The thing is to jump about, have a little dance.

Talking about fashion and shopping, have you ever thought, or even been approached to do your own clothing line?
It hasn’t happened yet, but sure I would love to. I’ve got tons and tons of dresses that I could use for inspiration that could make it happen. So yeah, I’d love to, it would be lots of fun.

Do you fell more relaxed in what you’re doing now, like there’s less pressure, and everyone’s just accepted that ‘I enjoy what I do now so it doesn’t matter what happens?
Yeah 100% actually, it’s more relaxed now and because I don’t think you should ever get to a point where you feel that you’ve got to chart at a certain position. You either like it or you don’t and people just let me do what I do now.
By the time I got to the third album really, and people were going “Okay, we know roughly who you are and what you’re about.

You’re part of the family now...
Yes, I hope so.

Interview with Marie Claire and The Fly.

Marie Claire meets Sophie Ellis-Bextor

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/celebrity/529172/marie-claire-meets-sophie-ellis-bextor.html

Spiller singer and dancing queen Sophie Ellis-Bextor tells Martha Hayes all about getting her groove on again, being a young mum and how to cope when you've got two rock stars in the house... You’ve been off the radar for a while, how do you feel coming back into the spotlight with your fourth album?
'This record was the most fun to make. I was always dancing around the studio - half the time I didn’t even realise I was working!'

How has your fan base changed since you stormed the charts with Groove Jet (If This Ain’t Love)?
'Someone showed me my Facebook fan page with the age-breakdown of my supporters - it’s fascinating because a quarter of them were age 18 – 24, which means that most of them were only seven or eight when Groove Jet came out!'

If you were starting out in 2011, is there anything you’d do differently?
'I’ve got better at listening to other peoples’ advice. Sometimes I could be very bull headed about what I wanted to do so although I'm not particularly proud of them, all the mistakes I've made are my own! I watched one of my old videos recently and I thought, 'Oh my gosh what was I thinking?' It was really cringe.

You’ve got two young sons (Sonny, seven and Kit, two). How has motherhood changed you?
'In some ways I think it helped me - there’s a part of me that will always stay the same. I first got pregnant at 24 and I still think of myself as that! I think having kids relatively young was nice because I liked being a young mum.'

Is it difficult to stay normal with your husband Richard (bassist with The Feeling) also in the music industry?
'It is quite chaotic at times! We just try to really live in the moment whether we’re working or at home.
If we’ve got a day at home then we’ll make sure we really get the most out of it even if we’ve just flown back from somewhere. We’ll take the kids out, go to a park, or get all the ingredients for a roast. It’s always important for me to claim back that time and make it my own again.'

Do you want more children? A little girl would be nice...
'People say that but I don’t really mind. I think my two sons are both gorgeous and very different from one another, so I’ve always been a little bit confused by people who say they would really love a girl or really love a boy because I think the gender is like the tip of the iceberg. I’m still finding out who they are.'

Stop 'n Chat with Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Stylist interviews Sophie

When Stylist was offered the opportunity of a catch-up with pop sensation Sophie Ellis-Bextor, we jumped at the chance. Ever since the 32-year-old stormed onto the scene with retro dance track Groovejet (If This Ain't Love) in 2000 she has gone from strength to strength, effortlessly combining motherhood (Sophie has two young children with her husband, The Feeling bassist Richard Jones) with co-writing and performing a series of chart-topping albums. Her fourth album, Make a Scene, was released in June, soon after Groovejet was named "the decade's most played track on radio."

Read what Sophie had to say on the topic of musical inspiration, style, motherhood and more in our interview below...

You’ve been hugely successful in the music industry, how do you get inspiration for song-writing? And do you ever get writer’s block?
I work with lots of different people to keep me stimulated and I find the pressure of being in a room with someone having to come up with ideas keeps me from getting writer's block. The times I get that are the times when I work alone. I get paralysed by the amount of options available to write about.

You’re well-known for your quirky, offbeat style; who are your style icons? And would you ever consider launching your own clothes line?
My style icons are Julie Andrews and my first doll, Sindy. Sindy had the curvy body, the red lips and the black eyeliner. Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins had the tailoring, in The Sound of Music the dresses made from old curtains. I would love to design my own clothes. What girl wouldn't?!

Who do you look to in the music industry as someone to aspire to?
I love the fact there's so many wonderful female artists around but I can say hand on heart I am very comfortable with my own destiny and I've never seen someone else's career and thought 'I want that for me'. I think that's part of the reason I'm still here, doing what I do.

