September 24, 2025 • 43 mins
Perrie Edwards has lived many lives - from global pop stardom with Little Mix to navigating heartbreak and motherhood in the public eye. But now, she’s stepping into something new: a solo career that’s deeply personal and entirely her own.
In this conversation, Perrie opens up about the pressure of going solo after years of success with one of the biggest girl groups in the world, the heartbreak behind her first solo single 'Forget About Us', and how becoming a mother shifted everything. She talks honestly about her decade-long relationship with footballer Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, the quiet grief of pregnancy loss, and the challenge of carving out her own space away from the spotlight.
With her debut solo album set to launch and another baby on the way, Perrie is stepping into a whole new chapter both personally and professionally. This is a conversation about what happens when you stop trying to please everyone else and finally make something just for you.
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CREDITS:
Guest: Perrie Edwards
Host: Laura Brodnik
Executive Producer: Naima Brown
Senior Producer: Bree Player
Audio Producer: Jacob Round
Video Producer: Josh Green
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
You're listening to a Mother Maya podcast. Mamma Maya acknowledges
the traditional owners of land and waters that this podcast
is recorded on.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Yeah, you don't want to forget that it happened. Of
course it didn't work. Do I want to be there?
No with that person?
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Heck now, but it happened, and I'm so grateful for
the life experience.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Hello, and welcome to No Filter. I'm Laura Brednick, and
today we're sitting down with Perry Edwards, chart topping singer, performer, mother,
and now finally a solo artist. Perry has lived many
lives from global pop stard and with Little Mix to
navigating heartbreak and motherhood in the public eye. But now
(00:57):
she's stepping into something new, a solo career that's deeply
personal and entirely her own. In this conversation, Perry opens
up about the pressure of going solo after years of
success with one of the biggest girl groups in the world,
the heartbreak behind her first solo Forget About Us, and
(01:17):
how becoming a mother shifted everything. She talks honestly about
her decade long relationship with footballer Alex Oxford Chamberlain, the
quiet grief of pregnancy loss, and the challenge of carving
out her own space away from the spotlight. With her
debut solo album coming out tomorrow and another baby on
(01:39):
the way, she's stepping into a whole new chapter both
personally and professionally. This is a conversation about what happens
when you stop trying to please everyone else and finally
make something just for you. Here is Perry Edwards. Well, Perry, Hello,
and welcome to No Filter. Hello. So I opened my
(02:02):
Instagram app over the weekend and I was greeted with
some really beautiful news from you, announcing your pregnancy and
in this moment of going through that huge life moment
and you're about to release your debut album and the
build up to that. How are you doing in this
moment with these two huge monumental events happening at the
same time.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Oh good, Okay, there's a lot going on, but it's
kind of just like really exciting. I feel like there's
just so much going on in a great way, and
it's everything. I love. Babies and music.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Oh yes, the two joyful things in life.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
Was there a decision to sort of put that news
out there in the lead up to the album because
you're doing a lot of press or do you just
feel like the right moment. What do you kind of
thinking around that being on such a public platform.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
I think it was just the right time. And I said,
from like the beginning, you know, I spoke.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
To all the doctors and all the specialists, and.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
We all kind of come to an agreement that it
would be best to share the news after like the
scans all went okay and everything was fine.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
And then also I'm just I'm a bit bored of
height in it now.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Yes, because I conceive doing a lot of performances and things,
and I guess you have to be very strategic of
hiding it in that moment.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
Yeah, it's so annoying, Like the outfits are not necessarily
what I want to wear, but they cover the bump
the best. And it's like there's been a lot of
a lot of that going on behind the scenes that
I'm really tired of now. So I'm like, just free.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Bump, because free to bump in that day, we love
it. It's well leading up into this moment of your debut
release and seeing the excitement around the anticipation from fans
and you're doing these performances. I want to sort of
take you back to I guess young Perry and what
she would have made of this huge success. Was this
(03:43):
something that when you were growing up and singing. I
know both your parents are into music. Is this something
that you ever pictured for yourself?
Speaker 2 (03:51):
I think so.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
I think I pictured it differently, but I always pictured singing.
So I knew singing was like my thing and it's
what I wanted to do. But I didn't think i'd
get this lucky in life and naturally be living out
my dream, which is crazy.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
But whenever I go through things, when I meet certain people.
I met Anastasia the other day, Oh wow, And she
was like one of my biggest idols grown up as
a little girl, and.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
I used to listen to her album constantly on repeat
in the car. And then I met up with her
and we exchange numbers and we're like chatting, and I'm like, obviously,
I'm just like, oh, that's so cool.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
But Little Perry would she would die if she knew she.
Speaker 4 (04:29):
Was like messaging the Anastasia and she'd be freaking the
hell out. So I think there is times in my
career and in my life that I sit back and
I think, WHOA, this is wild.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
It's always the people that you loved as you were
growing up that I don't I met you. But I meet
so many celebrities in this line of work, and it's
always the people that I loved growing up that I
get the most star struck around. I guess because they've
been with you the longest.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
I think that's what it is.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
Yeah, because there's so many people that I could meet
and I'd be like, oh, that's so cool. But you're
right when you're a kid and you grow up looking
at this person and you think they're all like untouchable
and just incredible, and then you kind of meet up
with them.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
When you're alder like that. That is weird, but in
the best way.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
Oh. Just think of all the people that you watched
growing up who were probably at this moment singing along
to your music in the car or putting it on
to get ready in the background like that the most
surreal feeling. Were you always the kid who was singing
around home or wanting to be in the school musicals?
Like what was that moment if you like of sort
of finding your voice at a young age.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
I would sing constantly, so I was constantly humming or
constantly singing, or you know, spending hours and hours in
my bedroom singing. But I would never really do it publicly.
I wasn't the type to like want to be in
the school plays, someone to audition for things. That kind
of really used to terrify me. So I didn't really
start singing publicly till I was about fifteen.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Maybe, Oh wow, that's so interesting to think of now
as like you know where you are now and sort
of was it a bit of a looking back now
as an adult looking back on it as a teenager,
was it a bit of almost stage fright or anxiety
or was it just not your place at that day?
Speaker 4 (06:04):
Yeah, oh, gosha, know I was terrified. I just didn't
want to do it. I knew I could sing, and
I loved singing, but doing it in front.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Of people would just make me feel sick. So I
was just terrified to do anything like that. It took
me a while to get the confidence.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
I think doing like performing art at college really helped
me come out my shell a lot, because everybody in
the room was just so big and like over the
top and like animated then the best way, and I
was just the opposite of that. So I think they
kind of brought me out my shell a lot on that,
and we did loads of shows and things like that,
So I think after that I started to think, oh,
(06:39):
this is really good.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Yeah, that feeling of being on stage would kind of
trump the anxiety in a way.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Yeah. Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
And I've heard you talk many years, because I've been
a fan for a very very long time of your
music and everything, and I've heard you talk many many
times over the years about the beautiful relationship that you
have with your mother, how close you were growing up,
and that she was really the one to kind of
give you a bit of a push into performing. Is
that right, Like she could see what you were going
to become.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Yeah, she was always the one trying to push, but
I was so bit fully shy. I was useless, and
you'd be like, why can't you just do it? And
I'm like, God, I'm so scared.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
She's always pushed me, because she's always been my biggest
chelia down and biggest fun But I suppose when you're
growing up you just think your mom thinks you're the
best anyway, the worst singer in the world.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
And my mom could have been like you're amazing.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
I think I didn't fully like support her, you know,
love for my.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Voice and everything like that. I was like, nah, you're crazy.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
But then yeah, I think like even now, she's the
one that still has like expectations and kind of knows
what I can do and everything like that, whereas I'm
still a little bit in the same head space.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
I don't know. Yeah, she's always been my biggest fan.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Oh right, do you still get a bit of stage
fright to this day. I mean as an outsider in
like watching you perform over the years that it doesn't
come across that way at all, but you still the
kind of person who will stay to your mom before
a big performance, like I don't know if I can
do this even now.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
Yeah, I think it's more like the like releasing things
and putting things out, and it's all the fear of
the unknown route, which I think is completely normal because
I think that would be the same for anybody in
any kind of line of work that they're in. But yeah,
I do still get really nervous and I get scared,
But once I'm on stage, I'm kind of like the
happiest version of myself, So it's like it's a little
(08:28):
bit giddy before I get on, but then once someone,
I'm like, oh, this so what I love.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
So I definitely don't get as nervous now as I
did when I was a kid.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Oh okay, well that is that is good. I guess
that's one of the lovely things I always say about
to people who are scared of growing up and getting
older and like, but you just start to feel more confident,
things are easier, Like That's the beautiful thing as you
get older is you do get to be able to
overcome some of those big fears that you had growing up.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Yeah, definitely, and you just care less as well about
your opinions. I think you really step into your power
as you get older. I think you just become like
the person you want to be, and you're not worried
about outside noise as much. And I think everything comes
with age. I think grace, like everything, understanding, it all
(09:12):
comes with age. So I enjoy getting older because I
start to give less.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Fox really is I guess I'm really finding that as well.
That's why I say to all the younger people in
this office who were worried about going to her thirties,
I was like, no, it's actually lovely because yeah, you
just feel more confident in yourself. And so I also
understand that going into that time leading into the X
Factor auditions, it was your mom that wanted to was
pushing you to go along. Is that right? Is she
(09:38):
the one who was sort of like, this is your moment?
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Yes, And I didn't want to go and I'm really embarrassed.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
And I was like, what are friends at school see
me or like forends at college.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
It's just embarrassing. My mom was like, no, it's not
and she walked me up in the middle of the
night and drove me to Glasgow.
Speaker 4 (09:56):
Newcastle auditions were canceled, so I was like, yes, lo
and behold she comes in. She drags me out of
ben Off people to Glasgow. So I'm grateful for my
mom pushing me into it. The time, I was how
are you doing?
Speaker 2 (10:12):
But now that I'm all that again, now that I'm older,
I get it.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
She could see the potential, she could see the talent,
and she just wanted me to kind of succeeds, I guess.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
So now I'm so gread you did it.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Oh, I feel like we all Your mom are huge debt,
Like she was really putting in the work behind the
scenes to get you to be this musician that people
have loved for so many years. So yeah, I feel
like we know her are quite a big debt for
what she's done for the while.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Depths.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Yes, we'll time debby and going into those early exacted days.
