# Paloma Faith
**Paloma Faith** (full name Paloma Faith Blomfield, born 1981) is an English singer, songwriter and actress from Hackney, London, known for a retro-soul and theatrical pop sound and six studio albums released since 2009[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0002337416) • [2](https://www.palomafaith.com/about/). Her career total on the UK Official Charts stands at one No. 1 single, as featured vocalist on Sigma's "Changing", and one No. 1 album, 2017's *The Architect*[3](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/5616/paloma-faith/). She won the 2015 Brit Award for British Female Solo Artist[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0002337416).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name and birth | Paloma Faith Blomfield, born 1981 in Hackney, London, to a Spanish father and English mother[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0002337416) |
| Debut album | *Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?* (2009), reached No. 8 on the UK chart and was certified double Platinum[4](https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/files/2018/03/MBUK-Q1-2018_FINAL_SMALL.pdf) • [5](https://www.sonymusic.co.uk/artist/paloma-faith/) |
| UK chart totals | 1 No. 1 single ("Changing" with Sigma), 5 Top 10 singles, 1 No. 1 album (*The Architect*, 2017), 6 Top 10 albums[3](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/5616/paloma-faith/) |
| Signature hit | "Only Love Can Hurt Like This" (2014), from *A Perfect Contradiction*, a double-platinum album; the single topped the chart in Australia[6](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/f23f6dd0-bfb0-43d5-bf06-eae4315db502) |
| Brit Award | British Female Solo Artist, 2015[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0002337416) |
| Sixth album | *The Glorification of Sadness*, released 16 February 2024 on RCA, supported by a 26-date UK and Ireland tour[2](https://www.palomafaith.com/about/) |
| Screen work | Andrea in *St Trinian's* (2007), Bet Sykes in *Pennyworth*, Florence De Regnier in Lionsgate's *Dangerous Liaisons*[7](https://www.lateralmgmt.com/paloma-faith) |
| Voice work | Judge on *The Voice UK* in 2016 and coach on *The Voice Kids* in 2020[2](https://www.palomafaith.com/about/) |
## Early life and performing years
Faith was born in Hackney to a Spanish father and English mother[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0002337416). She attended Islington Green School and City and Islington College, graduated with a degree in performance from the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds, and later earned an MA in theater directing at London's Central St Martins[2](https://www.palomafaith.com/about/). Before music she worked across performance jobs: a contemporary dance degree, fronting a cabaret cover band called Paloma and the Penetrators, a stint as a magician's assistant, and singing in a burlesque troupe[8](https://concord.com/publishing-roster/paloma-faith/). In a 2013 profile she described her style as closer to the drama of [Shirley Bassey](https://www.edgepedia.org/shirley-bassey) and the emotional delivery of [Etta James](https://www.edgepedia.org/etta-james) than to the neo-soul label, and said she performed with Prince and co-starred with [Tom Waits](https://www.edgepedia.org/tom-waits) in Terry Gilliam's film *The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus*[9](https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2013/03/paloma-faith-profile).
## Recording career
After failed attempts at getting signed, Faith signed with [Sony Music](https://www.edgepedia.org/sony-music) and released her debut album *Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?* in 2009; it reached No. 8 on the UK chart[4](https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/files/2018/03/MBUK-Q1-2018_FINAL_SMALL.pdf) and has been certified double Platinum in the UK[5](https://www.sonymusic.co.uk/artist/paloma-faith/). The same year she sang on albums by the electronic duo [Basement Jaxx](https://www.edgepedia.org/basement-jaxx) and the rapper [MF Doom](https://www.edgepedia.org/mf-doom)[8](https://concord.com/publishing-roster/paloma-faith/).
