Beautiful lady

She entered the cafe with her entourage consisting of father plus band and greeted me with a friendly smile.

We retreated to the corner sofa and as she sank comfortably into the soft, bright red cushions she started her story about the past whirlwind-week of her life.

Rebecca Naree Londei, known simply as Naree, heard about the P!nk competition while sitting at her dinner table in Boston through her dad, who lives in Abu Dhabi.

Naree jumped at the opportunity to warm up for one of the music industry's biggest pop stars. She sent in her demo tape and was ecstatic to find out a week later that she had been chosen to audition.

But there was just one minor hurdle — finding a band. With only two days before flying to the UAE she raced around town and finally found a drummer, guitar player and bassist.

Against odds

They arrived the day before the audition and had only a couple of practice sessions before going on stage. So, it was against all odds that Naree took the first prize over talented Dubai-based bands Juliana Down and Sandwash. "The audition was not a competition for me. It was a chance to play. What we did here was real rock 'n' roll," Naree said, her voice sounding a bit groggy from a cold.

The half Thai, half British singer/songwriter grew up in Abu Dhabi and now studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston. She writes all her music and has over 70 original songs.

Rough

"I would say my music style is adult contemporary pop, mixed up with funk and groove. We call it alternative pop rock," she said.

She certainly has the right look for a young rock star with her countless necklaces, a bandana wrapped around her wrist and sunglasses nestled in her sleek, black hair.

But life has been rough for the 20-year-old. It started when she broke her kneecap after pursuing an ice-skating career for 10 years. This was just the beginning. At 14 she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and had a 7kg tumour removed. She had four chemotherapies while spending six months in hospital in London — which is when she started writing music.

Inspirational

"That's when it clicked. I am a very private person. I really didn't want to show people how upset I was about it. Music gave me a chance to reveal another side to how I felt, poetically and indirectly, instead of simply saying, ‘oh, it hurts'.
"I think the meaning of my songs was inspirational and deep for someone so young. People were really connecting to it," she said.

When Naree finally recovered, her dad found a studio in Wales where she could lay down her tracks. She recorded her first album, I'm No Fool, at the age of 15 which got picked up by an agency in America. It didn't take long before she was back in the studio to record Proud, her second album.

Make it big

"That album really expresses what it was like for me to be young and have so many things happen to me. My music isn't necessarily happy. But it's honest. Real. I don't have many love songs. I haven't fallen deeply in love, so to say. That's not a priority for me right now. I want to make it big, and work as hard as I can," she said.

"It's tough to make it happen," Naree said as she twirled the straw in her orange juice. "I missed out on lots of typical things that people my age do. But that's the sacrifice I had to make to do what I want."

Rock stars

After graduating from high school Naree toured the US and then Canada. Now she's getting ready to share the stage with P!nk.

"It's just huge and it's gonna be good. Girls can be rock stars too," she said with a laugh which revealed her inner child. She might be wise beyond her years, but she shines with an innocent and youthful charm that is guaranteed to capture her audience when she steps on stage. Her name says it all.

"Naree means ‘Beautiful Lady' in Thai. In Arabic it means ‘My Fire'", she explained. P!nk, beware.

10 questions Under your skin

1. Most embarrassing moment: When I was really young I was dancing ballet. I was so scared to ask my teacher to go to the bathroom that I peed in my pants in ballet class.

2. What would you do if you were king of the world: I would help cancer charities. I have my own which is the Pick Life Foundation. The motto is Cancer Support Through Music. My ultimate goal and dream is to be knighted by the queen, because then I changed the world and helped people.

3. Likes and dislikes of your body: I have a big bum because I'm Italian-blooded. Oh, wait, I should say that my dislike is my arms. I have massive muscular arms because I do Kendo — Japanese sword fighting. I look like a body builder because I specialise in weaponry. I won a lot of tournaments. I do martial arts when I can. You need to have something to relieve stress. I like my eyes sometimes. But I wish people could tell that I'm Asian more. My eyes turned out big, but they have gotten me out of trouble a couple of times!

4. Most memorable moment: I think winning the P!nk competition would be one of them and performing with her as well.

5. Three famous people, dead or alive, to have dinner with: Hugh Jackman. Oprah Winfrey. And Mozart. I play a lot of his music. I'd ask him why he decided to make it so difficult!

6. What makes you laugh: If my friends are happy. I really love it if I can make other people happy. How lonely would it be to just think about yourself?

7. Last day on earth to live: With my closest friends and performing.

8. Bring to a deserted island: My guitar.

9. Best and worst thing about Dubai: The best is the freedom I have here. The worst is the traffic.

10. Final words: Get ready for the Pink concert cause it's gonna be a great show! And thanks to my band, who I think really deserve this. I take my hat off to them.

Personal stats

Age: 20.
Star sign: Taurus.
Nationality: British.
Home base: Boston/Abu Dhabi.
Status: Single.
Food: Lasagna! Italian food.
Film: Girl Interrupted.
Actor: Hugh Jackman.
Music: Goo Goo Dolls.
Sexiest man: Hugh Jackman.
Breakfast today: Pasta. It's the musician life, you don't eat

Healthy!

• How do you like your eggs: Scrambled.
• Clothes: Short skirts, high boots and I have a huge fetish for sunglasses.
• Perfume: V by Valentino. I love perfumes!
• Country: Thailand.
• Sport: Badminton. I was team captain in school.
• Car: All Japanese motorcycles.
• Season: Autumn, because that's when you can dress the trendiest. It's not too hot, not too cold.
• Intro/extrovert: Introvert.
• Hobby: Cooking and eating.
• Bad habit: I hold on to people's hands if I'm crossing the road. Even strangers!
• Pet hate: Fakeness.
• Dog/cat: Both. I have two dogs and two cats.
• Coffee/tea: Both. Coffee is good for late night jam sessions. But tea because I'm Asian and British.
• Sweet/salt: Sweet.