Taylor opposite Jim Carrey in MUSIC Dr Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

In American teen drama Gossip Girl Taylor-made Pretty Reckless lead singer Taylor Momsen takes time out of touring to talk to the Weekender ahead of her Brixton gig

aylor Momsen has been in enough material now for a full-length “just like a past life.” “It’s not something the public eye for most of show; we’ve got two records and two I think about at all, until I’m asked her life but after quitting EPs.” about it,” she admits. “It opened the Tacting to focus solely on her The Pretty Reckless has been door for people who liked the show to music career she’s “never touring in some way or another since check out the band, I guess.” writes Laura 2008/2009. “When the first record Drawing musical inspiration from her looked back”, came out we toured non-stop for two “favourite band” the Beatles, Taylor Burgoine... and a half years straight. This tour’s rattles off a list of other musical Modelling from two-years-old, the been going since last fall. I guess it can influences: Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam, American musician/model/actress be exhausting but then we get to go on Nirvana, Pink Floyd and ACDC, to scored her first big break at age five stage and crank amps and play songs name a few. “I’ve been playing since working alongside comic great Jim we wrote to people who listen to them,” before I can remember. My parents Carrey in Dr Seuss’ How the Grinch Taylor explains. said I was humming melodies before Stole Christmas, where she played Music has always been her first love. I could talk,” she tells me. Cindy Lou Who. As a teenager she was “I’ve done it since I can remember. I “I started writing songs from flung back into the limelight with full quit acting six years ago and I’ve never when I was young. My notebook force playing Jenny “Little J” Humphrey looked back,” she vows. became my best friend; writing is on American teen drama sensation The 21-year-old is a far cry from my favourite part of the musical Gossip Girl. As her onscreen image her breakout role in the Grinch, less process.” Starting on piano, she evolved from wholesome all-American Cindy Lou and more Cyndi Lauper switched to guitar while still very ‘tween’ to edgy, punk-goth rebel, these days. She insists that no one young but also “dabbles with lots of Taylor’s real life seemed to follow a still associates her with that Dr Seuss drums, harmonica and piano.” similar course. Abandoning Gossip Girl persona. “People don’t; reporters “Anyone can do it, you just have after the fourth season, Taylor left her do!” she quips. “I was five-years-old. I to pick it up and commit,” she acting career behind -taking only her barely remember it!” offers. white blonde hair extensions and heavy I ask if she regrets spending her The band plays every day, eye make-up with her- and started a childhood working; the actress while Taylor choreographs and rock band, The Pretty Reckless, where narrowly missed nabbing the lead role co-directs her music videos. “I she sings lead vocals and plays guitar. in Disney’s Hannah Montana, which take it very seriously. It’s kind of When I speak to Taylor she’s in North ended up carving a career for fellow my way or no way. Otherwise, Carolina, moments from boarding a child-star Miley Cyrus. “You can’t what’s the f***ing point?” plane for her home-base of New York change the past, and I kind of live with before heading to Boston. In November no regrets. I grew up in this industry. The Pretty Reckless plays at the the band’s world tour will see them play You learn things as you go along. It O2 Academy Brixton, at Brixton’s O2 Academy. “London is was a job, it paid my bills, it meant I 211 Stockwell Road, SW9 9SL, one of our favourite places to play. You could quit and just make music and on November 26 at 7pm. have great venues over there so we’re afford to pay my rent,” she responds, Admission: £20.81-£55.12. really psyched,” Taylor enthuses. “This rationally. Phone: time around should be great. We’ve Likewise, she refers to Gossip Girl, 020 7771 3000. really developed the show and we have which made her a household name as www.o2academybrixton.co.uk [email protected] / www.weekenderlife.co.uk September 19 2014 11