Going Supersonic: Jess Glynne On Making Brit Pop Rock

Being chased by fans, hanging with the Queen and racking up five number ones. Life's moving pretty fast for Jess Glynne right now. She talks to Harvey Marcus about learning to enjoy the ride.

- Harvey Marcus

Jess Glynne stops herself mid-flow and that north London accent, inflated with the exuberance and affront of the school yard, falls a notch. ‘But you can’t, can you?’

We’re tucked away in an upstairs room of a Soho members’ club and Britain’s songstress of the moment is recounting her performance at The Queen’s 90th Birthday Gala and the meet ’n’ greet afterwards.

‘I was standing next to Alan Partridge,’ Glynne continues, off and away again. Steve Coogan? ‘Is that his name? No, not Alan Partridge. Alan something… Alan Titchmarsh! Sorry, that was so dumb. They did say when she goes to shake your hand, you don’t grab it because she pulls it away. Anyway, she spoke first, and I was, like, “Hello, Your Majesty.’

Is she a royalist? 'No, are you? I mean, I love them. I really warmed to them. The Queen’s just very professional but, like, the cutest thing ever. She reminded me a bit of my Great Aunt Betty. She’s the same age and I was comparing them. I think my great aunt’s a bit more mobile. She’s quicker! She talks a lot more! On the iPad, texting, Facebook. She’s insane. I’ve got that gene.’

Her idol is Amy Winehouse, and the similarities extend beyond their vocal talents. But more of that later. Eventually, there’s another brief intake of breath, while Glynne points to the tattoo inked on her wrist, in memory of Betty’s sister, her Great Aunt Ivy, before picking up the thread. ‘Then Philip came along,’ and complimented her rendition of Hold My Hand. Glynne makes an attempt at mimicking the Duke of Edinburgh: ‘“I was listening to your song and I really like that one!” – “Thank you!” I said.’