Paloma Faith facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Paloma Faith
Faith in June 2024
Born	Paloma Faith Blomfield (1981-07-21) 21 July 1981 (age 44) Stoke Newington, London, England
Occupation	Singer songwriter actress
Spouse(s)	Rian Haynes ​ ​ (m. 2005; div. 2009)​
Partner(s)	Leyman Lahcine (2012–2022)
Children	2
Musical career
Genres	Pop soul R&B disco jazz
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	2007–present
Labels	Epic RCA

Paloma Faith Blomfield (born on July 21, 1981) is a talented English singer, songwriter, and actress. She is known for her unique style and powerful voice.

Paloma Faith signed with Epic Records in 2008. Her first album, Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful? (2009), featured popular songs like "Stone Cold Sober" and "New York". Her second album, Fall to Grace (2012), reached number two in the UK. It also earned her two Brit Award nominations. This album included her first top-ten song, "Picking Up the Pieces".

Her third album, A Perfect Contradiction (2014), was very successful. It was certified double platinum in the UK. This album featured hit songs like "Can't Rely on You" and "Only Love Can Hurt Like This". The song "Only Love Can Hurt Like This" even topped the charts in Australia. In 2014, she worked with the duo Sigma on the song "Changing", which became her first number one single in the UK.

Paloma Faith's fourth album, The Architect (2017), was her first album to reach number one in the UK. She also appeared on DJ Sigala's song "Lullaby" in 2018. Her more recent albums, Infinite Things (2020) and The Glorification of Sadness (2024), both reached the top five in the UK.

As an actress, Paloma Faith has appeared in several films. These include St Trinian's (2007) and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009). She also starred in the TV series Pennyworth from 2019 to 2022. She has been a coach on the TV talent show The Voice UK (2016) and The Voice Kids (2020).

Early Life and Beginnings

Paloma Faith Blomfield was born in Hackney, London, on July 21, 1981. Her mother was English and her father was Spanish. Her parents separated when she was two years old. She was raised by her mother in Stoke Newington. She also has a close bond with her grandmother.

As a child, Paloma took ballet classes. After finishing her A-levels, she studied contemporary dance in Leeds. While studying, she worked as a hip-hop dancer. She then studied theatre directing and had many part-time jobs. These jobs included working in shops, singing in a cabaret, and being a magician's assistant.

Music Career Journey

Starting Out in Music (2007–2008)

Paloma Faith started her music journey by imitating famous soul and jazz singers. She admired artists like Etta James and Billie Holiday. These singers greatly influenced her own music style.

In 2007, she met her managers, Jamie Binns and Christian Wåhlberg. Jamie Binns was very impressed by her talent. He felt she had a unique artistic quality. While in college, Paloma sang in a band called Paloma and the Penetrators. An A&R (Artists and Repertoire) person from Epic Records saw her perform. They invited her to audition for the label manager. Even though she walked out of the audition because the manager wouldn't turn off his phone, he still offered her a contract. He said she was the most memorable artist he had seen. She even turned down an offer to join Amy Winehouse's band to focus on her own songs. Her first recorded song was "It's Christmas (and I Hate You)" with Josh Weller in 2008.

First Albums and Success (2009–2013)

In June 2009, Paloma Faith released her first single, "Stone Cold Sober". It reached number 17 in the UK. Her second single, "New York", came out in September 2009 and charted at number 15. Later, a new version of "New York" was released with rapper Ghostface Killah.

Her first album, Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?, was released in September 2009. Paloma wrote or co-wrote all the songs on this album. It reached number nine on the UK Albums Chart. The album stayed on the charts for 16 weeks. It was also named "Album of the Week" by BBC Radio 2. She released the album's title track as her third single in December 2009. Paloma also sang on albums by Basement Jaxx and MF Doom in the same year.

Faith performing in October 2012

In March 2010, her fourth single, "Upside Down", was released. To promote her album, she went on her first tour in the UK and Ireland. Critics praised her powerful singing voice and sparkling personality. She performed at many festivals that summer, including T4 on the Beach and the iTunes Festival. In May 2010, Paloma sang on the theme song "Keep Moving" for the film 4.3.2.1. "Smoke & Mirrors" was the final single from her first album, released in October 2010.

In January 2011, Paloma Faith was nominated for British Female Solo Artist at the 2011 BRIT Awards. She also performed at the awards show. In May 2011, she appeared on the charity single "Hard Times" with Plan B and Elton John.

Her second album, Fall to Grace, was released in May 2012. It reached number two on the UK Albums Chart. The first single from the album, "Picking Up the Pieces", became her first top ten single. In May 2012, Paloma joined The Voice UK as a guest mentor. She worked with coach Danny O'Donoghue and performed her new single.

In August 2012, "30 Minute Love Affair" was released as the second single from Fall to Grace. She also recorded a cover of INXS's "Never Tear Us Apart" for a John Lewis advertisement. This song was later added to her album. "Just Be" was released as the fourth single in December 2012. In early 2013, she toured the UK and Ireland to support the album. She received two nominations at the 2013 BRIT Awards. Fall to Grace has sold over 700,000 copies.