I know this must seem like a million years away
too now or maybe it feels like yesterday. I don't
know how those kind of very vivid memories work. You
were seventeen at the time, is that correct? In twenty eleven,
what were your memories of that time of being in
those audition rooms and being on that stage, and were
(10:57):
you looking at it as a life changing moment or
were you looking at with the shyness that you're talking about,
as something like I just have to get through this
and then I can go home.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Yeah, I think that. I think I was, Like my
mum kept saying to me, like, love.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
If you don't get through and you don't get through
the auditions, just look at it. It's life experience and
like this makes you who you are, like as you
get older and I'm like, oh great, yeah, getting a
big fat nose going to really shame Well, Yeah, exactly,
like the majority of the auditions happened before you even
see the judges. So you have to audition in front
(11:32):
of like the producers and everything, maybe four or five auditions.
Then you see the judges, and then you go through
like the whole X factor kind of regimended thing.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
But before that, it was like.
Speaker 4 (11:46):
Audition after audition after audition, and I think I've alsaw
bord of it, and I was like, Oh, I'm not
really nervous anymore.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
It's just a bit long, right, And you were there
for hours all day every day.
Speaker 4 (11:59):
So I think it got to the point where I
was like making friends there and we were having like
a laugh and it was like a little deal out
and I thought, oh, it's quite fun actually, So then
it just became a bit more of like a a thing.
And then once it started to get real, then I
started to think, oh my god, this could actually happen.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
And so initially you were taking other soul auditions and
then put into a group. Did that sort of help
with the audition process? Going through that you were standing
in side by side with these other people, and you
were guests, got to form your own little safety net
within this huge kind of what was such a global
show at the time.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
Oh yeah, absolutely. I got wrung my mom and book
can't crying my eyes out every day. I was like,
please pick me up, behaved here, And then my mom
was like, look, if you're lucky, you'll get put in
a group.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
And I'll take to think.
Speaker 4 (12:42):
It's just like yeah, because if you think about it,
like I just said, I was so painfully shy. I
really performed in front of people before the next fact,
that was my first kind of big thing that I did.
So I think having like the girls presiding and being
put in a group of brow of confidence that I
didn't necessarily perfect the beginning, So I think it was
the best thing that could have happened to me, to
be honest.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
Oh that's such a lovely way to look at it.
And again going on then to sort of those days
in Little Mix and the bean blowing up and people
being so invested in you as a singer, and you're
doing huge tours and you're doing appearances, and I remember
looking at the paparazzi videos of the time and all
just like the fans just dying crying in the streets,
some of them tears pouring down their faces at seeing
you and you're at such a young age at that time.
(13:26):
What do you think when you kind of look back
on that moment. Were you able to stop in that
moment and think, Wow, this is incredible or was there
a certain kind of I guess pressure of then, like
now we've won. Now there's these expectations, and now we
have to go and be this successful band that people
think we're going to be.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Yeah. I think it was a little bit of both.
Speaker 4 (13:46):
I think, you know, when I look back now, I
wish we could have kind of lived in the moment
a lot more, because we did have so much fun,
Like we had such a laugh, like we topped the meg,
like we just had the best time. But we worked
so hard and we were so hard on ourselves to
become successful and kind of you know, we were told
(14:07):
several times that go Bunst doing well and little Makes
doing well, you're not going to make it, And we
wanted to prove people wrong so much so that we
kind of run ourselves into the ground a lot of
the time. And I think like back then it was
like crazy as well, like you're seeing the funs and
the paparazzi and everything at the time. But it was
all just a bit much to take on board in
the Mormon But when I look back now, I'm like, wow,
(14:30):
that was wild. Yeah, but it was probably a good
thing that we were so busy that we didn't really
have time to pondermics.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Maybe it would have been a bit much, maybe not.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Good at that busyness of just like just keep going in.
But it's always that's always a thing, those big times
in your life. You always look back afterwards and think, Oh,
I wish I just enjoyed that more. But I guess
when you're in it, that's hard to kind of move
into that. And you talk about also working so much,
long hours, the tour hours, all those sorts of things.
But were there moments where you sort of remember enjoying
that fame for the first time, Like, was there a
(15:01):
moment where you got a paycheck and you got to
buy something crazy, because I would have just like run
to top Shop or something if I was your age,
or buy something for your fair or where was the
first moment you got to have like a little bit
of indulgence off your fame.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Ooh, I don't know. I think we did like an
advert on X Factor in his very early days. I
can't remember what it was for emin s maybe.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
And we did a few different things and we actually
got paid for those things, right went to the cashpoint
with my mom and my brother and I.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Was like, oh, my gosh, there's money in my cat.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
It's like my brother like whacked me on the head
and he was like, nah, it's more than that.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
And I was like, what number is that it was?
I didn't even know what number.
Speaker 4 (15:45):
It was crazy, but for me, like from humble beginnings,
I've never seen before in an account. So I was
freaking out and and my mom and my brother were
like freaking out in the street, but try not to
be too much of a thing made people stop and stare.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
And then I remember going to the Apple Store and
just buying my whole family like laptops.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
Oh that's so nice of you to like spread of
the wealth around the families start away.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Yeah, I felt rich. I was like you, it was epic.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
Oh, I love that.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
I'd be grateful for that. It's great.
Speaker 4 (16:21):
And I think like when we did fan events and
things like that and we got to actually see them
in the flesh like clause and seeing how much they
just loved us. It was like, that's when I'd be like, shoot,
like we're actually doing something amazing here.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
This is wild.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Oh that's a yeah, that's a beautiful way to look
at it. And the fans as well, because again, like
music that you sing along too, especially when you're a teenager,
and so many of your fans of the time, like
so many adults, but young girls, like, there's nothing I
think that really trumps that feeling of falling in love
with a band for the first time and sleeping out
for tickets or sleeping out to get into a concert
and all those kind of things, Like there's nothing that
kind of I think replaces that feeling. So it must
(17:00):
be nice to know that you were that for so
many people.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Oh yeah, it was the best feoman ever. It was epic.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
After the break, Perry tells us the truth about an
iconic brit Awards moment and how she pushed back against
industry pressure to find her voice as a solo artist.
You were saying before that when you first got into
the band, there was a bit of talk around girl
bands not succeeding or being a bit harder to establish,
(17:33):
and obviously we've seen over the years from so many
different musicians that that's not true. There's a huge appetite
for that music. And I wanted to ask you about
the brit Awards win when you were up on stage
and as a group you said, the industry is filled
with like a lot of sexism misogyny, but we've pushed
through and this win is for all the other girl
groups out there, and you name some of them. And
(17:54):
I just think that's like such a powerful moment in
pop culture across the world. Like that clip still gets
played across so many social media platforms now and people
still resonate with it because of how powerful that statement was.
What does it mean to you now to sort of
look back on that and be such a history making
moment but also decide as a group that you were
going to make it about all the women in the industry.
Speaker 4 (18:17):
Yeah, I think that's what a Little Mits was always about.
It wasn't just like we're doing this and this is
our pack and this is that we just wanted to
pave the way for other girls, other women in the industry,
girl bands that came before and after us that we
thought was so deserv and of winning that award. So
we just couldn't really comprehend that, and we were like,
that's just so weird because they were fucking great.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
So that's why we.
Speaker 4 (18:40):
Wanted to kind of shout out, you know that in
our acceptance speech.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Just to be like, you all deserve this.
Speaker 4 (18:46):
You got overlooked and it wasn't fair in a very
male dominant industry.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
Yeah, it's lovely that I think that moment is still
remembered so strongly around the world. And when you were
then deciding to move into a solo career and what
you wanted those sounds to look like, but also at
the same time, you're coming off this huge career and
this huge worldwide fame. Was there any part of you
that thought, like, oh, I don't I don't have to
go into a solo career. That's not what I want
to do. I want to give myself a rest or.
(19:14):
Did you sort of come into that mindset of being like,
this is what I want to do and this is
what I want my sound to be as a solo artist.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (19:21):
I think I kind of did get to a little
bit of a crossroads where I.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
Was like do I do it? Do I not?
Speaker 4 (19:27):
I think I kind of owed it to myself to
do it because it's something that I love. But at
the same time, I was like, oh, I know the industry,
I know how hard it is, and this.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
Is completely different now even to what it.
Speaker 4 (19:38):
Was back then, and I think part of me was
a bit like should I even do it?
Speaker 2 (19:45):
And that wasn't because of laziness.
Speaker 4 (19:46):
I was just because I thought, is it something that's
going to actually make me happy? And then I think
when I started making music and being in the studio,
I thought, no, this is like, this is what I
just love to do.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
I just love singing.
Speaker 4 (20:00):
So I think any opportunity where I can be on
the stage and be performing and get that adrenaline rush
and like all that stuff that comes with been a singer,
I just.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
You know, I wanted to give it a go and
just see see what happens, yes.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
And just sing. And I guess know that like old fans,
new fans would all sort of be there to hear
the new material that you were releasing and would be
excited to hear it.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
Coming into twenty twenty four, you released a single Forget
about Us. Switch is such a banger, one of the
ones I sing along to in the car quite a
bit myself, And you've said about that that it's about
past relationships and looking back on what worked and what
didn't and where you are now. How do you go
on the process of sort of looking back on all
these past relationships and feelings and then picking out the
(20:46):
moments that you want to put into a song. What
is that process like, because I guess from an outsider's perspective,
it just looks like so many different feelings and thoughts
to distill down into this song that you want to
put out into the world.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
Yeah, I think it's different every time. With that one,
it was you know, it was written by a cheer
and it felt like a big pop song.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
And it just really big and I loved the sound
of it, and I love the viber bit and at
the time I didn't have the first single or what
I thought my first single, and I think concept wise,
I liked that it was just relatable.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
I feel like so many.
Speaker 4 (21:21):
People go through life where they have relationships with people
that didn't work because it was wrong person or wrong
time or whatever the circumstances are. But at the same time,
it happened and it's part of your life and it's
kind of it makes you who you are.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
When you're old at kind of shoot you as a person,
and there's.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
Such huge impactful moments in your life that I kind
of thought, like, Yeah, you don't want to forget that
it happened.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
Of course it didn't work, but do I want to
be there?
Speaker 3 (21:46):
No, not that person techno, but it happened, and I'm
so grateful for the life experiences.
