Naomi Scott on Fame, Music, and Finding Her Voice Beyond Hollywood
Naomi Scott, at 27, experienced what she now calls a "quarter-life crisis." Having built a successful acting career since her teens, with roles in Disney's Aladdin as Princess Jasmine and the horror hit Smile 2, she felt a deep frustration. "I hadn't really mourned the other versions of my life," the now 32-year-old actor explains, reflecting on a path that seemed predetermined.
Returning to Music: A Journey Back to Basics
This introspection led Scott back to her first love: music. "I felt I had to go back to basics, to a childlike writing process," she says, sipping black coffee in a Hackney cafe. "Just me on the piano at 14, allowing whatever comes naturally to come." Music had always been part of her life, from singing in a church choir to collaborating with pop production house Xenomania, but acting had taken center stage.
The result is her debut album, F.I.G., which stands for Falling Into Grace. Grace, Scott's middle name, became an alter ego, helping her express "this version of yourself that you wish you had more of." Musically, the album blends R&B, new wave, and alt-pop, influenced by artists like Peter Gabriel, Janet Jackson, Jessie Ware, and Dev Hynes, who contributed to the track Cut Me Loose.
Balancing Acting and Music: From Scream Queen to Singer
While working on F.I.G. between LA and Norway with producer Lido, Scott starred in Smile 2 as troubled pop star Skye Riley. She describes the role as "the hardest thing I'll probably have to do, but very rewarding," earning her critical acclaim as a new horror "scream queen." Despite Riley's similarities to Lady Gaga and Britney Spears, Scott was determined to forge her own musical path.
"I've gone through the whole process of: why do I even want to do music? What does it look like in this climate?" she says. "That's why everything is a little bit more DIY." The video for her single Losing You, filmed in selfie mode, showcases this approach with surreal imagery, including Scott dabbing tears with a turtle.
Navigating Fame and Identity in the Spotlight
With over a decade in Hollywood, Scott is wary of fame. "I think fame is one of the worst things for us as human beings," she states, discussing how public scrutiny dehumanizes individuals. "Imagine you had a camera on you. You absolutely cannot win." She credits her parents, who work for a local church, for keeping her grounded, avoiding the pressures often faced by pastors' kids.
Scott's early influences included Christian pop stars like Stacie Orrico, but a pivotal moment came with Alicia Keys' If I Ain't Got You, which she performed in church. This led to her discovery by former Eternal star Kéllé Bryan, launching her career. Despite her success in films like Aladdin, which grossed over $1 billion, Scott says her life remained largely unchanged, with fans often approaching her to discuss Lemonade Mouth or Smile 2 rather than her Disney role.
Defining Herself Through Music
Scott acknowledges that some people "want to mould me into different things," but she embraces being a "girl-in-progress." Her Spotify page, cluttered with songs from her acting roles, reflects this journey. "We need to talk to them about that," she laughs. "Get that jumbled up a little bit. Because that's not me."
With F.I.G., Scott aims to clarify her identity. "This is mine," she asserts. "When you're acting, you really are like a colour in a painting that's being utilised. And with music, you are the artist yourself. You are the painter." After five years of self-discovery, she is closer to defining her true voice, blending her experiences into a unique artistic expression.
