Support Women Artists Sunday: Eliza Doolittle

Eliza Doolittle - strong of opinion, smiley of face, loud of tights - is the freshest girl on the block. London born and raised, she knows about the stresses of modern city life, teenage aggro, old soul and the appeal of simple, strong melodies built from clanking percussion and jazzy licks.

"Every song is an individual song," she says of her debut album. "And the sound is just really happy and summery and light and breezy, but with thoughtful lyrics." Her attitude, whether on-mic, in-studio or onstage, is not that of a high-maintenance diva. "You pick up something, you just play it...I love that whole sound - really simple - where you can just put it together and anyone can play it."

Raised by a piano-playing dad and singing mum, Eliza's been writing songs since she was 12. Her first songs came quickly, with Eliza eventually writing songs on the piano at 15. "Mr. Mysterious" was one of the first - I was listening to Destiny's Child, and I thought I had to write about a boy. It actually put me off writing about boys forever," she laughs.

"I would never have been able to be Britney or anything like that - someone who just sings. I love being involved with every bit of the music, making it from scratch. It's really fulfilling."

And Eliza Doolittle believes in herself - no record company makeover for this young woman, no spin'n'slap'n'tickle courtesy of stylists and scenesters and hipsters. "Kicks and funky tights and cute dresses, that's me. I'm not saying no to high heels but I just feel more comfortable in this."

via EMI Music

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