Speaker 4 (21:54):
Just everything about it. So I'm like, I don't want
to forget that it happened. I'm actually glad it happened,
whether it was good or bad. So I think that's
kind of the concept around that song, and that's why
I loved it so much.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
Yeah, that's a really brilliatable take. I think that idea
of like you have looking back on your past paint
and again that whole thing saying earlier of getting older
and being able to look back on things with like
I'm glad that happened, and now I can sort of
think of it in a different light. It's really powerful.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
I was reading that you were in the studio working
on the album, and you had singles and you had music,
and then you decided to put a little bit of
a pause and kind of reconfigure a few things. Is
that right, and sort of look at doing things a
bit of a different way.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (22:32):
I think I was just like feeling the pressure a
lot from everybody as well.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
And you come from a group, everyone has such expectations
of you. You're not a new artist anymore.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
People already know who you are because you're quite established
from a group. But then when you go solo, if
you're not doing what people thought or wanted or walked
you would do, it's almost.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Like they're just shit all over. It's just like, ah, okay.
So it's kind of stressful, and I think I just
got to the point where I was like.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
Right, I don't feel like I'm being truly authentic to myself.
I don't feel like, you know, I wasn't right in
the material. It wasn't coming from me. It didn't feel
that genuine. And I was thinking, no, wonder they think
this week, because even I think it's much too much.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
I did, So I think I just kind of put
the brakes on a little bit, had a little bit
of a.
Speaker 4 (23:20):
Break, went back in the studio with a fresh head,
took the pressure off, and just thought, right, I have
what I think is my album can I can I
do what I would rather do and see where I
get to.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
And then I think as soon as I did that, there.
Speaker 4 (23:37):
Was just a huge shift in like my creative juices
and everything like that.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
It just felt so much better.
Speaker 4 (23:43):
So I'm glad I did that because I'm glad I
stuck to my guns and now my album is saw Me.
It's so authentic. It's just like from my heart really,
so I'm just I love it.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Well, that's a That's a very admirable thing to do,
because I can imagine that when that wheels in motion
of making an album, there's so many different people involved,
and you've been talking to different people about album releases
and musicians and even people in your own life of
what your schedule looks like. There would be the thought
that I'll just push on and I'll keep going and
I'll make it work. But to have the sort of
(24:16):
strength to say this is it right, I'm going to
stop and make it what the album I want it
to be, I think is very admirable. Do you make
those decisions by yourself or their people in your life
where you crisis call and say, like I'm thinking of
doing this, what do I do what's the kind of
process around that.
Speaker 4 (24:33):
So I think, yeah, I think the hardest thing about
being an artist is like the kind of voices and
opinions around you twenty four to seven, from your team,
your label, the higher powers, all these different things, and
I think it can be really hard to kind of
stay through to yourself because you can get easily led
when everyone's saying this is great and this is it,
but you don't feel like it in your gut. You
(24:54):
can still be sweat. So I think in this industry,
being like a solo arts especially, it's really hard to
stay through to yourself. So I'm glad that I've got
like people around me that I can go to and
be like, I'm not feeling it.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
I don't feel good. Like my manager, she goes to
war for me every day, bless her, and she'll have
my back.
Speaker 4 (25:14):
And then I've got like my family and my mom,
my partner lets, and I think they know what I
want to do and what decisions are me so they
just backed me and because then it's authentic anyway. Oh
so like yeah, they're definitely the key people in my
life luckily, because it is it is quite difficult.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
It's it's tough sometimes.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
After the break, Perry opens up about meeting Alex on
a dating app and navigating long distance love, and how
becoming a mom has changed her life for the better.
I wanted to ask you about Alex, so thank you
for bringing him up, because there's that lovely song you
go your way about your relationship in those early days.
(25:57):
Can you tell me a little bit about what it
was like to meet him and how your love story started.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
Yeah, of course we met Onria.
Speaker 1 (26:06):
You know, yes, yes, I do.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
That was like the hot thing at the time.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
It was a hot thing that the waitless thro it
across the world apparently have escalated to such an extent.
There's millions of people trying to go on on, like
celebrities trying to get on. There was a press release
about it the other day and they're just at capacity.
So I think you got it at a good time
because now everyone wants on.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Yeah, that's crazy.
Speaker 4 (26:30):
I feel like when I was on it, there wasn't
that many people on there that was but it was
like hundreds of thousands.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
Of people you could pick from it. It was a very
shallow pool, but it was kind.
Speaker 4 (26:40):
Of good because it was like quite exclusive at the time,
but this was ten years ago, so it's different now.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
But yeah, we.
Speaker 4 (26:47):
Met on there and then we started chatting and exchange
numbers and then nothing really came about. And then I
was like, I think I've seen them on the google Box,
like the England scued the players were on goggle Box.
I was, oh, my god, that's that guy that I
was talking to Umbria. It seems really funny, really nice.
(27:08):
It was really cute. And then Jesse made me message him,
so I messaged him and I was like, Hi, when
you take me.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
Off for a drink, that's a good opening line. That's
a nice, casual but like exciting opening line, and it
obviously worked.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (27:21):
Well, I was cringing at the time, but I was like, oh,
I forgot to lose. I've been single for a little while,
so I.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
Thought, yeah, I'll give it a go.
Speaker 4 (27:27):
And I dated a lot, but everybody just give me
the egg and.
Speaker 2 (27:32):
Nobody was it like it was just annoying.
Speaker 4 (27:34):
I couldn't be bothered with anybody, to be honest, I
think I was just like, right, I'd rather just be
on my own. And then I met him and then
I just thought, oh my god, he's perfect. He's everything
that I was wanting to meet, and I think I
needed somebody like him to come into my life to
change my men especially, So I.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
Was like, yeah, this is great, he's lovely. Fancied him
straight away.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
Oh what a beautiful love story.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
And then that was it.
Speaker 4 (27:58):
We were just like inpable ever since. So we went
out a lot, met all each other's friends and everything
like that. So yeah, it was great and it was
just a gentleman. He was lovely.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
And your song go Your Way, I understand that's from
the early days of your relationship. Is that correct when
you had just met but you were going off on
a tour and you sort of said to him you
were thinking he needed a break and can he tat
me through? Sort of like that moment and how it
led to this song.
Speaker 4 (28:25):
Yeah, it was a bit random, So it was, you know,
this was a Joy Anonymous song, and I love Joy Anonymous.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
I think he's the coolest guy and.
Speaker 4 (28:34):
I'm obsessed with him, and this song like kind of
made me think back to a time when Alex and
I first started dating, Like we were seeing each other,
we really liked each other. You know, I was getting feelings,
he was catching feelings, but neither of us had seen anything,
and then I was born to America three months to
do that.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
Are in a Grande tour?
Speaker 1 (28:54):
Oh wow?
Speaker 2 (28:55):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (28:55):
And I just remember sitting him down after like a
date one night, and I was like that, I'm going
to be away for three months.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
I don't expect you to wait for me, So why
don't we just go our separate ways for now. I'll
do my own thing. You can do your thing, and
if we're meant to be, then maybe after the twelve
we'll kind of come back together. And he's like ooh,
he was horrified question and he was like, that's gross.
Why would we do that?
Speaker 4 (29:18):
And I'm like, because I'm going to be out of
the country in America traveling for three months and we've
just met, so like, and we were off quite young
at the time. I just thought I don't want to
put that pressure on him. And he was like absolutely not,
like you're my girlfriend, I don't want to do that.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
And I was like, oh, is asking me. You're telling
me I'm asking you you wouldn't be my girlfriend.
Speaker 3 (29:37):
So I thought we were like, I'm like, oh, okay
then and then we just had to like based was it?
But we just styped every day, messaged constantly, and then
I think we came back for like one night to
do the Bricks.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
We performed at the Brits, won an award, spent the night,
and then went back to America.
Speaker 4 (29:58):
So I think I got to see him like once
in that two and a half three months.
Speaker 2 (30:03):
But yeah, weird, that's.
Speaker 1 (30:06):
Really beautiful and also story ties him with your song
if he wanted to, he will because he made it
work the distance and there's so many of us out
here who are just the bar is so low across
the board, and so when you hear something like that
that it's like true love and true commitment. That's really lovely.
Speaker 2 (30:21):
I think that my bar was so law.
Speaker 4 (30:23):
That's why I was like, do you want to just
part ways?
Speaker 2 (30:26):
The fact that he was disgusted in that, I was like.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
Oh okay, what a green flag with me?
Speaker 2 (30:31):
And he's waiting for me and he's willing to do
these things.
Speaker 4 (30:34):
So I think he just had a lot of maturity
as well, you know, but you're right, if you wanted
to be definitely words then he did.
Speaker 1 (30:40):
So Yeah, I think I think it's a wake up
call a lot of people need. So thank you for
that bit of a bit of tough love across the board.
And so, as you said, you've been together for over
ten years now and you welcomed your beautiful son a
few years ago. How has been a mother changed the
way you look at your career and your music and
how has it shaped what you want to do going forward?
Speaker 2 (30:59):
Oh god, it's it's like impacted my life completely in
the best way possible. Though.
Speaker 4 (31:08):
I think, like I say to all my friends that
becoming a mom is like one of the best things
in the world.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
Like I didn't grow up is the kind of bill
that was. I want to get married and this is
going to be my wedding.
Speaker 4 (31:19):
And plan all those things. But I knew growing up
I wanted to be a man, and I wanted to
have kids, and I wanted to like live vicariously through
them and just have the magic of that. And I
think have an Axle is everything that I.
Speaker 2 (31:31):
Would thought being a man would be.
Speaker 4 (31:33):
Like, he's just an absolute who.
Speaker 2 (31:36):
He's funnydic he like.
Speaker 4 (31:40):
Comes out with the funniest things, and I just love
the innocence of children.
Speaker 2 (31:43):
I just think that. And he's just the best thing ever.
So I just adore him.
Speaker 4 (31:48):
I think when you have you know, you have big
things that impact your life drastically, but definitely becoming a
parent changes your outlook on everything. Because I used to
worry a lot about, you know how, what people thought
of me or am.
Speaker 2 (32:02):
I doing enough?
Speaker 4 (32:03):
And I was very critical on myself. And then once
I birthed a full on a human, I thought, why
do I care the whole humans? Yeah, now I feel
like a badass, and I feel like I just look
at things completely different Now I don't swept the small stuff.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
Little things happen that would really annoy me, and now
I'm just like.
Speaker 4 (32:24):
Oh, well, like, I think I've just definitely changed my
perspective on things, but in the best way possible.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
I think it's made me a way about person that's a.
Speaker 1 (32:33):
Really beautiful way to look at it. Does he does?