**Second and third albums.** Her second album, the cinematic *Fall to Grace* (2012), entered the UK chart at No. 2 and stayed in the Top 20 for five months[9](https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2013/03/paloma-faith-profile). It produced her first UK top-ten single, "Picking Up the Pieces", and a top-twenty cover of INXS's "Never Tear Us Apart", and earned two Brit Award nominations[6](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/f23f6dd0-bfb0-43d5-bf06-eae4315db502). Her first UK No. 1 single came the same year as the featured artist on Sigma's "Changing"[3](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/5616/paloma-faith/). The third album, *A Perfect Contradiction* (2014), was an upbeat return to her early soul sound, written with [Pharrell Williams](https://www.edgepedia.org/pharrell-williams), Raphael Saadiq, and [Diane Warren](https://www.edgepedia.org/diane-warren), was certified double platinum by the BPI, and produced the UK top-ten singles "Can't Rely on You" and "Only Love Can Hurt Like This", the latter topping the Australian chart[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0002337416) • [6](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/f23f6dd0-bfb0-43d5-bf06-eae4315db502). By March 2018 she was on track to become the first British female solo artist whose first four studio albums all went platinum in the UK[4](https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/files/2018/03/MBUK-Q1-2018_FINAL_SMALL.pdf).
**The Architect and beyond.** Her fourth album, *The Architect* (2017), became her first UK No. 1 on the Official Albums Chart[3](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/5616/paloma-faith/). *Infinite Things* followed in 2020[10](https://www.palomafaith.com/music/). The sixth album, *The Glorification of Sadness*, arrived on 16 February 2024 on RCA, preceded by the single "How You Leave A Man" in October 2023 and produced by Martin Wave with collaborators including [Chase & Status](https://www.edgepedia.org/chase-and-status), Kojey Radical, Maverick Sabre, and Låpsley; it was supported by a 26-date UK and Ireland tour ending with a headline show at London's Eventim Apollo[2](https://www.palomafaith.com/about/). In an interview around the album she said she had set out to use the studio as therapy rather than to make a conventional record[11](https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-glorification-of-sadness/1711191802). A Christmas EP, *Sleigh All Day*, followed on 28 November 2025[10](https://www.palomafaith.com/music/).
Faith is a frequent [Glastonbury](https://www.edgepedia.org/glastonbury) performer; the festival's own paper described her 2024 slot as her fourth turn on the Pyramid Stage[12](https://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GFP24_Sunday_Paper_final.pdf).
## Acting and television
Her screen career began with the role of goth schoolgirl Andrea in the 2007 comedy *St Trinian's*, which she did not reprise in the 2009 sequel[2](https://www.palomafaith.com/about/). She later played Bet Sykes in the Batman prequel series *Pennyworth* and Florence De Regnier in Lionsgate's *Dangerous Liaisons*[7](https://www.lateralmgmt.com/paloma-faith). On television she served as a judge on *The Voice UK* for one season in 2016 alongside [Will.i.am](https://www.edgepedia.org/will-i-am), Ricky Wilson, and [Boy George](https://www.edgepedia.org/boy-george), and rejoined in 2020 as a coach on *The Voice Kids* with Will.i.am, Pixie Lott, and [Danny Jones](https://www.edgepedia.org/danny-jones)[2](https://www.palomafaith.com/about/). In 2024 she and Sam Ryder were announced as mentors on Channel 4's *Your Song*[13](https://www.channel4.com/press/news/paloma-faith-and-sam-ryder-mentor-your-song-channel-4), and in 2025 she appeared on *Celebrity Traitors*, announced in May of that year[14](https://www.palomafaith.com/news/).
## Beyond music
In January 2025 Faith launched the podcast *Mad, Sad & Bad*, which went to No. 1 on the Apple Podcast charts in its first week; the debut episode featured [Alan Carr](https://www.edgepedia.org/alan-carr), with later guests including [Mel B](https://www.edgepedia.org/mel-b), Katherine Ryan, AJ Tracey, Rupert Everett, and Jameela Jamil[7](https://www.lateralmgmt.com/paloma-faith). Her literary debut, *MILF: Motherhood, Identity, Love and F*ckery*, was announced in March 2024 for June release and blends memoir with social commentary on motherhood, womanhood, and selfhood[14](https://www.palomafaith.com/news/) • [2](https://www.palomafaith.com/about/).
