Vocally manipulated, sing-speak electro-pop minx Uffie, née Anna-Catherine Hartley, finally released her debut album Sex, Dreams and Denim Jeans earlier this summer, at the tender age of 22, five years after EP Pop the Glock made her a darling of the Parisian electro scene.
She was born in Florida and raised in Hong Kong, but Uffie is very much a European at heart.
‘What appealed to me about Paris? The fact that it wasn’t America! The way of life: the French enjoy it at a slower pace. They have better coffee and enjoy it with a croissant and the morning paper. Plus you can walk everywhere and take a plane for two hours and experience a different culture.’
But her love affair with Paris is over.
‘I don’t know where I’m going to move yet, but I think I’d like to live in a smaller city. I’m finally ready to bite the bullet and do it. I’ve been thinking about it for three years, so it’s time.’
She has an 11-month-old baby girl called Henrietta.
‘I wasn’t scared in the beginning. I was excited to be pregnant, but when I realised the album would be coming at the same time, I was like, “Hmm, how am I going to manage this?” It’s hard to juggle, but I work it out day by day.’
She’s designed a line for streetwear brand Diesel.
‘I’m doing a capsule collection, about eight pieces. It goes along with the album, so it’s a whole leather-and-denim theme, and it should be out at the end of the year. I wanted to work in fashion when I was younger, so this was a really fun thing to do.’
Uffie is a Twihard.
‘It’s the shame of my life, but yes, I am massive Twilight fan. I was part of the Harry Potter generation so maybe it’s the next step! I’m team Edward, but it’s hard to choose. I used to read all the time – I’m a big fan of Bret Easton Ellis. But I don’t so much any more. All my downtime is playing with the baby or doing laundry.’
She started her career working with her then boyfriend, producer Feadz, but their split put a spanner in the works.
‘That contributed to the album’s delay. I needed to find someone else to work with. When you’ve had a working relationship with someone and you’re together, then you break up, it becomes something completely different. You need time apart. To meet another guy and write a song about that – that would be awkward!’
She was worried no one would care about her after so long away.
‘I think my record label was thinking the same thing. I knew I had to change my style a bit. I stopped caring what people thought. I’ve been back in the studio with [Parisian record producer] Mirwais, because I want to release an album next year. Never again will I be asked why it took so long!’
She won’t be a pushy showbiz mum.
‘I’m good friends with Klaxons and had a chat about this. They were like, “Your daughter is never going into showbusiness.” And I agree. If she really wanted to, I’d let her, but I’d much rather she went to law school or became a dentist.’
If her music was a soundtrack to a film, it would be a Larry Clark flick written by Harmony Korine.
‘Everyone seems to compare my style with theirs. I think it’s the whole thing of accepting that our generation is a bit more without traditional values.’
She’s collaborated with Pharrell Williams and Mr Oizo, but has her sights set on someone else.
‘I’d love to work with The Strokes; that’s my dream. I love them. Fingers crossed!’