I know he's still very young, but is he the
age now that he knows that his mum is sort
of one of the most biggest musicians in the world,
or like, what's his kind of reaction to that, or
does he think everyone's mom sinks to stadiums and performs
on TV and all those things.
Speaker 4 (32:48):
He doesn't really get it, but he did, like they
did something at nursery like a few months ago. I've
seen us in big school now. Didn't know it was saying,
you know, tell us about your parents and what did.
Speaker 2 (32:58):
They do and what do you want to be when
you grow up? And he was like, well, my dad
has a footballer, and I think my mom like dancers.
Speaker 1 (33:05):
I mean not wrong, is this quite great?
Speaker 2 (33:09):
Oh my god, two step or two?
Speaker 4 (33:11):
But I'm a singer, darl and I'm like, mummy's the singer, remember,
And he's like, oh yeah. He just doesn't really get it,
to be honest, he doesn't fully connect the dots.
Speaker 2 (33:19):
And if we're out in public and people want pictures
and stuff, he's a bit like what are you doing?
And then he wants to be in the So I
think he's very young at the moment. He doesn't fully
understand it. Yeah yeah, I don't know what age that
will become a thing. I don't know, maybe like.
Speaker 1 (33:34):
Well, yeah, I'm not sure. I guess. Also when a
new baby arrives and he also gets to sort of
see you be in full more Moon for like album
release mode and what do you I mean that's a lot.
I can't believe one human being is going to do
all that, But what do those next few months look
like for you? As I said, You're expecting a baby,
which is very very exciting, and you're a touring about
(33:55):
to release this new album and then you've got a
baby a son to look after at home. How does that?
How is that schedule going to work? Not to stress
you out on this call, I know I'm.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Thinking, Oh my John, I'm going to bring my managea.
Speaker 1 (34:08):
You can do what I think, thank you.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
Yeah, well I've been doing it the last few months
and I think I've handled it quite well.
Speaker 4 (34:15):
Obviously, act was back in school now, which is great,
so it just means I've got more time to do
my stuff.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
My mum is always with me, so.
Speaker 4 (34:22):
She's basically my village in Alex's home now, so that's
making things easier again. So I think like I'm definitely
You know, my album has been my dream for years
and it's what I've wanted, and I've worked so hard
and bought so much, and I had to go through
so many fricking obstacles that you wouldn't believe to get
(34:43):
this album to go ahead. So now that it's finally happening,
I just want to be able to do my everything
and do as much as I can.
Speaker 2 (34:49):
But I think it's all about balance and like, again,
my manager's really good at doing that kind of thing.
And you know when people are like, why isn't she
doing this, why isn't she doing that? Probaly because I
don't want to.
Speaker 4 (35:00):
I can't physically do it. I have so much in
my schedule and we have to prioritize everything. And it's
not as straightforward as just right, You're going to do this, this, this,
and that's the plan. We've got to plan everything ahead,
we've got to schedule everything, we've got to make sure
I have time to get myself together, and there's a
lot to do.
Speaker 2 (35:18):
But at the same time, it's so exciting that I'm
just like, I'm so ready for it. Yeah, and then
just before Christmas as well, so it's great so I
could work, work, work book, yes, and enjoy Christmas.
Speaker 1 (35:30):
And what is it like being on I guess this
press tour for the album and also knowing that once
it comes out, there's going to be all these I
guess people like reading into different lyrics or people playing it.
And you've been in the public eye for such a
long time, do you get excited when you're leading up
to these periods where you know that people are gonna
be talking about you even more, or is there like
a little bit of anxiety of being in the public
(35:52):
face a little bit more during this time, Like how
do you balance that side of it?
Speaker 4 (35:58):
I think I'm more just excited, and I think I'm
more just like at the stage.
Speaker 2 (36:03):
Where I just want my album out so and I
love it so much. Yeah, and I'm so proud of it,
and I feel like it's everything I wanted it to be.
So now all I can do is really soon if
people like it, they like it. If they don't, they don't,
that's out of my control. So I think the parts
that I can control, I've done. Now. I've done my best,
(36:23):
I've worked my hardest, I've done everything to the top
standard I possibly could. And now it's just done to
the public and how they perceived it and how it does.
Speaker 4 (36:32):
But I think because I feel so confident in it,
I'm just happy as long as.
Speaker 2 (36:38):
My fans hear it and they love it. Yeah, very
care about.
Speaker 1 (36:42):
Yeah, that's a really beautiful way to look at it.
I guess like that's with any piece of art, whether
it's an album or movie, a book, anything. Once you
put out into the world, it becomes the property of
the fans and the people to consume it in the
way they want to sort of take that. So that's
a really lovely way to look at it. Speaking of that,
like living in the public eye and the press too,
are recently you've talked about like a few different personal things,
(37:02):
and in the lead up to sharing your pregnancy, talked
a little bit about suffering pregnancy loss, which I'm very
so sorry to hear that, and I hope you and
your family are doing okay. But what I noticed after
those stories you talked about those stories publicly is just
the threads of comments underneath from women saying thank you
for sharing. I've been through this, I'm going through it now.
(37:24):
Was it a difficult decision to make those private parts
of your life public? And do you see that outpouring
from women thanking you for doing it.
Speaker 4 (37:33):
I never intentionally wanted to go public with that.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
I think you know. It happened a few years ago
and we've kind of kept it as a in our circle.
So I'm my best friend to my family obviously, Alex
and I and then I did the podcast with Paul,
and I think because you.
Speaker 4 (37:51):
Were so like safe and calming, and it's almost like
a therapy session. But I don't think I was really
thinking of it like this is the time to go public.
Speaker 2 (38:03):
Just came out. It felt like a natural kind of
way to do it.
Speaker 4 (38:08):
But I didn't think I would have discussed things like that,
not because I didn't want to raise awareness for it,
and not because you know, I know so many people
have gone through it, like women and friends of mine,
and it's really hard.
Speaker 2 (38:19):
But the only reason I didn't want to discuss it.
Speaker 4 (38:21):
Is because I found it too difficult to discuss.
Speaker 2 (38:24):
So I thought, I'm just never gonna talk about it.
I'm just going to keep it in and that be
that because it's really hard. It's awful.
Speaker 1 (38:32):
So yes, what I did again, I was very sorry
to hear that, and I can only imagine that going
through the pain but then also having that threat of
like the public potentially finding out. I think it's really
lovely as you were saying that you're in a circle
new but a word of it was never breathed to
the public, So it must be nice to know that
you've always got that in a circle around you who
will hold tight to any of those stories.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
They are the best, Like nothing gets out of my circle.
They're very strong to take that to the grove.
Speaker 1 (39:02):
That is good today because I mean, there are many
celebrities who say they still I mean Pete davidsone was
saying the other day, and I've heard other celebrities say it.
They have to sometimes even now, like plant different stories
within their friendship groups to see who will leak it
and all that sort of thing. So I think that's
really lovely to not be on that.
Speaker 4 (39:18):
Oh now, there's none of that for me. Everybody just
kind of knows. In my inner circle they know everything.
Speaker 2 (39:25):
So luckily I don't have that issue. And yeah, someone
couldn't be trusted, I wouldn't tell them anything.
Speaker 1 (39:32):
So but that is a lovely way to go through life.
And So, in anticipation of the album about to come out,
we've heard some of the singles. A lot of them
will be under wraps until it's released. What are you
hoping that people take away from this album? I know
we've talked through this sort of behind the scenes of
a few different songs, but what is the kind of
I guess journey that your hope listeners will go on
(39:54):
when they sit down and listen to all the songs
all the way through.
Speaker 2 (39:56):
I'm just in true to say what ones people love them, what.
Speaker 4 (40:01):
People like click with because it's a whole body of
work and everyone's going to have different opinions.
Speaker 2 (40:07):
So I'm just so intrigued to say what everyone's going
to think, and like.
Speaker 4 (40:12):
I say, I love it so much, so I'm expecting
everyone else to be like, yeah, it's a great album,
but yeah, I think I'm just excited to get it
out there so I can start having the conversations with
the fans and DM in them and just getting to
know the insights of what they think of the thing
that's the most exciting.
Speaker 1 (40:28):
I think, Oh, you DM with fans, oh yeah all
the time. Yeah, oh wow. I mean someone with such
a big following, I would find that surprising that you
do you ever delve in there and just think, Oh God,
I don't know what I'm going to find in my
messages or is it usually pretty pretty just like what
people wanting to discuss the music.
Speaker 2 (40:45):
Yeah, I think it's like May the fans we talk
about all kinds of stuff we talk about, like the
summert and prey.
Speaker 1 (40:51):
Wait, which teamy. I need to know Jim Conrad, what
are you? Yes, no, I am team comrade, But I
feel sad for Jeremiah. I actually think that she just
needs to go live in Paris and just not go
near those boys again because it's been a bit of
a messy situation.
Speaker 2 (41:05):
I don't want to choose herself. That's cute and all,
but no, not now.
Speaker 4 (41:09):
I want Connie and Belly to have forever after because
they've they've.
Speaker 2 (41:13):
Always been day ones. But anyway, me, the fans get
into this constantly. We talk about all kinds of stuff.
But yeah, I always talk to my fans as much
as possible. Really, they're just so lovely.
Speaker 4 (41:23):
So yeah, and that's the thing with social media you
can kind of have that platform.
Speaker 2 (41:29):
We feel close to them. But yeah, we chat about
all kinds of crap.
Speaker 1 (41:32):
Oh that's really well. I mean, I'm sure for many
people that's exciting for them. And having those real life
fan interactions, like, has there been a particularly memorable one?
Because I know there's so many times where as we
were saying before, I've seen fans cry in front of
you or get very excited. What's your most memorable fan interaction?
Speaker 2 (41:47):
Oh gosh, I couldn't say, there's just been so many.
Speaker 4 (41:50):
I don't think it's very rare I've ever had like
a bad interaction with anyone.
Speaker 1 (41:54):
Oh well, that is lovely, Perry. It has just been
so glorious to talk to you. And I've listened to
the album all the way through. It's just really lovely
from the songs they've sent me, and I'm so excited
for everyone else to hear it. And yeah, it's just
always such a joy to watch you on stage and
a joy to talk to you. Thank you so much
for your time, so much.
Speaker 2 (42:12):
Enjoy the rest of your day.
Speaker 1 (42:18):
That was Perry Edwards. And what a journey she's been on.
