Popstar Pixie Lott performs tracks and shares tips in University visit

The pop sensation described how she is listening to her heart in her new endeavours as she answered questions from students, and took to the stage with a stunning acoustic set of songs from recently-released fourth album, Encino and her Number One chart-topper, All About Tonight.

The new 13-track album is packed full of autobiographical songs of romance, family and nostalgia, all co-written by Pixie, and, as she explained to the students, sees her taking control of her career after previously going in the direction others have envisioned for her. She also tackles subjects including toxic online behaviour, bullying, self-discovery and healing.

She spent time with about 100 students at the University’s Creative Campus, Kingsway on Wednesday, November 13 to give back to others following in her career footsteps, after guest visits during her college days pushed her to reach her goals.

Pixie – also an actress and dancer – said: “I’m always intrigued to hear what questions students have to ask because they are always so fascinating.

“It all boils down to what advice do you have for people in the business? Basically, hard work pays off, and go for it. Keep showing up, get back up after the ‘no’s, and carry on and enjoy the ride.

“I absolutely loved playing for the students today and I wish them all the best in the industry.

“It’s the most amazing industry to be in; crazy but wonderful. I can’t imagine doing anything else and highly recommend it if you feel the same way.”

Since selling 1.6 million copies of her 2009 debut album Turn It Up, Pixie has notched up three UK Number Ones including Mama Do and Boys and Girls, sold in excess of four million singles, secured four BRIT nominations, won two MTV EMA Awards, all while collaborating with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Pusha T, Jason Derulo and Lionel Richie.

Elsewhere, she has fronted campaigns for Dolce & Gabbana, performed at Fendi’s Paris Fashion Week, judged The Voice Kids - coaching four winners to victory, and appeared as a guest judge on The X Factor.

Throughout her career, she has also been an advocate and ambassador for Prince’s Trust, Cardiac Risk In The Young, Rays Of Sunshine, Wellchild and Alzheimer’s Research UK, as well as founding her own performing arts school in Essex with her family in 2015, the Pixie Lott Performing Arts Academy.

Associate Professor Ben Broughton, Head of Division for Communication, Screen and Performance in the School for the Creative Industries at the University, said: “We were thrilled to welcome Pixie to the University.

“It was a fantastic experience for our students to see her singing live and up-close, hear her story, and learn from her candid reflections and advice.

“We’re extremely grateful to Pixie for giving up her time to perform and pass on her experience.”

Popular Music Performance students, Camille Uberas and Stevie Finch, were delighted about Pixie's visit.

Camille said: "She is so stunning, and her voice is as well. It's such a good opportunity seeing such a figure right in front of us, we're so grateful that it's even happened. She has got a really good kind of energy and I feel that's very important as a performer - I'm glad we got to experience it."

Stevie added: "She's so knowledgeable and well-spoken; she understood where we were coming from, what she could relate to us - it wasn't like we were talking to a celebrity, it was more like talking to a friend.

"When she sang All About Tonight, which was a big hit when we were younger, and for her to interact with the audience, it was just so surreal." 

Pixie currently also has various other projects in the works. This year she started filming the movie, Christmas Karma, where she is part of an all-star cast including Eva Longoria, Hugh Bonneville, Charithra Chandran, Billy Porter and Boy George to name a few. She also recently starred in the new series of ITV crime drama, McDonald and Dodds and took the leading role in Made In Dagenham for a special one-off sold-out performance at London’s Palladium.