If you could name any big singer of tomorrow, who would it be? There seems to be a shortage of big-name UK female artists equivalent to Rihanna, Gaga, etc. Do you think there’s any particular reason for this?
I don’t quite agree with you. I think we've got an amazing history of producing big female artists from Dusty Springfield to Annie Lennox to Kate Bush to Adele. We just have a different approach. We don't strive to be the same all-singing, all-dancing type of pop star that the Americans do so well. I think both have their merits.

What advice would you give to up-and-coming songwriter trying to get a break in today’s industry?
Just keep at it and don't think of a record deal as the holy grail. It’s the years spent getting there that you learn the most about yourself without a load of other people sticking their oar in about how you should be doing things!

How do you juggle being a mum with handling your career – how much do you rely on your husband to help you out with this?
I rely on my husband, our brilliant nanny, my dad, my mum, my sister, my brother! One thing I learnt early on is if someone offers to help, accept it. My children are happy and have a supportive extended family. I'm very lucky but obviously sometimes I get it wrong. I'm trying to do my best.

You’ve fronted campaigns for Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) in the past; why do you believe in their message and would you ever consider going naked for one of their campaigns?
I saw the supermodels in the eighties say 'we'd rather go naked than wear fur' and saw it as a moral statement, not a fashion statement. For me it's a no brainer. Fur as fashion is avoidable and in bad taste. I don’t see the need to do another campaign. I see it more that I've put my name down on their petition.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?
My friends and family obviously but I'd add in Nigel Slater, Dolly Parton, Adam and Joe, Katherine Heigl and Derren Brown.

You’re launching a Emmi Caffe Latte pop-up store in support of bringing back lunch breaks; do you ever get time for a lunch break – and if so, what do you eat?
Anything! sushi maybe? I'll have whatever you're having. I'm just happy to be eating...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: http://www.stylist.co.uk/people/interview-sophie-ellis-bextor#image-rotator-1

Sophie wishes to work with Tinie Tempah, Deadmau5, Chase & Status and Calvin Harris

In her defence (cos I know everyone will be against this idea), she did mention that she wanted to do something diametrically opposite to what she does now. So if that means rapping alongside Tinie on one (ONE) song, then why not. It would help her get some commercial exposure. Plus, she has mentioned before (at the Brits) that she likes Tinie. If she has to do a rap duet, she should rap alongside Dizzee in my opinion. They would go great together.

Hopefully people who hate Sophie for absolutely no reason will begin to like her. Deadmau5 is a little too meh for me, but he has a huge following. The only Deadmau5 song I've liked is Ghosts 'n Stuff. Chase & Status are dubstep, which I think will suit Sophie's voice. So why not? They'll all be one time collaborations (if they happen) and will just give her more exposure. I think she should also offer to do a duet with Kaiser Chiefs. She had to turn them down the last time, because of recording commitments.

I really want her to release 2 EPs. One with the Freemasons and the other with Richard X. Those collaborations will go down in pop history has the best things ever - there's no doubt about it.

Anyway here's the article from Metro.co.uk...

Speaking exclusively to Metro.co.uk, Sophie said it would be 'fun' to try something.

"It might be fun to work with someone quite different to me, someone like Tinie Tempah, just to do something of a different genre. Rapping with Tinie Tempah would be fun." The pop star also listed dance acts Deadmau5 and Chase & Status as her favourite acts. "I’d like to work with someone like Deadmau5 and I enjoy Chase and Status. I have both their albums and they're really great."

The Heartbreak singer said she enjoyed programmes like the X Factor, calling it "really good telly". "We always watch it in our house. It's good because it's an option and a way into the [music] industry. There’s pros and cons for every way you get into music and get out there and get performing, but I think people are a lot more open-minded now to the format. It’s a not a widely new concept though – there was Popstars a few years before that and I used to watch that."

The 32-year-old mum, whose fourth album Make A Scene is out now, hopes to collaborate with DJ Calvin Harris for a second time - hopefully on his new album. "I’d work with him again whenever, I’m a big fan," she said. "He was one of the first people I worked with on the new album. He’s funny, talented and bright, he’s gonna be around for a long time. He was a big influence on the new album."

The singer will be launching a pop up coffee shop on Maddox Street in London for one week next week to give hard-working Londoners a better lunch break. "It’s on two floors, you can get yourself an ice cold latte, which I think when you’ve got weather like this it’s quite a welcome idea. You can have manicures, pedicures, style advice, financial advice - all those things you want to be doing but you’ve kind of left off for ages."