From girl group success to solo artists, from heartbreak to motherhood,
from stadium tours to quiet moments at home. Perry has
lived so many lives already, whether it's through the music
she's making, the family she's building, all the voice she's
still learning to trust. Perry is stepping into something that
(42:41):
feels braver and more personal than ever before. She's honest, grounded,
and now finally she's starting a new chapter on her
own terms. And one thing's clear, Perry Edwards is just
getting started the Executive producer of No Filter is Naeima
Brown and senior producer is Tina Madlof Audio production by
(43:02):
Jacob Brown and video editing by Josh Green. I'm Laura Brodnick.
Thank you for listening to No Filter.
You're listening to a Mother Maya podcast. Mamma Maya acknowledges
the traditional owners of land and waters that this podcast
is recorded on.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Yeah, you don't want to forget that it happened. Of
course it didn't work. Do I want to be there?
No with that person?
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Heck now, but it happened, and I'm so grateful for
the life experience.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Hello, and welcome to No Filter. I'm Laura Brednick, and
today we're sitting down with Perry Edwards, chart topping singer, performer, mother,
and now finally a solo artist. Perry has lived many
lives from global pop stard and with Little Mix to
navigating heartbreak and motherhood in the public eye. But now
(00:57):
she's stepping into something new, a solo career that's deeply
personal and entirely her own. In this conversation, Perry opens
up about the pressure of going solo after years of
success with one of the biggest girl groups in the world,
the heartbreak behind her first solo Forget About Us, and
(01:17):
how becoming a mother shifted everything. She talks honestly about
her decade long relationship with footballer Alex Oxford Chamberlain, the
quiet grief of pregnancy loss, and the challenge of carving
out her own space away from the spotlight. With her
debut solo album coming out tomorrow and another baby on
(01:39):
the way, she's stepping into a whole new chapter both
personally and professionally. This is a conversation about what happens
when you stop trying to please everyone else and finally
make something just for you. Here is Perry Edwards. Well, Perry, Hello,
and welcome to No Filter. Hello. So I opened my
(02:02):
Instagram app over the weekend and I was greeted with
some really beautiful news from you, announcing your pregnancy and
in this moment of going through that huge life moment
and you're about to release your debut album and the
build up to that. How are you doing in this
moment with these two huge monumental events happening at the
same time.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Oh good, Okay, there's a lot going on, but it's
kind of just like really exciting. I feel like there's
just so much going on in a great way, and
it's everything. I love. Babies and music.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Oh yes, the two joyful things in life.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
Was there a decision to sort of put that news
out there in the lead up to the album because
you're doing a lot of press or do you just
feel like the right moment. What do you kind of
thinking around that being on such a public platform.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
I think it was just the right time. And I said,
from like the beginning, you know, I spoke.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
To all the doctors and all the specialists, and.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
We all kind of come to an agreement that it
would be best to share the news after like the
scans all went okay and everything was fine.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
And then also I'm just I'm a bit bored of
height in it now.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Yes, because I conceive doing a lot of performances and things,
and I guess you have to be very strategic of
hiding it in that moment.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
Yeah, it's so annoying, Like the outfits are not necessarily
what I want to wear, but they cover the bump
the best. And it's like there's been a lot of
a lot of that going on behind the scenes that
I'm really tired of now. So I'm like, just free.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Bump, because free to bump in that day, we love
it. It's well leading up into this moment of your debut
release and seeing the excitement around the anticipation from fans
and you're doing these performances. I want to sort of
take you back to I guess young Perry and what
she would have made of this huge success. Was this
(03:43):
something that when you were growing up and singing. I
know both your parents are into music. Is this something
that you ever pictured for yourself?
Speaker 2 (03:51):
I think so.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
I think I pictured it differently, but I always pictured singing.
So I knew singing was like my thing and it's
what I wanted to do. But I didn't think i'd
get this lucky in life and naturally be living out
my dream, which is crazy.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
But whenever I go through things, when I meet certain people.
I met Anastasia the other day, Oh wow, And she
was like one of my biggest idols grown up as
a little girl, and.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
I used to listen to her album constantly on repeat
in the car. And then I met up with her
and we exchange numbers and we're like chatting, and I'm like, obviously,
I'm just like, oh, that's so cool.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
But Little Perry would she would die if she knew she.
Speaker 4 (04:29):
Was like messaging the Anastasia and she'd be freaking the
hell out. So I think there is times in my
career and in my life that I sit back and
I think, WHOA, this is wild.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
It's always the people that you loved as you were
growing up that I don't I met you. But I meet
so many celebrities in this line of work, and it's
always the people that I loved growing up that I
get the most star struck around. I guess because they've
been with you the longest.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
I think that's what it is.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
Yeah, because there's so many people that I could meet
and I'd be like, oh, that's so cool. But you're
right when you're a kid and you grow up looking
at this person and you think they're all like untouchable
and just incredible, and then you kind of meet up
with them.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
When you're alder like that. That is weird, but in
the best way.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
Oh. Just think of all the people that you watched
growing up who were probably at this moment singing along
to your music in the car or putting it on
to get ready in the background like that the most
surreal feeling. Were you always the kid who was singing
around home or wanting to be in the school musicals?
Like what was that moment if you like of sort
of finding your voice at a young age.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
I would sing constantly, so I was constantly humming or
constantly singing, or you know, spending hours and hours in
my bedroom singing. But I would never really do it publicly.
I wasn't the type to like want to be in
the school plays, someone to audition for things. That kind
of really used to terrify me. So I didn't really
start singing publicly till I was about fifteen.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Maybe, Oh wow, that's so interesting to think of now
as like you know where you are now and sort
of was it a bit of a looking back now
as an adult looking back on it as a teenager,
was it a bit of almost stage fright or anxiety
or was it just not your place at that day?
Speaker 4 (06:04):
Yeah, oh, gosha, know I was terrified. I just didn't
want to do it. I knew I could sing, and
I loved singing, but doing it in front.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Of people would just make me feel sick. So I
was just terrified to do anything like that. It took
me a while to get the confidence.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
I think doing like performing art at college really helped
me come out my shell a lot, because everybody in
the room was just so big and like over the
top and like animated then the best way, and I
was just the opposite of that. So I think they
kind of brought me out my shell a lot on that,
and we did loads of shows and things like that,
So I think after that I started to think, oh,
(06:39):
this is really good.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Yeah, that feeling of being on stage would kind of
trump the anxiety in a way.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Yeah. Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
And I've heard you talk many years, because I've been
a fan for a very very long time of your
music and everything, and I've heard you talk many many
times over the years about the beautiful relationship that you
have with your mother, how close you were growing up,
and that she was really the one to kind of
give you a bit of a push into performing. Is
that right, Like she could see what you were going
to become.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Yeah, she was always the one trying to push, but
I was so bit fully shy. I was useless, and
you'd be like, why can't you just do it? And
I'm like, God, I'm so scared.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
She's always pushed me, because she's always been my biggest
chelia down and biggest fun But I suppose when you're
growing up you just think your mom thinks you're the
best anyway, the worst singer in the world.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
And my mom could have been like you're amazing.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
I think I didn't fully like support her, you know,
love for my.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Voice and everything like that. I was like, nah, you're crazy.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
But then yeah, I think like even now, she's the
one that still has like expectations and kind of knows
what I can do and everything like that, whereas I'm
still a little bit in the same head space.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
I don't know. Yeah, she's always been my biggest fan.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Oh right, do you still get a bit of stage
fright to this day. I mean as an outsider in
like watching you perform over the years that it doesn't
come across that way at all, but you still the
kind of person who will stay to your mom before
a big performance, like I don't know if I can
do this even now.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
Yeah, I think it's more like the like releasing things
and putting things out, and it's all the fear of
the unknown route, which I think is completely normal because
I think that would be the same for anybody in
any kind of line of work that they're in. But yeah,
I do still get really nervous and I get scared,
But once I'm on stage, I'm kind of like the
happiest version of myself, So it's like it's a little
(08:28):
bit giddy before I get on, but then once someone,
I'm like, oh, this so what I love.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
So I definitely don't get as nervous now as I
did when I was a kid.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Oh okay, well that is that is good. I guess
that's one of the lovely things I always say about
to people who are scared of growing up and getting
older and like, but you just start to feel more confident,
things are easier, Like That's the beautiful thing as you
get older is you do get to be able to
overcome some of those big fears that you had growing up.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Yeah, definitely, and you just care less as well about
your opinions. I think you really step into your power
as you get older. I think you just become like
the person you want to be, and you're not worried
about outside noise as much. And I think everything comes
with age. I think grace, like everything, understanding, it all
(09:12):
comes with age. So I enjoy getting older because I
start to give less.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Fox really is I guess I'm really finding that as well.
That's why I say to all the younger people in
this office who were worried about going to her thirties,
I was like, no, it's actually lovely because yeah, you
just feel more confident in yourself. And so I also
understand that going into that time leading into the X
Factor auditions, it was your mom that wanted to was
pushing you to go along. Is that right? Is she
(09:38):
the one who was sort of like, this is your moment?
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Yes, And I didn't want to go and I'm really embarrassed.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
And I was like, what are friends at school see
me or like forends at college.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
It's just embarrassing. My mom was like, no, it's not
and she walked me up in the middle of the
night and drove me to Glasgow.
Speaker 4 (09:56):
Newcastle auditions were canceled, so I was like, yes, lo
and behold she comes in. She drags me out of
ben Off people to Glasgow. So I'm grateful for my
mom pushing me into it. The time, I was how
are you doing?
Speaker 2 (10:12):
But now that I'm all that again, now that I'm older,
I get it.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
She could see the potential, she could see the talent,
and she just wanted me to kind of succeeds, I guess.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
So now I'm so gread you did it.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Oh, I feel like we all Your mom are huge debt,
Like she was really putting in the work behind the
scenes to get you to be this musician that people
have loved for so many years. So yeah, I feel
like we know her are quite a big debt for
what she's done for the while.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Depths.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Yes, we'll time debby and going into those early exacted days.
I know this must seem like a million years away
too now or maybe it feels like yesterday. I don't
know how those kind of very vivid memories work. You
were seventeen at the time, is that correct? In twenty eleven,
what were your memories of that time of being in
those audition rooms and being on that stage, and were
(10:57):
you looking at it as a life changing moment or
were you looking at with the shyness that you're talking about,
as something like I just have to get through this
and then I can go home.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Yeah, I think that. I think I was, Like my
mum kept saying to me, like, love.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
If you don't get through and you don't get through
the auditions, just look at it. It's life experience and
like this makes you who you are, like as you
get older and I'm like, oh great, yeah, getting a
big fat nose going to really shame Well, Yeah, exactly,
like the majority of the auditions happened before you even
see the judges. So you have to audition in front
(11:32):
of like the producers and everything, maybe four or five auditions.
