In the latest in our WISE WORDS interview series - where stars from a whole range of fields share the important life lessons they've learned along the way - we’re posing some of the big questions to Sister Bliss of Faithless.
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The titans of electronica reunited this year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the bad, playing a storming set to headline the South West Four festival in London last month.
Sister Bliss formed Faithless with Rollo, Jamie Catto and Maxi Jazz in 1995 and had massive chart success with singles like Insomnia, God Is A DJ and We Come 1.
Sister Bliss
What do you do to switch off from the world?
Pilates mainly, and sleeping. Not sleeping in Pilates, that wouldn't go down too well.
How do you deal with negativity?
It depends on the mood I wake up in, sometimes I'm really riled by it and sometimes I just absolutely let it wash over me. I think Faithless as a band have always been slightly outside of things and we haven't always been cherished but all have to do is go out on stage and look at the fans in front of me and any negativity just disappears pretty much. But the difficult thing with negativity and criticism, is it's never as loud as the critic in your own head. It's very hard to write something without looking like spoiled entitled... y'know superstar dick. The critic inside my head is louder than anything anyone could write about us. The bonus of being about for 20 years is I can look back on it and think hey, who was right? It sweetens the bitter pill somewhat.
When and where were you happiest?
I was pretty happy in Ibiza a couple of weeks ago, the sun was out and it was just gorgeous and I was just breathing in air and letting my body relax. And probably on stage the week before that which was pretty incredible, I was pretty damn happy after we did SW4 festival. There's been a few excellent high points over the last couple of weeks I've been pretty blessed.
What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
That's a tough one, there's so many of them. I remember being told I was too big for my boots and I didn't really know what that meant but in a weird sort of way it had a reverse psychology effect on me. It's like Dido, best bit of advice she got was 'don't give up your day job', from her brother Rollo, and she was like 'right I'll show him'. So there's something that can fire you up in that.
What would you tell your 13-year-old self?
That spot will do down eventually. I had one for months and months, it was revolting. It looked like a baked bean on my chin. Nothing I put on it would make it go away. And teenagers get very hung up about their skin.
Maxi Jazz on stage at SW4
What three things are on your bucket list?
One of them is to go to Machu Picchu, I've been to Peru and the weather was so bad we couldn't go. Being able to touch my toes would be another one and I guess make that perfect record - again.
What do you think happens when we die?
I really don't know. The music stops I guess.
When you feel a sense that we live in the presence of something bigger than ourselves?
Well I first got that feeling many years ago when I was playing in my school orchestra in Venice. We were playing Mozart and I had this utterly transcendent moment. There was this perfect harmony, we were playing amazingly and it was that sort of communion. And I've experienced it many times subsequently in clubs and at raves. There are those moments when you're not just playing but you're absolutely aware of the synergy of everything. And we wrote a little song about it called 'We Come 1'.
What do you try to bring to your relationships?
Good humour, lots of love and compassion and banter.
What keeps you grounded?
Daily life. I'm a mum on the school run. Outside of the ravey superstar lifestyle, it's a very sobering life.
What was the last good deed or act of kindness you received?
I had a lovely cup of tea from the engineer in the studio with Tinie Tempah yesterday. It was really restorative because yesterday was the greyest, pissiest, shittiest day and it was one of those teas that was just bang on.
