DIANE BIRCH is the music scene's latest singer/songwriter wonder and she's already graced the pages of Vogue. The daughter of travelling Seventh-Day Adventist Preacher parents, Birch combines classic soul with rock-pop creating a sound that marks her out as star in the making.
"I've been wearing hats since I was about eight when I developed an addiction to berets," said Birch. "They looked great with my perm. My style is basically a black mixture of masculine/feminine/old/new, a little bit gypsy, a little bit granny, a little bit rock and roll with a dash of street. I'm thinking a silent film starring Coco Chanel and Charlie Chaplin featuring music by Patti Smith with special appearance by Annie Hall."
Birch, who describes her favourite designers as Comme Des Garcons, Rick Owens, Isabel Marant and Chanel, worked with Prince after he saw her play and invited her to come and jam with her and her band.
"He was very polite and gracious, she told us. "His talent as a musician was really mind-blowing."
The 27-year-old singer grew up in America's Bible Belt and credits her songwriting style to her religious parents. Birch is on the road a lot, flitting from Palm Springs, to Paris, to London and Amsterdam.
What are her must-have wardrobe staples?
"I can't live without my jewellery," she said. "I wear loads and feel naked without it. I couldn't cope without my black linen boyfriend jacket either - it's a bit oversized and makes any outfit, no matter how casual, a little bit more chic. I also don't travel without a black hat or my massive Alexander Wang duffle bag which holds everything and more."
With her insouciant, vintage-inspired look, it's difficult to imagine Birch to have ever made a fashion mistake but she admits she doesn't always get it right.
"I've made so many its ridiculous - I think double-belting was a real winner," she said.