Then you see the judges, and then you go through
like the whole X factor kind of regimended thing.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
But before that, it was like.
Speaker 4 (11:46):
Audition after audition after audition, and I think I've alsaw
bord of it, and I was like, Oh, I'm not
really nervous anymore.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
It's just a bit long, right, And you were there
for hours all day every day.
Speaker 4 (11:59):
So I think it got to the point where I
was like making friends there and we were having like
a laugh and it was like a little deal out
and I thought, oh, it's quite fun actually, So then
it just became a bit more of like a a thing.
And then once it started to get real, then I
started to think, oh my god, this could actually happen.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
And so initially you were taking other soul auditions and
then put into a group. Did that sort of help
with the audition process? Going through that you were standing
in side by side with these other people, and you
were guests, got to form your own little safety net
within this huge kind of what was such a global
show at the time.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
Oh yeah, absolutely. I got wrung my mom and book
can't crying my eyes out every day. I was like,
please pick me up, behaved here, And then my mom
was like, look, if you're lucky, you'll get put in
a group.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
And I'll take to think.
Speaker 4 (12:42):
It's just like yeah, because if you think about it,
like I just said, I was so painfully shy. I
really performed in front of people before the next fact,
that was my first kind of big thing that I did.
So I think having like the girls presiding and being
put in a group of brow of confidence that I
didn't necessarily perfect the beginning, So I think it was
the best thing that could have happened to me, to
be honest.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
Oh that's such a lovely way to look at it.
And again going on then to sort of those days
in Little Mix and the bean blowing up and people
being so invested in you as a singer, and you're
doing huge tours and you're doing appearances, and I remember
looking at the paparazzi videos of the time and all
just like the fans just dying crying in the streets,
some of them tears pouring down their faces at seeing
you and you're at such a young age at that time.
(13:26):
What do you think when you kind of look back
on that moment. Were you able to stop in that
moment and think, Wow, this is incredible or was there
a certain kind of I guess pressure of then, like
now we've won. Now there's these expectations, and now we
have to go and be this successful band that people
think we're going to be.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Yeah. I think it was a little bit of both.
Speaker 4 (13:46):
I think, you know, when I look back now, I
wish we could have kind of lived in the moment
a lot more, because we did have so much fun,
Like we had such a laugh, like we topped the meg,
like we just had the best time. But we worked
so hard and we were so hard on ourselves to
become successful and kind of you know, we were told
(14:07):
several times that go Bunst doing well and little Makes
doing well, you're not going to make it, And we
wanted to prove people wrong so much so that we
kind of run ourselves into the ground a lot of
the time. And I think like back then it was
like crazy as well, like you're seeing the funs and
the paparazzi and everything at the time. But it was
all just a bit much to take on board in
the Mormon But when I look back now, I'm like, wow,
(14:30):
that was wild. Yeah, but it was probably a good
thing that we were so busy that we didn't really
have time to pondermics.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Maybe it would have been a bit much, maybe not.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Good at that busyness of just like just keep going in.
But it's always that's always a thing, those big times
in your life. You always look back afterwards and think, Oh,
I wish I just enjoyed that more. But I guess
when you're in it, that's hard to kind of move
into that. And you talk about also working so much,
long hours, the tour hours, all those sorts of things.
But were there moments where you sort of remember enjoying
that fame for the first time, Like, was there a
(15:01):
moment where you got a paycheck and you got to
buy something crazy, because I would have just like run
to top Shop or something if I was your age,
or buy something for your fair or where was the
first moment you got to have like a little bit
of indulgence off your fame.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Ooh, I don't know. I think we did like an
advert on X Factor in his very early days. I
can't remember what it was for emin s maybe.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
And we did a few different things and we actually
got paid for those things, right went to the cashpoint
with my mom and my brother and I.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Was like, oh, my gosh, there's money in my cat.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
It's like my brother like whacked me on the head
and he was like, nah, it's more than that.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
And I was like, what number is that it was?
I didn't even know what number.
Speaker 4 (15:45):
It was crazy, but for me, like from humble beginnings,
I've never seen before in an account. So I was
freaking out and and my mom and my brother were
like freaking out in the street, but try not to
be too much of a thing made people stop and stare.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
And then I remember going to the Apple Store and
just buying my whole family like laptops.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
Oh that's so nice of you to like spread of
the wealth around the families start away.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Yeah, I felt rich. I was like you, it was epic.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
Oh, I love that.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
I'd be grateful for that. It's great.
Speaker 4 (16:21):
And I think like when we did fan events and
things like that and we got to actually see them
in the flesh like clause and seeing how much they
just loved us. It was like, that's when I'd be like, shoot,
like we're actually doing something amazing here.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
This is wild.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Oh that's a yeah, that's a beautiful way to look
at it. And the fans as well, because again, like
music that you sing along too, especially when you're a teenager,
and so many of your fans of the time, like
so many adults, but young girls, like, there's nothing I
think that really trumps that feeling of falling in love
with a band for the first time and sleeping out
for tickets or sleeping out to get into a concert
and all those kind of things, Like there's nothing that
kind of I think replaces that feeling. So it must
(17:00):
be nice to know that you were that for so
many people.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Oh yeah, it was the best feoman ever. It was epic.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
After the break, Perry tells us the truth about an
iconic brit Awards moment and how she pushed back against
industry pressure to find her voice as a solo artist.
You were saying before that when you first got into
the band, there was a bit of talk around girl
bands not succeeding or being a bit harder to establish,
(17:33):
and obviously we've seen over the years from so many
different musicians that that's not true. There's a huge appetite
for that music. And I wanted to ask you about
the brit Awards win when you were up on stage
and as a group you said, the industry is filled
with like a lot of sexism misogyny, but we've pushed
through and this win is for all the other girl
groups out there, and you name some of them. And
(17:54):
I just think that's like such a powerful moment in
pop culture across the world. Like that clip still gets
played across so many social media platforms now and people
still resonate with it because of how powerful that statement was.
What does it mean to you now to sort of
look back on that and be such a history making
moment but also decide as a group that you were
going to make it about all the women in the industry.
Speaker 4 (18:17):
Yeah, I think that's what a Little Mits was always about.
It wasn't just like we're doing this and this is
our pack and this is that we just wanted to
pave the way for other girls, other women in the industry,
girl bands that came before and after us that we
thought was so deserv and of winning that award. So
we just couldn't really comprehend that, and we were like,
that's just so weird because they were fucking great.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
So that's why we.
Speaker 4 (18:40):
Wanted to kind of shout out, you know that in
our acceptance speech.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Just to be like, you all deserve this.
Speaker 4 (18:46):
You got overlooked and it wasn't fair in a very
male dominant industry.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
Yeah, it's lovely that I think that moment is still
remembered so strongly around the world. And when you were
then deciding to move into a solo career and what
you wanted those sounds to look like, but also at
the same time, you're coming off this huge career and
this huge worldwide fame. Was there any part of you
that thought, like, oh, I don't I don't have to
go into a solo career. That's not what I want
to do. I want to give myself a rest or.
(19:14):
Did you sort of come into that mindset of being like,
this is what I want to do and this is
what I want my sound to be as a solo artist.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (19:21):
I think I kind of did get to a little
bit of a crossroads where I.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
Was like do I do it? Do I not?
Speaker 4 (19:27):
I think I kind of owed it to myself to
do it because it's something that I love. But at
the same time, I was like, oh, I know the industry,
I know how hard it is, and this.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
Is completely different now even to what it.
Speaker 4 (19:38):
Was back then, and I think part of me was
a bit like should I even do it?
Speaker 2 (19:45):
And that wasn't because of laziness.
Speaker 4 (19:46):
I was just because I thought, is it something that's
going to actually make me happy? And then I think
when I started making music and being in the studio,
I thought, no, this is like, this is what I
just love to do.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
I just love singing.
Speaker 4 (20:00):
So I think any opportunity where I can be on
the stage and be performing and get that adrenaline rush
and like all that stuff that comes with been a singer,
I just.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
You know, I wanted to give it a go and
just see see what happens, yes.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
And just sing. And I guess know that like old fans,
new fans would all sort of be there to hear
the new material that you were releasing and would be
excited to hear it.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
Coming into twenty twenty four, you released a single Forget
about Us. Switch is such a banger, one of the
ones I sing along to in the car quite a
bit myself, And you've said about that that it's about
past relationships and looking back on what worked and what
didn't and where you are now. How do you go
on the process of sort of looking back on all
these past relationships and feelings and then picking out the
(20:46):
moments that you want to put into a song. What
is that process like, because I guess from an outsider's perspective,
it just looks like so many different feelings and thoughts
to distill down into this song that you want to
put out into the world.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
Yeah, I think it's different every time. With that one,
it was you know, it was written by a cheer
and it felt like a big pop song.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
And it just really big and I loved the sound
of it, and I love the viber bit and at
the time I didn't have the first single or what
I thought my first single, and I think concept wise,
I liked that it was just relatable.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
I feel like so many.
Speaker 4 (21:21):
People go through life where they have relationships with people
that didn't work because it was wrong person or wrong
time or whatever the circumstances are. But at the same time,
it happened and it's part of your life and it's
kind of it makes you who you are.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
When you're old at kind of shoot you as a person,
and there's.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
Such huge impactful moments in your life that I kind
of thought, like, Yeah, you don't want to forget that
it happened.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
Of course it didn't work, but do I want to
be there?
Speaker 3 (21:46):
No, not that person techno, but it happened, and I'm
so grateful for the life experiences.
Speaker 4 (21:54):
Just everything about it. So I'm like, I don't want
to forget that it happened. I'm actually glad it happened,
whether it was good or bad. So I think that's
kind of the concept around that song, and that's why
I loved it so much.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
Yeah, that's a really brilliatable take. I think that idea
of like you have looking back on your past paint
and again that whole thing saying earlier of getting older
and being able to look back on things with like
I'm glad that happened, and now I can sort of
think of it in a different light. It's really powerful.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
I was reading that you were in the studio working
on the album, and you had singles and you had music,
and then you decided to put a little bit of
a pause and kind of reconfigure a few things. Is
that right, and sort of look at doing things a
bit of a different way.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (22:32):
I think I was just like feeling the pressure a
lot from everybody as well.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
And you come from a group, everyone has such expectations
of you. You're not a new artist anymore.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
People already know who you are because you're quite established
from a group. But then when you go solo, if
you're not doing what people thought or wanted or walked
you would do, it's almost.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Like they're just shit all over. It's just like, ah, okay.
