When your debut single is #1 in seven different countries and your album goes on to sell more than 700,000 copies, you get to choose where you record the follow-up.

And having made her first album on a miniscule budget in a freezing barn in Cheshire, you might think Sandi Thom would want to go a bit more up-market this time. But Sandi tends to do things her own way, no matter how unconventional that may be. Which is why she recorded the whole of her second album, 'The Pink & The Lily' in the basement of her flat in Tooting.

"I like my own surroundings," she smiles. "And I like being in control. For me it�??s about being comfortable, being able to relax and not be intimidated. In fact I probably did most of my vocals in my pyjamas - I'd get out of bed, make a cup of tea, go downstairs and just do it! And it was great having that freedom."

And the title? It comes from a pub in Buckinghamshire that was named The Pink & The Lily by the son of the original owners when he took over as landlord in 1833. Mr Pink and Miss Lillie had been the butler and chambermaid in a great house owned by the local Hampden family, but were sacked when it was discovered they had scandalously conceived a child outside of wedlock.

Undeterred, the couple set up their own pub and happily raised their child there, who then became the first landlord of what is now affection ally referred to as 'The Pink'; an unconventional love story that Sandi found inspiring.

"It's a really beautiful, romantic little story about how they just went off and lived their life together regardless of what people thought. They were in love, and that�??s all that mattered. I related to it, in some way. Calling the song and the album 'The Pink & The Lily' is my way of saying, 'follow your heart and not what people tell you to do.'


Look out for our interview with Sandi coming next week.

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