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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Lifestyle
Isobel Van Dyke

Norah Jones' My London: From Pizza Express to The Marquis

Home is...

Home is wherever you are, I think. But New York City.

Do you remember the first gig you played in London?

It was at Pizza Express!

What was that like?

I remember being told, ‘don’t worry it’s not just a pizza parlour, it’s cool’. I was like, okay! And yeah, it was a fun little jazz club.

Do you have a favourite memory of playing a gig in London?

I remember playing at the Hammersmith Apollo and having a lot of fun. I like dirty clubs a little more. I like old dirty theatres with a bar, so the audience is a little loose.

What shops do you rely on?

I love the Tabio sock store in Covent Garden. I went back the next day to buy 20 more pairs of socks. Also, I love Rokit. We were in London for Halloween and so we got everything at Rokit. That was a fun time.

What were you dressing up as?

I dressed up as a dead farm boy, very random. I bought some overalls and used some make-up.

What would you do if you were Mayor for the day?

I don’t know, maybe keep the pubs open another hour — they close very early.

What makes someone a Londoner?

I guess the accent. I love it, I love a good English accent especially in London. I love how London has all the different accents.

Where do you go to let your hair down?

Any corner pub, that’s where I want to be when I’m in London. Oh actually, I went to a really good one — The Marquis. The place that plays the records! Yeah, they play vinyl and they have that tiny little corner room, it’s like a pizza, you can just cram in there.

Who do you call when you want to have fun in town?

My sister, because she lives here.

Best meal that you’ve had in London?

Probably around 22 years ago when I started coming over for promotion. My record label took me to Maggie Jones’s because it was very English and it was so good and so fun and just so cosy. The best. I know there was lamb and some kind of pie and green beans, that’s all I remember — and a lot of wine.

What are you up to for work?

I’ve just been getting ready to put out this new album, and sort of trying to figure out outfits to wear for promotional photo ops and tour, and figuring out my stage look and everything — it’s going to be really fun. The music is so fun. It’s going to be a little different this year.

Who is the most iconic Londoner?

Goodness... Elton John.

What is your biggest extravagance?

Probably skincare — I’m in my mid-40s after all.

One skincare tip?

Sunscreen.

Last thing that you googled?

Probably a skincare product. I think I was looking at Victoria Beckham products.

What apps do you rely on?

Maps, because I don’t know anything any more. And I really love my Notes app and my Apple voice recorder app because of songs and ideas.

Who is your professional hero?

Probably Dolly Parton.

What do you collect?

I like antique lamps. And antique rugs, I love them and I have a lot of them.

Norah Jones’s album, ‘Visions’, is out now

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