So it's kind of stressful, and I think I just
got to the point where I was like.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
Right, I don't feel like I'm being truly authentic to myself.
I don't feel like, you know, I wasn't right in
the material. It wasn't coming from me. It didn't feel
that genuine. And I was thinking, no, wonder they think
this week, because even I think it's much too much.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
I did, So I think I just kind of put
the brakes on a little bit, had a little bit
of a.
Speaker 4 (23:20):
Break, went back in the studio with a fresh head,
took the pressure off, and just thought, right, I have
what I think is my album can I can I
do what I would rather do and see where I
get to.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
And then I think as soon as I did that, there.
Speaker 4 (23:37):
Was just a huge shift in like my creative juices
and everything like that.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
It just felt so much better.
Speaker 4 (23:43):
So I'm glad I did that because I'm glad I
stuck to my guns and now my album is saw Me.
It's so authentic. It's just like from my heart really,
so I'm just I love it.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Well, that's a That's a very admirable thing to do,
because I can imagine that when that wheels in motion
of making an album, there's so many different people involved,
and you've been talking to different people about album releases
and musicians and even people in your own life of
what your schedule looks like. There would be the thought
that I'll just push on and I'll keep going and
I'll make it work. But to have the sort of
(24:16):
strength to say this is it right, I'm going to
stop and make it what the album I want it
to be, I think is very admirable. Do you make
those decisions by yourself or their people in your life
where you crisis call and say, like I'm thinking of
doing this, what do I do what's the kind of
process around that.
Speaker 4 (24:33):
So I think, yeah, I think the hardest thing about
being an artist is like the kind of voices and
opinions around you twenty four to seven, from your team,
your label, the higher powers, all these different things, and
I think it can be really hard to kind of
stay through to yourself because you can get easily led
when everyone's saying this is great and this is it,
but you don't feel like it in your gut. You
(24:54):
can still be sweat. So I think in this industry,
being like a solo arts especially, it's really hard to
stay through to yourself. So I'm glad that I've got
like people around me that I can go to and
be like, I'm not feeling it.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
I don't feel good. Like my manager, she goes to
war for me every day, bless her, and she'll have
my back.
Speaker 4 (25:14):
And then I've got like my family and my mom,
my partner lets, and I think they know what I
want to do and what decisions are me so they
just backed me and because then it's authentic anyway. Oh
so like yeah, they're definitely the key people in my
life luckily, because it is it is quite difficult.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
It's it's tough sometimes.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
After the break, Perry opens up about meeting Alex on
a dating app and navigating long distance love, and how
becoming a mom has changed her life for the better.
I wanted to ask you about Alex, so thank you
for bringing him up, because there's that lovely song you
go your way about your relationship in those early days.
(25:57):
Can you tell me a little bit about what it
was like to meet him and how your love story started.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
Yeah, of course we met Onria.
Speaker 1 (26:06):
You know, yes, yes, I do.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
That was like the hot thing at the time.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
It was a hot thing that the waitless thro it
across the world apparently have escalated to such an extent.
There's millions of people trying to go on on, like
celebrities trying to get on. There was a press release
about it the other day and they're just at capacity.
So I think you got it at a good time
because now everyone wants on.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Yeah, that's crazy.
Speaker 4 (26:30):
I feel like when I was on it, there wasn't
that many people on there that was but it was
like hundreds of thousands.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
Of people you could pick from it. It was a very
shallow pool, but it was kind.
Speaker 4 (26:40):
Of good because it was like quite exclusive at the time,
but this was ten years ago, so it's different now.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
But yeah, we.
Speaker 4 (26:47):
Met on there and then we started chatting and exchange
numbers and then nothing really came about. And then I
was like, I think I've seen them on the google Box,
like the England scued the players were on goggle Box.
I was, oh, my god, that's that guy that I
was talking to Umbria. It seems really funny, really nice.
(27:08):
It was really cute. And then Jesse made me message him,
so I messaged him and I was like, Hi, when
you take me.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
Off for a drink, that's a good opening line. That's
a nice, casual but like exciting opening line, and it
obviously worked.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (27:21):
Well, I was cringing at the time, but I was like, oh,
I forgot to lose. I've been single for a little while,
so I.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
Thought, yeah, I'll give it a go.
Speaker 4 (27:27):
And I dated a lot, but everybody just give me
the egg and.
Speaker 2 (27:32):
Nobody was it like it was just annoying.
Speaker 4 (27:34):
I couldn't be bothered with anybody, to be honest, I
think I was just like, right, I'd rather just be
on my own. And then I met him and then
I just thought, oh my god, he's perfect. He's everything
that I was wanting to meet, and I think I
needed somebody like him to come into my life to
change my men especially, So I.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
Was like, yeah, this is great, he's lovely. Fancied him
straight away.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
Oh what a beautiful love story.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
And then that was it.
Speaker 4 (27:58):
We were just like inpable ever since. So we went
out a lot, met all each other's friends and everything
like that. So yeah, it was great and it was
just a gentleman. He was lovely.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
And your song go Your Way, I understand that's from
the early days of your relationship. Is that correct when
you had just met but you were going off on
a tour and you sort of said to him you
were thinking he needed a break and can he tat
me through? Sort of like that moment and how it
led to this song.
Speaker 4 (28:25):
Yeah, it was a bit random, So it was, you know,
this was a Joy Anonymous song, and I love Joy Anonymous.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
I think he's the coolest guy and.
Speaker 4 (28:34):
I'm obsessed with him, and this song like kind of
made me think back to a time when Alex and
I first started dating, Like we were seeing each other,
we really liked each other. You know, I was getting feelings,
he was catching feelings, but neither of us had seen anything,
and then I was born to America three months to
do that.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
Are in a Grande tour?
Speaker 1 (28:54):
Oh wow?
Speaker 2 (28:55):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (28:55):
And I just remember sitting him down after like a
date one night, and I was like that, I'm going
to be away for three months.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
I don't expect you to wait for me, So why
don't we just go our separate ways for now. I'll
do my own thing. You can do your thing, and
if we're meant to be, then maybe after the twelve
we'll kind of come back together. And he's like ooh,
he was horrified question and he was like, that's gross.
Why would we do that?
Speaker 4 (29:18):
And I'm like, because I'm going to be out of
the country in America traveling for three months and we've
just met, so like, and we were off quite young
at the time. I just thought I don't want to
put that pressure on him. And he was like absolutely not,
like you're my girlfriend, I don't want to do that.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
And I was like, oh, is asking me. You're telling
me I'm asking you you wouldn't be my girlfriend.
Speaker 3 (29:37):
So I thought we were like, I'm like, oh, okay
then and then we just had to like based was it?
But we just styped every day, messaged constantly, and then
I think we came back for like one night to
do the Bricks.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
We performed at the Brits, won an award, spent the night,
and then went back to America.
Speaker 4 (29:58):
So I think I got to see him like once
in that two and a half three months.
Speaker 2 (30:03):
But yeah, weird, that's.
Speaker 1 (30:06):
Really beautiful and also story ties him with your song
if he wanted to, he will because he made it
work the distance and there's so many of us out
here who are just the bar is so low across
the board, and so when you hear something like that
that it's like true love and true commitment. That's really lovely.
Speaker 2 (30:21):
I think that my bar was so law.
Speaker 4 (30:23):
That's why I was like, do you want to just
part ways?
Speaker 2 (30:26):
The fact that he was disgusted in that, I was like.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
Oh okay, what a green flag with me?
Speaker 2 (30:31):
And he's waiting for me and he's willing to do
these things.
Speaker 4 (30:34):
So I think he just had a lot of maturity
as well, you know, but you're right, if you wanted
to be definitely words then he did.
Speaker 1 (30:40):
So Yeah, I think I think it's a wake up
call a lot of people need. So thank you for
that bit of a bit of tough love across the board.
And so, as you said, you've been together for over
ten years now and you welcomed your beautiful son a
few years ago. How has been a mother changed the
way you look at your career and your music and
how has it shaped what you want to do going forward?
Speaker 2 (30:59):
Oh god, it's it's like impacted my life completely in
the best way possible. Though.
Speaker 4 (31:08):
I think, like I say to all my friends that
becoming a mom is like one of the best things
in the world.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
Like I didn't grow up is the kind of bill
that was. I want to get married and this is
going to be my wedding.
Speaker 4 (31:19):
And plan all those things. But I knew growing up
I wanted to be a man, and I wanted to
have kids, and I wanted to like live vicariously through
them and just have the magic of that. And I
think have an Axle is everything that I.
Speaker 2 (31:31):
Would thought being a man would be.
Speaker 4 (31:33):
Like, he's just an absolute who.
Speaker 2 (31:36):
He's funnydic he like.
Speaker 4 (31:40):
Comes out with the funniest things, and I just love
the innocence of children.
Speaker 2 (31:43):
I just think that. And he's just the best thing ever.
So I just adore him.
Speaker 4 (31:48):
I think when you have you know, you have big
things that impact your life drastically, but definitely becoming a
parent changes your outlook on everything. Because I used to
worry a lot about, you know how, what people thought
of me or am.
Speaker 2 (32:02):
I doing enough?
Speaker 4 (32:03):
And I was very critical on myself. And then once
I birthed a full on a human, I thought, why
do I care the whole humans? Yeah, now I feel
like a badass, and I feel like I just look
at things completely different Now I don't swept the small stuff.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
Little things happen that would really annoy me, and now
I'm just like.
Speaker 4 (32:24):
Oh, well, like, I think I've just definitely changed my
perspective on things, but in the best way possible.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
I think it's made me a way about person that's a.
Speaker 1 (32:33):
Really beautiful way to look at it. Does he does?
I know he's still very young, but is he the
age now that he knows that his mum is sort
of one of the most biggest musicians in the world,
or like, what's his kind of reaction to that, or
does he think everyone's mom sinks to stadiums and performs
on TV and all those things.
Speaker 4 (32:48):
He doesn't really get it, but he did, like they
did something at nursery like a few months ago. I've
seen us in big school now. Didn't know it was saying,
you know, tell us about your parents and what did.
Speaker 2 (32:58):
They do and what do you want to be when
you grow up? And he was like, well, my dad
has a footballer, and I think my mom like dancers.