**Advocacy.** She describes herself as an advocate for causes addressing injustice, with a focus on empowering women and girls, and is known for LGBTQIA+ allyship and work on racial injustice; she has served as an ambassador for Oxfam, Greenpeace, and Caudwell Children's Charity and worked with the Disasters Emergency Committee[7](https://www.lateralmgmt.com/paloma-faith). In December 2025 she joined the campaign group Together Against the Far Right alongside Brian Eno, Fontaines D.C., Frank Turner, and others, saying "There is no world that I want to live in where discrimination is acceptable for anything"[15](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/paloma-faith-fontaines-d-c-brian-eno-and-kneecap-join-campaign-group-together-against-the-far-right). She also appeared at Brian Eno's Together For Palestine benefit at Wembley Arena in September 2025[16](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/shows-festivals/one-day-everyone-will-have-always-been-against-this-brian-eno-eric-cantona-damon-albarn-neneh-cherry-and-many-others-come-together-for-palestine).
## Personal life
Faith split in 2022 from the French artist Leyman Lahcine, her partner of ten years; the couple have two daughters, born in 2016 and 2021[17](https://www.womanandhome.com/life/news-entertainment/paloma-faith-divorce-co-parenting/). In her first in-depth interview after the separation she described the split as leaving her "broken" but "whole", and said the relationship had ended because of the pressures that came with having children[18](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/music/features/paloma-faith-album-tour-b2429290.html). Speaking with her mother on *Mad, Sad & Bad*, she later said the co-parenting relationship had become "better" since the divorce[17](https://www.womanandhome.com/life/news-entertainment/paloma-faith-divorce-co-parenting/).
## References
1. [Paloma Faith Biography, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0002337416)
2. [About, Paloma Faith Official Website](https://www.palomafaith.com/about/)
3. [Paloma Faith songs and albums, Official Charts Company](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/5616/paloma-faith/)
4. [Music Business UK Q1 2018, Music Business Worldwide](https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/files/2018/03/MBUK-Q1-2018_FINAL_SMALL.pdf)
5. [Paloma Faith, Sony Music UK](https://www.sonymusic.co.uk/artist/paloma-faith/)
6. [Paloma Faith, MusicBrainz](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/f23f6dd0-bfb0-43d5-bf06-eae4315db502)
7. [Paloma Faith, Lateral Management](https://www.lateralmgmt.com/paloma-faith)
8. [Paloma Faith, Concord Music Publishing](https://concord.com/publishing-roster/paloma-faith/)
9. [Hot Tracks: Paloma Faith, Vanity Fair (2013)](https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2013/03/paloma-faith-profile)
10. [Music, Paloma Faith Official Website](https://www.palomafaith.com/music/)
11. [The Glorification of Sadness, Apple Music album page](https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-glorification-of-sadness/1711191802)
12. [Glastonbury Free Press, Sunday 30 June 2024](https://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GFP24_Sunday_Paper_final.pdf)
13. [Paloma Faith and Sam Ryder to mentor Your Song on Channel 4](https://www.channel4.com/press/news/paloma-faith-and-sam-ryder-mentor-your-song-channel-4)
14. [News, Paloma Faith Official Website](https://www.palomafaith.com/news/)
15. [Paloma Faith, Fontaines D.C., Brian Eno and Kneecap join Together Against The Far Right, MusicRadar](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/paloma-faith-fontaines-d-c-brian-eno-and-kneecap-join-campaign-group-together-against-the-far-right)
16. [Together For Palestine at Wembley Arena, MusicRadar](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/shows-festivals/one-day-everyone-will-have-always-been-against-this-brian-eno-eric-cantona-damon-albarn-neneh-cherry-and-many-others-come-together-for-palestine)
17. [Paloma Faith on divorce and co-parenting, Woman & Home](https://www.womanandhome.com/life/news-entertainment/paloma-faith-divorce-co-parenting/)
18. [Paloma Faith on her heartbreak and being a single mum, The Independent (2023)](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/music/features/paloma-faith-album-tour-b2429290.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Pop and R&B singer-songwriters › R&B singers, 2010s to present › Surnames symbols to G*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license