Sophie Ellis Bextor today launches the Emmi Caffe Latte Pop Up Shop in London open from the 4th – 9th July. Go to www.facebook.com/EmmiUKLtd for more information.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: http://www.metro.co.uk/music/868028-sophie-ellis-bextor-id-like-to-work-with-tinie-tempah-and-try-rapping#ixzz1RPVJHxfh

Sophie in HeatWorld

ORIGINAL POST: http://www.heatworld.com/Celeb-News/2011/07/Exclusive-Sophie-Ellis-Bextor-talks-celeb-gossip/

Right, so, on Friday heat went off to meet Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Being a super pop star type, we wanted to get her views on the things that really matter in the world. Cheryl Cole’s new hair, should she get back with Ashley and who is fitter – Ryan Reynolds or Justin Timberlake?

First of all, it's probably important to set the scene and tell you what a lovely lady Sophie is. As well as being really beautiful, she is tiny, and made heat feel like quite the heffalump as we bumbled through our questions.

On the subject of Cheryl’s new ‘do, Soph reckons that people would have something to say whatever ‘do she decided on.

"She’s a gorgeous girl; I think it’s good that she’s been adventurous. If she had the same hair day in, day out, people would criticise her just the same, so it’s good that she tries things." We also asked her what she made of the whole Nicole Scherzinger rivalry and which side she's on. ‘I like Cheryl – she’s cool. Cheryl Cole, definitely, over Nicole Scherzinger."

With that, we would most certainly have to agree! However, unlike us, Sophie was just too darn nice to say anything on the whole "Cheryl and Ashley getting back together" hoo-hah, and just wouldn’t blab, instead saying, "I would hate it if Cheryl Cole was in a room talking about me and my husband, so I am not going to say, sorry heat people. I have no opinion, I don’t know them well enough."

However, she would answer our most probing question – who is fitter: Ryan Reynolds or Justin Timberlake? "Oof, God… Ryan Reynolds, because if he was good enough for Scarlett Johansson he must be a nice man. But, then again, Justin Timberlake can dance, and every girl likes a man who can dance." Diplomatic, we like it.

Sophie was crazy positive about just about everyone, she even admitted she "admired Jedward". Yep, that’s right, now Sophie joins the ranks of Liam Gallagher and Katy Perry in being a self-proclaimed Jedward fan!

"I admire them for their enthusiasm and spirit," she says. "I would say keep on Jedward!" Hooray!

ORIGINAL POST: http://www.heatworld.com/Celeb-News/2011/07/Sophie-Ellis-Bextor-talks-touring-with-Take-That-and-George-Michael/

As we told you earlier, heat was lucky enough to be invited for a chat with the very lovely Sophie Ellis-Bextor last week.

In case you didn’t know, Soph has a new album out, and it’s totally "dance around in your pyjamas with a hairbrush" great and features top collaborations with cool dancey types Freemasons and Calvin Harris.

As soon as she told us she had worked with Calvin, we knew it was our duty to shed some light on the whole Katy Perry vs Mr Harris beef (they fell out after he pulled out of supporting her during her UK tour). Sophie was her usual nicer-than-us self and, after assuring us Calvin was NOT grumpy, tactfully said,

“They wanted him to not really DJ, just mock DJ, and he’s not going to want to do that. I mean, taking it public is up to individuals.”

Sophie Ellis-Bextor talks touring with Take That!
She then talked to us about how much she loves performing live at gigs and, oh, that time she casually toured with Take That AND George Michael! The lucky thing said the two tours couldn’t have been more different from each other. Touring with the Take That chaps was like being in a big family, while she never even met George during his tour.

“Take That are just as nice as you would imagine; it was really like a family on that tour. They would come along to sound check and we had a few amazing parties that they put on. They used to put notes in the dressing room saying, ‘Thanks for joining us,' and were very good people – a good indicator of how you should put on a tour – because it was a happy tour, they got the best out of everyone, I think.”

On George Michael, she had this to say, “George Michael I didn’t meet – but it was fun to do. With people who have toured loads, they don’t have to come to everything, they can just turn up and perform. That’s always an option – I didn’t take it personally."

Sophie admits to selling her mum's old Blue Peter badges!
Sophie, whose mum is ex Blue Peter presenter Janet Ellis, also admitted that when she was younger she used to nick her mum's badges to make a few quid in the school playground:

“I charged 50p for a badge or £1 for a badge and my mum's autograph. Quite well pitched for a five or six year old. My mum would roll her eyes at me when I would come home with orders. It was quite odd, really.”

Er, Celebrity Apprentice anyone? Amazing!

Finally, allow us to explain the picture, You see, Sophie is very busy today launching the Emmi Caffe Latte Pop Up Shop in London, which is open from the 4 – 9 July. Go to www.facebook.com/EmmiUKLtd for more information.