Sophie plans a memorable F1 performance

Singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor is a perfectionist.

It's not something which should come as any surprise. She's always immaculately turned out, has a complexion like a china doll and is only happy when her singles and albums reach number one.

But here's what sealed the deal for me: I waited and waited for my interview with the UK star. I waited some more. And then some more. I watched three episodes of Grey's Anatomy, made dinner, ate dinner and continued to wait.

And when I eventually picked up the receiver to hear crisp, British tones on the other end, how could I possibly be mad when the reason I waited was because she was rehearsing for tomorrow night's show in Abu Dhabi.

"I just want it to be perfect," Ellis-Bextor said, the exhaustion evident in her voice. "I'm not even sure we stopped for lunch."

‘Make an impact'

"It's important to me that the show is memorable for my fans. I always give it my all, and it's going to be quite long so I want it to make an impact."

Ellis-Bextor shot to fame just 10 years ago with the band Spiller and the song Groovejet (If This Ain't Love). Just a year later it was Murder On The Dancefloor, a solo attempt which catapulted her onto the UK pop and dance music scene.

"It's just been a bit of an evolution for my music, really. I still write melodies first, but the inspiration remains the same even now. I'm inspired by affairs of the heart, but the feel tends to remain dance-centric. It's the adrenaline rush you get when you hit the dance floor which inspires me also."

The new album, Make A Scene, due for release any day now, also fell victim to Ellis-Bextor's perfectionist touch. Originally titled Straight To The Heart, a greatest hits compilation due to hit shelves earlier this year, the busy mother-of-two pulled the plug unexpectedly saying, "It just wasn't good enough."

The album's direction and title changed and a number of singles were released, including her current hit, Bittersweet.

‘Electro-heavy'

The album features work with The Freemasons and Armin Van Buuren as well as producers Calvin Harris, Richard X, Hannah Robinson, Cathy Dennis, Greg Kurstin, Ed Harcourt and Joseph Mount.

Bextor describes the album as "electro-heavy" and is her first studio album since 2007's Trip The Light Fantastic.

Although it would appear like it was all about the music for Ellis-Bextor on the day of our interview, that's not always the case. The "little ones" — as she fondly refers to her two children, one and six — keep things what she calls "interesting, in a good way".

"Things are just more chaotic," she said, the children's laughter in the background a perfectly-timed soundtrack.

"I get a lot less sleep than I used to. But it's all worth it. I don't like being away for shows any longer than I have to. But other than that, family life is very normal in our house. We watch The X Factor and at Christmas I'll be at home peeling potatoes as soon as I finish my UK tour on December 19."

Of the popular UK show, she said, "I love Cher, Rebecca and Mary and I don't buy any of this rubbish about the show losing its X-factor. It has millions of viewers and it's good old English Saturday night television. Poor Wagner often looks so confused when he's booed. It's not his fault. I think he's fun.

"It doesn't always sit well with the more organic forms of producing artists and music, but you cannot deny it produces a few stars."

Don't miss it

Sophie Ellis-Bextor will perform a free, beach-front concert at Beats on the Beach — part of the Yasalam series of Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix entertainment — Friday at 9.40pm. The UK singer songwriter is also performing at The Ball on Saturday night. For more information, visit thinkflash.ae