Continued Success and New Albums (2014–2021)

Faith performing in November 2014

In January 2013, Paloma Faith started writing her third album. Her third album, A Perfect Contradiction, was released in March 2014. It quickly became her fastest-selling album. It debuted at number two in the UK and earned a double platinum award. The first single, "Can't Rely on You", was produced by Pharrell Williams. It became her second top ten hit in the UK.

The album's second single, "Only Love Can Hurt Like This", was written by Diane Warren. This song became her most successful single. It reached number six in the UK, number one in Australia, and number three in New Zealand. The album then reached number four in Australia. "Trouble with My Baby" was the third single, released in August 2014.

In September 2014, Paloma Faith sang on the song "Changing" by the duo Sigma. This song debuted at number one in the UK, making it her first UK number one single. In November 2014, a special "Outsider's Edition" of her third album was released. It included four new songs. That same month, Paloma joined the charity group Band Aid 30. They recorded a new version of "Do They Know It's Christmas?" to help with the Ebola crisis in West Africa. At the 2015 Brit Awards, Paloma Faith won the award for British Female Solo Artist.

In June 2015, Paloma Faith confirmed she was working on her fourth album. She mentioned Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin as inspirations. In August 2015, it was announced that she would become a coach on The Voice UK. She also started her own management and publishing company.

In August 2017, Paloma Faith released "Crybaby", the first single from her fourth album, The Architect. The album came out in November and debuted at number one in the UK. This was her first UK chart-topping album. Other singles from the album included "Guilty", "'Til I'm Done", and "Warrior". In February 2018, she released "Lullaby" with DJ Sigala. This song reached number six in the UK. The next month, Paloma covered "Make Your Own Kind of Music" by Mama Cass. This song was used in a TV commercial and charted at number 28 in the UK. In November 2018, a new version of The Architect was released with six new songs.

In 2020, Paloma Faith returned as a coach on The Voice Kids for its fourth series. In August 2020, her fifth album was announced as Infinite Things.

Recent Music and Tours (2023–Present)

In October 2023, Paloma Faith announced "How You Leave a Man". This was the first single from her sixth album. She also announced a tour starting in April 2024. Her album, The Glorification of Sadness, was released on February 16, 2024. Paloma shared that the album was inspired by the end of a long-term relationship.

On January 31, 2024, it was announced that Paloma Faith would headline Camp Bestival in August 2024. On January 28, 2025, she launched her first podcast called "Mad, Sad & Bad".

Acting Roles

In 2007, Paloma Faith appeared in the BBC police drama HolbyBlue. She also played Andrea in the film St Trinian's that year. In 2009, she was cast as Sally in Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. She also appeared in the horror film Dread. She later starred in the TV series Coming Up and a short film.

In 2013, she played a cabaret performer named Georgia in the TV show Blandings on the BBC. In 2015, she appeared as herself in Paolo Sorrentino's film Youth. Later that year, Paloma played Tinker Bell in the TV film Peter & Wendy, based on J. M. Barrie's novel Peter Pan.

In 2018, Paloma Faith was cast as a main villain in the series Pennyworth. This show is a prequel to the Batman stories. She also voices Portia the goth poodle on 101 Dalmatian Street.

Other Activities

In 2016, Paloma Faith became a judge on The Voice UK. She was on the show for one season. She returned to judge The Voice Kids UK in 2020.

In March 2024, Paloma Faith signed a letter from Oxfam. The letter asked for an end to UK arms exports to Israel. On December 13, 2024, she held a benefit concert. This concert raised over £115,000 for Medical Aid for Palestinians. In March 2025, Paloma Faith gave a speech at a protest. She spoke about the conflict in Gaza.

Music Style

Paloma Faith is known for her unique and stylish look. Her music often mixes soul with elements of jazz and gospel. She has been compared to other famous singers like Amy Winehouse, Adele, and Duffy. She is a mezzo-soprano, which means she has a middle vocal range.

Personal Life

Paloma Faith married New Zealand chef Rian Haynes in 2005. They separated after eight months and divorced in 2009. She has said it was a quick decision they realized was a mistake, but they remained friends.

In August 2016, it was announced that Paloma Faith was expecting her first child with her long-term partner, Leyman Lahcine. She gave birth to a daughter in December 2016. Her second daughter was born in February 2021. In an October 2023 interview, Paloma Faith shared that she and Leyman Lahcine had separated after a 10-year relationship.

Albums

• Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful? (2009)
• Fall to Grace (2012)
• A Perfect Contradiction (2014)
• The Architect (2017)
• Infinite Things (2020)
• The Glorification of Sadness (2024)

Film and TV Appearances

Films

Television Shows

Concert Tours

• Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful Tour (2010)
• Fall to Grace Tour (2012–13)
• Paloma Faith Tour (2014–15)
• The Architect Tour (2018)
• The Infinite Things Tour (2021)
• The Age of Optimism Tour (2022)
• The Glorification of Sadness Tour (2024)

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Paloma Faith para niños