Cher Lloyd Performs Live at AOL Music Sessions, Talks Marriage, Gambling and the Pursuit of Happiness

I feel like when you reach a certain level that isn't the highest you can go, there's always so much more you can do," says Cher Lloyd minutes after finishing an acoustic set for AOL Music Sessions. "And that's what I aim to do, keep going until there's no further for me to go." The 18-year-old, who got her start on the "X Factor U.K.," has crossed the pond to bring her swagger-filled album Sticks + Stones stateside. With nothing but her impressive vocals and her guitarist, Cher lit up our New York studios with an exclusive performance, before sitting down to chat about shutting up her marriage critics, the best and worst of the U.S., and how being greedy can be a virtue.

Playing off your song "Beautiful People," who would you say are the most beautiful people in your life?

My family, my team. I have a great team. And that doesn't mean beautiful as in looks. That means they want what's best for me. And also, my fiancé!

In your song "Grow Up," there's a lyric, "We doing stuff that we don't ever have to tell our moms." What kind of stuff would you do that you wouldn't tell you mom about when you were a kid?

I had a very close relationship with my mom so if I did something, I would tell her because I hate feeling guilty and I think that's the worst feeling possible is to feel guilty. So I'd just tell here anyway. I'd be like, "Yeah mom, I went and did this. Sorry about that!"

Speaking of things that you might keep from your mom, how did your parents react when you told them about your engagement?

They were good about it. I mean, they really like him. He gets on with the whole family. Everyone's met him.

What do you have to say to people who tell you you're too young to be getting married?

I just say, "Shut up!" Who are they? Who are they to kind of give me advice? I'm 18 years old, but I bet you I've been through a whole lot more than what they could even imagine, or even then they've been through. I meet 30 year olds that act like 12 year olds. Do you know what I'm saying? It happens.



How has this new phase in the relationship influenced your songwriting?

It hasn't really. I wouldn't say it has. I feel like I haven't written for a long time, because I've been in this stage trying to figure out you know what I'm going to be doing for the next however long and I'm not sure. It all depends on how I feel at the time. If I feel like I want to talk about it or whether I want to hold it back. It changes. Sometimes I want to write like how I'm a young teenager and sometimes I want to write like I'm a grown up, do you know what I mean? It just changes all the time.

What was the first CD that you ever bought?

The first CD I ever bought was the Vengaboys. I bought that album and it was very good. I think my mom still has it. She won't give it to me for some reason. Probably because it's really old and she just wants to keep it.

What songs would be on the soundtrack to your life?

Kid Cudi, "Pursuit of Happiness." I am on the pursuit of happiness. Jessie J, "Who You Are." That's a good one. It always makes me cry and I don't normally cry that much. I'd like to think I'm a bit more tough than that.

If you're on the pursuit of happiness, how will you know when you've found it?

I am very happy with my personal life and I'm happy with my career, but I am greedy and I want more for my career and that's what I am you know trying to do. I feel like when you reach a certain level that isn't the highest you can go, there's always so much more you can do and that's what I aim to do, keep going until there's no further for me to go.



What are the three things that you have to have with you when you're on the road or on tour?

My fiance, my team -- because I wouldn't know what to do without my team. I'd literally not have anything to do. I'd just be left on the side of the road thinking, "Where am I to be?" And what else ... I need my voice; I really need it. If I have no voice, then I don't really have anything to be honest.

You have quite the collection of body art! Tell us the stories behind your first tattoo and your most recent one.

The first one I got, I got it done when I was 16 and that's kind of young for your first tattoo. It was either that or a piercing, and my mom didn't want me to have a piercing. She'd rather me get a tattoo, which doesn't make any sense to me at all, but I was very happy with that! In fact she came in and sat with me when I had it done. I got it done during a school lunch time. How funny is that? That's amazing. I love my mom. And the latest one I had done was both sides of my wrist. This is my fiance's name and some suits of cards. I like playing Black Jack. I'm not a gambler, but I do it with some good friends of mine. We do it every now and again when I'm at home. We don't play for money or anything like that. I am not a gambler; definitely not. I think whatever you've got, grab onto it and don't let it go. Seriously, it's not good for you!

What is your favorite thing about the U.S. that you don't have in the U.K.?

The food. I'm going to be a bit upset when I go back to the U.K. to find there aren't so many takeaways I can get. I'm being serious. In the U.K., you can pick from like three things; that's Chinese, Indian, or pizza. That's it. And over here, you can pick from whatever you want. You can literally say something and you can have it there in like 10 minutes. It's incredible. There's nothing more that I'd ever want than that because I don't cook. I never cook. I don't think I've cooked once since I've lived in my house. That's really bad, isn't it? I don't care.

What's your take on the music here in the U.S. versus in the U.K.?

I'll tell you what, since I've been here, I sit in the car and I'm on my way to all these places and I listen to a radio station and I swear it plays one song over and over and over again. It's crazy! I mean it's a bit too much!