Speaker 1 (33:05):
I mean not wrong, is this quite great?
Speaker 2 (33:09):
Oh my god, two step or two?
Speaker 4 (33:11):
But I'm a singer, darl and I'm like, mummy's the singer, remember,
And he's like, oh yeah. He just doesn't really get it,
to be honest, he doesn't fully connect the dots.
Speaker 2 (33:19):
And if we're out in public and people want pictures
and stuff, he's a bit like what are you doing?
And then he wants to be in the So I
think he's very young at the moment. He doesn't fully
understand it. Yeah yeah, I don't know what age that
will become a thing. I don't know, maybe like.
Speaker 1 (33:34):
Well, yeah, I'm not sure. I guess. Also when a
new baby arrives and he also gets to sort of
see you be in full more Moon for like album
release mode and what do you I mean that's a lot.
I can't believe one human being is going to do
all that, But what do those next few months look
like for you? As I said, You're expecting a baby,
which is very very exciting, and you're a touring about
(33:55):
to release this new album and then you've got a
baby a son to look after at home. How does that?
How is that schedule going to work? Not to stress
you out on this call, I know I'm.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Thinking, Oh my John, I'm going to bring my managea.
Speaker 1 (34:08):
You can do what I think, thank you.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
Yeah, well I've been doing it the last few months
and I think I've handled it quite well.
Speaker 4 (34:15):
Obviously, act was back in school now, which is great,
so it just means I've got more time to do
my stuff.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
My mum is always with me, so.
Speaker 4 (34:22):
She's basically my village in Alex's home now, so that's
making things easier again. So I think like I'm definitely
You know, my album has been my dream for years
and it's what I've wanted, and I've worked so hard
and bought so much, and I had to go through
so many fricking obstacles that you wouldn't believe to get
(34:43):
this album to go ahead. So now that it's finally happening,
I just want to be able to do my everything
and do as much as I can.
Speaker 2 (34:49):
But I think it's all about balance and like, again,
my manager's really good at doing that kind of thing.
And you know when people are like, why isn't she
doing this, why isn't she doing that? Probaly because I
don't want to.
Speaker 4 (35:00):
I can't physically do it. I have so much in
my schedule and we have to prioritize everything. And it's
not as straightforward as just right, You're going to do this, this, this,
and that's the plan. We've got to plan everything ahead,
we've got to schedule everything, we've got to make sure
I have time to get myself together, and there's a
lot to do.
Speaker 2 (35:18):
But at the same time, it's so exciting that I'm
just like, I'm so ready for it. Yeah, and then
just before Christmas as well, so it's great so I
could work, work, work book, yes, and enjoy Christmas.
Speaker 1 (35:30):
And what is it like being on I guess this
press tour for the album and also knowing that once
it comes out, there's going to be all these I
guess people like reading into different lyrics or people playing it.
And you've been in the public eye for such a
long time, do you get excited when you're leading up
to these periods where you know that people are gonna
be talking about you even more, or is there like
a little bit of anxiety of being in the public
(35:52):
face a little bit more during this time, Like how
do you balance that side of it?
Speaker 4 (35:58):
I think I'm more just excited, and I think I'm
more just like at the stage.
Speaker 2 (36:03):
Where I just want my album out so and I
love it so much. Yeah, and I'm so proud of it,
and I feel like it's everything I wanted it to be.
So now all I can do is really soon if
people like it, they like it. If they don't, they don't,
that's out of my control. So I think the parts
that I can control, I've done. Now. I've done my best,
(36:23):
I've worked my hardest, I've done everything to the top
standard I possibly could. And now it's just done to
the public and how they perceived it and how it does.
Speaker 4 (36:32):
But I think because I feel so confident in it,
I'm just happy as long as.
Speaker 2 (36:38):
My fans hear it and they love it. Yeah, very
care about.
Speaker 1 (36:42):
Yeah, that's a really beautiful way to look at it.
I guess like that's with any piece of art, whether
it's an album or movie, a book, anything. Once you
put out into the world, it becomes the property of
the fans and the people to consume it in the
way they want to sort of take that. So that's
a really lovely way to look at it. Speaking of that,
like living in the public eye and the press too,
are recently you've talked about like a few different personal things,
(37:02):
and in the lead up to sharing your pregnancy, talked
a little bit about suffering pregnancy loss, which I'm very
so sorry to hear that, and I hope you and
your family are doing okay. But what I noticed after
those stories you talked about those stories publicly is just
the threads of comments underneath from women saying thank you
for sharing. I've been through this, I'm going through it now.
(37:24):
Was it a difficult decision to make those private parts
of your life public? And do you see that outpouring
from women thanking you for doing it.
Speaker 4 (37:33):
I never intentionally wanted to go public with that.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
I think you know. It happened a few years ago
and we've kind of kept it as a in our circle.
So I'm my best friend to my family obviously, Alex
and I and then I did the podcast with Paul,
and I think because you.
Speaker 4 (37:51):
Were so like safe and calming, and it's almost like
a therapy session. But I don't think I was really
thinking of it like this is the time to go public.
Speaker 2 (38:03):
Just came out. It felt like a natural kind of
way to do it.
Speaker 4 (38:08):
But I didn't think I would have discussed things like that,
not because I didn't want to raise awareness for it,
and not because you know, I know so many people
have gone through it, like women and friends of mine,
and it's really hard.
Speaker 2 (38:19):
But the only reason I didn't want to discuss it.
Speaker 4 (38:21):
Is because I found it too difficult to discuss.
Speaker 2 (38:24):
So I thought, I'm just never gonna talk about it.
I'm just going to keep it in and that be
that because it's really hard. It's awful.
Speaker 1 (38:32):
So yes, what I did again, I was very sorry
to hear that, and I can only imagine that going
through the pain but then also having that threat of
like the public potentially finding out. I think it's really
lovely as you were saying that you're in a circle
new but a word of it was never breathed to
the public, So it must be nice to know that
you've always got that in a circle around you who
will hold tight to any of those stories.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
They are the best, Like nothing gets out of my circle.
They're very strong to take that to the grove.
Speaker 1 (39:02):
That is good today because I mean, there are many
celebrities who say they still I mean Pete davidsone was
saying the other day, and I've heard other celebrities say it.
They have to sometimes even now, like plant different stories
within their friendship groups to see who will leak it
and all that sort of thing. So I think that's
really lovely to not be on that.
Speaker 4 (39:18):
Oh now, there's none of that for me. Everybody just
kind of knows. In my inner circle they know everything.
Speaker 2 (39:25):
So luckily I don't have that issue. And yeah, someone
couldn't be trusted, I wouldn't tell them anything.
Speaker 1 (39:32):
So but that is a lovely way to go through life.
And So, in anticipation of the album about to come out,
we've heard some of the singles. A lot of them
will be under wraps until it's released. What are you
hoping that people take away from this album? I know
we've talked through this sort of behind the scenes of
a few different songs, but what is the kind of
I guess journey that your hope listeners will go on
(39:54):
when they sit down and listen to all the songs
all the way through.
Speaker 2 (39:56):
I'm just in true to say what ones people love them, what.
Speaker 4 (40:01):
People like click with because it's a whole body of
work and everyone's going to have different opinions.
Speaker 2 (40:07):
So I'm just so intrigued to say what everyone's going
to think, and like.
Speaker 4 (40:12):
I say, I love it so much, so I'm expecting
everyone else to be like, yeah, it's a great album,
but yeah, I think I'm just excited to get it
out there so I can start having the conversations with
the fans and DM in them and just getting to
know the insights of what they think of the thing
that's the most exciting.
Speaker 1 (40:28):
I think, Oh, you DM with fans, oh yeah all
the time. Yeah, oh wow. I mean someone with such
a big following, I would find that surprising that you
do you ever delve in there and just think, Oh God,
I don't know what I'm going to find in my
messages or is it usually pretty pretty just like what
people wanting to discuss the music.
Speaker 2 (40:45):
Yeah, I think it's like May the fans we talk
about all kinds of stuff we talk about, like the
summert and prey.
Speaker 1 (40:51):
Wait, which teamy. I need to know Jim Conrad, what
are you? Yes, no, I am team comrade, But I
feel sad for Jeremiah. I actually think that she just
needs to go live in Paris and just not go
near those boys again because it's been a bit of
a messy situation.
Speaker 2 (41:05):
I don't want to choose herself. That's cute and all,
but no, not now.
Speaker 4 (41:09):
I want Connie and Belly to have forever after because
they've they've.
Speaker 2 (41:13):
Always been day ones. But anyway, me, the fans get
into this constantly. We talk about all kinds of stuff.
But yeah, I always talk to my fans as much
as possible. Really, they're just so lovely.
Speaker 4 (41:23):
So yeah, and that's the thing with social media you
can kind of have that platform.
Speaker 2 (41:29):
We feel close to them. But yeah, we chat about
all kinds of crap.
Speaker 1 (41:32):
Oh that's really well. I mean, I'm sure for many
people that's exciting for them. And having those real life
fan interactions, like, has there been a particularly memorable one?
Because I know there's so many times where as we
were saying before, I've seen fans cry in front of
you or get very excited. What's your most memorable fan interaction?
Speaker 2 (41:47):
Oh gosh, I couldn't say, there's just been so many.
Speaker 4 (41:50):
I don't think it's very rare I've ever had like
a bad interaction with anyone.
Speaker 1 (41:54):
Oh well, that is lovely, Perry. It has just been
so glorious to talk to you. And I've listened to
the album all the way through. It's just really lovely
from the songs they've sent me, and I'm so excited
for everyone else to hear it. And yeah, it's just
always such a joy to watch you on stage and
a joy to talk to you. Thank you so much
for your time, so much.
Speaker 2 (42:12):
Enjoy the rest of your day.
Speaker 1 (42:18):
That was Perry Edwards. And what a journey she's been on.
From girl group success to solo artists, from heartbreak to motherhood,
from stadium tours to quiet moments at home. Perry has
lived so many lives already, whether it's through the music
she's making, the family she's building, all the voice she's
still learning to trust. Perry is stepping into something that
(42:41):
feels braver and more personal than ever before. She's honest, grounded,
and now finally she's starting a new chapter on her
own terms. And one thing's clear, Perry Edwards is just
getting started the Executive producer of No Filter is Naeima
Brown and senior producer is Tina Madlof Audio production by
(43:02):
Jacob Brown and video editing by Josh Green. I'm Laura Brodnick.
Thank you for listening to No Filter.
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