Lauren Pritchard Discusses Vices, 'Wasted In Jackson'

Hailing from Jackson, Tennessee, Lauren Pritchard mixed soul sass and Dixie grit on her debut album, released last October. 'Painkillers' and 'Not The Drinking,' two of the highlights on 'Wasted In Jackson,' prove she is a perfect antidote to the more manicured country-pop of Lady Antebellum and Taylor Swift.

Which albums help you unwind?

Ryan Adams' 'Love Is Hell' and 'Citizen Steely Dan,' their four-CD collection. My Dad was a massive fan and 'Black Cow' was the first song I ever knew the words to.

What was the first gig you saw?

You know, it's really embarrassing. I think it was Hanson in Nashville when I was nine. It was the loudest gig I have ever been to. Hundreds of screaming girls and, yes, I was one of them.What's your biggest vice?

Whiskey. We should just say Jameson Irish Whiskey. I got into it back in America.

Which current major pop star do you identify with most closely?

Jay-Z. He speaks his mind, he's really honest and I know he works his a-- off.

Why choose 'Wasted in Jackson' as the title track to your debut album?

I wanted to pay homage to my hometown, for being a small place and making me want to leave. If it hadn't been that kind of town, this whole journey wouldn't have started in the first place. Jackson is amazing and I love the people, but I knew I needed to explore.

In your live sets you have been known for incorporating TLC's 'Waterfalls' -- including the rap. Why that track?

It came about because I was supporting Professor Green in London and a bit nervous about what our audiences might be like, coming from opposite ends of the spectrum, so I wanted to do something that would bridge the gap. My audience is all over the place, old and young, his was straight urban.

'Waterfalls' was one of my favourite songs growing up and the album it was on was the first I bought with my own money. It seemed to work, so has stayed in the set since. I don't think of myself as a rapper, but the message of the song is so strong, something I would want to say anyway, that it made sense.

Lauren Pritchard is on tour in the UK from February 2. Her single 'Stuck' is out in the UK on February 28 on Spilt Milk/Island Records.