Hey, I just want to thank everyone for helping me win the Digital Pop Award. it really is all because of you!
Was thrilling to get handed such a beautiful award. I love how this website gives us an instant connection into each other's worlds. Thank you all for your participation, for everyone who voted and everyone who keeps coming on here to check out what's new or update us all. xxxxx
Stephanie Barresi, I also want to thank you personally for your entry about what you did to promote my nomination. I am overwhelmed by your support. Your efforts stood out as particularly outstanding so thanks for that.
Thank you to everyone else who also promoted me in such creative ways.
Been in the UK all week. Has been wonderful to be back.
A lot of TV gigs here and there that I have been doing. Went to Switzerland yesterday and did this cool TV show. Also a great Halo 3 launch party that I went to a few days ago was a great way to come home and chill.
Today I'm going to the rehearsal of the Digital Music Awards. Going to be performing there.
Thank you all for voting... I'm nominated, so will keep you posted on what happens there.
I miss you lot and can't wait for the tour in Feb when we can all hang out and jam to music together again.
I'm off to Bermuda in a few days for a festival and I'm really excited because maybe I'll get a little sun too - anything to escape the colder weather that seems to be creeping up on us.
Although I really do like autumn... always such good memories for me, so I am looking forward to that. I remember when I was in US last autumn (or fall as they call it) and I was desperate for home 'cause I missed all the golden leaves so whenever I was in a city like Montreal or Boston which is a little more similar to Europe in environment. I would get someone to take me out into the country even if it was for a couple of hours so I could feel like it was autumn and like I was home.
Still in LA getting ready to make another music video for a song that's about to play on US radio... it's a new one! In the last month or two I've really got into an intense, creative mood and written some new songs that I feel extremely excited about. I Feel like I'm really in a good writing space mentally and emotionally and for some reason the songs that i'm writing are more simple and positive than more recent songs I've written. One particular song feels like the clouds parted for a minute and this creative stream just shot down. I wrote and recorded the song in just a couple of hours and it feels to me like one of my best songs yet. I was just in the studio finishing mixing it last night and it was one of those moments when I felt, 'I was born to write songs like this'. When you've just finished a song and there is nothing you would add or take away it's the best moment for me, it's that instant that as a song writer I feel completely fulfilled. I'm not going to build the song up any more as you will no doubt will hear it in time! Anyway, I like to listen to my new songs the morning after so I can really tell if it's good or not. So I better have that listen this morning before I go proclaiming it the best song ever!
Talking of good songs, I got a sneak listen of some of Alicia Keys new songs recently. It's seriously good stuff, incredibly silky and with very emotional vocals, so keep your ears open for that.
I met one of my musical heroes the other day, Rodney Jerkins. He produced Brandy, Michael, Janet Jackson and many others. I grew up listening to Brandy and know her vocals inside out so I was really chuffed to meet him. It'd be amazing from a singer's perspective to work with him as he's incredible at bringing the best out in the voice and harmonies.
Apparently the Leona Lewis music is going to be great when that comes out. I heard her single and really like it. Another group to watch out for that I've really been freaking out over recently is 'The Script.' Their album is out soon and the songs are insane, really musical, great vocals and they guys in the band are really hot too.
The producer for my video is picking the guy who is going to be my love interest today. He asked me what type of guy I want for it. I said it doesn't matter; it should just be someone who is good at acting as the chemistry in the video needs to be believable. It's kind of funny that someone is going through making a short list for me, kind of like a blind date. I'll probably get to choose from his picks at the end of the day. Of course what's weirder is that I already have my perfect type, so none of the guys are going to come even close to comparing with my ideal.
I am in Santa Monica in a hotel that overlooks the beach. It's so lovely to be back here.
Wrote a few songs recently...really on a roll. Releasing the album in the USA soon. It's good to be here but of course I do miss home at times too.
I just spent last week in New York for Fashion Week. Went to so many great shows and hung out with many people that I really admire: Janet Jackson, Mary J Blige, Demi Moore and Aston Kutcher, Erykah Badu, Martina Hingis, Vanessa Carlton, Dustin Hoffman. Each one really left an impression on me. It seems New York was really the place to be last week.
I am really excited today as I have just been told that I have been nominated for Best Pop Artist at the Digital Music Awards. Thanks to you lot for how many times you come on here and check stuff out.
Hope you're well, will try and send some pics at some point soon.
Oh, also forgot to add...the new vid for Say It Again is out this week so check it out.
It's 1.30am: I'm in back in London and I'm lying awake listening to my current chill out play list on iTunes. That's the very eclectic mix of songs from D'Angelo, Beck, Doyle Bramhall, Eric Clapton, Eric Benet, Damien Rice, Elton John, John Mayer, Eminem, Massive Attack, Zero 7 and Bob Dylan. For some reason I have always found male vocals so soothing.
A few women on this chilled-out list are Erykah Badu, Feist, Floetry, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, India Arie, Imogen Heap, Mariah Carey, Lauryn Hill, Lamb, Christa Black.
I love this stuff for relaxing to, but tonight it's the men I am listening too..
I love making playlists, actually I have always loved lists in general, but the great thing specifically about a song playlist is that you get a continuous stream of all your faves and you don't get bored. I have quite a short attention span sometimes and so I like a lot of variation.
The reason I'm up at all is that I have jet lag. Just arrived from the US today. I'm trying to sleep though as I have a photo shoot for a magazine tomorrow. Can't be having bags under the eyes on the front cover!
There are quite a lot of questions that some of you have been sending me! Thanks - I appreciate your interest and comments. I will be answering as many of these as I can soon I promise.
I just wanted to check in and let you guys know that I'm as disappointed as you that the dates on the tour have changed - I know a lot of you had already made travel arrangements.
But I did want to let you know that I appreciate how you guys are always there for me and all the support you give me and just say how much I'm looking forward to seeing you all live and in person next year!
Just came back here for a bit to find out where all the brits went. It's crazy, seems like everyone has escaped from the rain of UK for the US. Not only are the Beckhams in the paper everyday here; I keep bumping into fellow English everywhere. Kat Deely is on telly over here, Snow patrol on radio, KT Tunstall in music mags, Imogen heap in all the movie sound tracks and even at my hotel, I can't eat a simple meal without bumping into Ant and Dec (who were both really charming by the way) or Ricky Gervais. Actually I made Ricky up coz I would've liked to have bumped into him yesterday evening... would have really brightened it up, you know. I'm sure he would have done his crazy dance for me with a little nagging. Then I'd learn his whole routine and teach it to Justin Timberlake for his next show... Now that would be a funny sight! The idea of me teaching Justin dance moves is even more ridiculous. I better just nip this cuckoo idea in the bud and concede that in absolutely no way at all does Justin's choreographer require any help at all especially from me and definitely not from Ricky.
Ok enough randomness from me. I've got to get started with my day. Doing a bit of writing and record promotion out here. Hope you are enjoying the video blogs I made from the Justin tour for you.
Ok let's set the record straight! Anyone who believed the rumour that I wore no knickers at the Diana gig needs to go and look at the meaning of the word gullible in the dictionary and apply it to themselves.. And add the word incredibly. Think about it.. I wore a mini dress.. The cameras and audience were directly below where I was standing and it was windy...that's just asking for trouble at best or intentionally staging a sensational story at worst. I'm not about to expose myself to 500,000,000 viewers and Princes. Anyway, rant over. I know all of u lot weren't fooled for a second.
By the way, check out the vid clip on my you tube channel of my escapades on the Justin tour and keep checking coz I'm going to keep posting them in regular instalments. Xxxx love you