On Tuesday, up-and-coming electronic pop princess George Pringle layered on the kohl, swallowed her excitement, and told us what Debbie Harry meant to her. Yesterday, they met and today they keep on talking...

G: What current music are you listening to at the moment? What was the last great album you heard?

D: Umm, hmm. Last great album… oh, I don't know if there's any one particular one. I guess, MIA's most recent release is really great. Of course, Amy Winehouse is doing well, she's got a great sound and I liked Lily's album. I like that. I like Lady Sovereign too. Very fun. I mean, I'm just picking out girls for the moment…

G: What did you grow up listening to?

D: You mean a long time ago.

G: Oh God, no!

D: (a heavy sigh) Oh, well, I guess, you know, when I was a little girl it was, you know, it was… oh, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, stuff like that. Some Elvis, I guess. Good basic rock & roll, really good musicianship. Actually, some great musicianship and a pretty good variety, although leaning towards the blues and R&B. Probably more R&B for me...

G: What I really loved in Blondie was the fact that with rap and reggae and black music in general, you made that so accessible to a predominantly white mainstream audience. Was that a conscious thing that you all did or was it a case of you liking those sounds and just dragging them in?

D: Yeah! I think that we were very influenced, Chris and I especially. We were very influenced by, you know, the New York, neighbourhood music. You know, the black neighbourhoods, the Spanish neighbourhoods. Chris had actually just come back from here. He went on a vacation and there was a big reggae festival and he just came back with... just...(lifts arms in air) "Reggae! Reggae!" (general cackles) He was just so down with reggae. So then we just started doing the blends. We started making those blends.

G: That's a tough thing to achieve.

D: Yeah.

G: Taking an influence and making it your own is a tough thing to achieve.

D: Yeah! I don't know if we were really totally successful with that. I think that more recent efforts by Gwen Stefani, probably, are actually better... technically, but we had the right feeling I think.

G: You said that about New York, with the neighbourhoods and the influences. Do you think that, with Blondie and your music now, that New York has really influenced your writing? Like, if you'd lived somewhere like California instead, do you think that your music would have ended up sounding different?

D: Yeah.

G: Is it definitely a product of New York?

D: Definitely. Regional tastes and regional styles, I actually adore the Chili Peppers for that. They have really retained that California, Cally thing. I just love it. You can hear it in Anthony's voice. It's just so embodied in him and their playing. Even though they've gone worldwide, they've absorbed a lot of different styles like we did but you can definitely hear the Cally thing. I think, anyway…

G: So who were your heroes when you were young? Who did you grow up thinking "You're amazing" or "I'd like to be that person..."

D: Probably more film stars. I think that's the whole Blondie connection. You know, I probably brought a cinematic feeling or image to the front of a rock band and I'm sort of proud of that. You know, Bardot, and Marilyn Monroe. Even some of the silent stars. I was really very fascinated with that. I don't know if there's any one particular one. Carole Lombard, I used to think was terrific. So I guess, 40s and 50s movie stars. Maybe even 60s, yeah.

G: I always go back to the old ones, I think. The new ones are so watered down…

D: Well, I don't know, I was thinking of some terrific ones today. I really like, oh what's her name? She sings sometimes...She's very wonderful. She actually performs sometimes…

G: Umm…

D: She actually tours with a band sometimes…

G: Oh! Juliette Lewis?

D: Yeah, Juliette. Yeah. I mean, I think I'd probably be at her feet worshipping if I'm not already. I think she's real talented. She looks like a sweet girl too.

G: So, you've done some acting too. I loved you in Spun, (she's probably the only good thing about the film, but I don't say this to her) – you were brilliant.

D: Oh, God! Spun was a great picture. It made me sick. It was so fast and it made me physically ill but it was so great.

G: Do you have any roles coming up?

D: I do. I have a small part. Another small, itty-bitty part in Elegy. It's sort of sad. It's from a book by Philip Roth and I can't remember the title of that either. Directed by Isabel Coixet and she's the one who directed My Life Without Me, so she asked me back to do a little cameo in this.

G: Do you like acting? Do you think it's taking over? I mean, I guess you haven't explored it as much as music. Is it like a new pursuit?

D: It's sort of an incomplete pursuit. In some ways I felt like I was an actor pretending to be a rock singer and I sometime still feel that way. But that's... umm, you know, that's far out. I probably shouldn't say that but sometimes I feel like that. I don't know. I'd love to have a full part, you know. Like, really go from A to Z with a character. I usually just get to jump in and do a little shot. A quick one…

G: So, if they were going to make a film about Blondie or your life, who would play you then? It's a tough one because I suppose you could choose it physically or by who would play the part best…

D: I don't know. Michelle Phillips expressed an interest at one time. And, I mean, Kirsten Dunst wants to do it.

G: Kirsten Dunst is alright. I don't think she's got enough edge.

D: She might be too nice. She's got her nice image. She's probably capable as an actress.

G: (I notice the time ticking away) So, lastly… (I throw in a curveball) Do you think that America will ever elect a black president?

D:(sighs) Oh God. I don't think so. I, I… I would love it if Hillary made it. But… I don't think that a woman is going to make it either.

G: Do you despair generally?

D: I have despaired about American politics and I have despaired about the image of America in the world. I really dislike immensely and distrust George Bush, George Dubya or whatever the fuck his name is. (general cackles) I think it's just such a… corrupt… I don't know if you're aware of the fact that Alan Greenspan – who is a financial advisor to the government for many years – came right out and said that it was all based on greed and going after the oil. I'm just so glad that he finally did that. You know, I just wish that he had done that five years ago. I don't know if it would have helped but… the whole thing is just a nightmare. It's going to be so hard to correct and change and make it right. He's made a complete mess. I think…it has to do with old ideas. Greed, ignorance (laughs) and, umm… yeah, I think in the States they have a very isolationist, superior attitude and it obviously has a lot to do with what's going on with this "administration".

G: Well, I guess, in terms of America's image… Well, you live in New York and New York's always been quite different to the rest of the States…

(Rachel interrupts) We've got five minutes now.

G: OK, can we take a picture of you?

D: Yeah, sure. You… You seem to have a little of… uh… what's her name? Keira Knightley?

G: No! Haha.

D: You don't wanna be like Keira Knightley?

G: No.

D: Oh.

(click)

G: Oh, by the way, what was Andy Warhol like?

D: Oh, he was great. He was always sweet to me. I think he was sort of like a grandmother.(laughs)

(click)

(click)

D: These better be good!

G: Thank you so much for talking by the way.

D: Well, good luck with your music!

G: Thank you, actually, could you sign my vinyl?

D: Yeah sure. This is sort of nice with the silver. So what is this? Is it Polaroid?

G: Yeah. The cameras are so cheap but the films are so expensive. It's unreal.

D: (looks at photo) That's pretty casual. I mean, I look like your grandmother actually (laughs).

Time is up. Like over-baked potatoes, Rachel and I exit. We push the door instead of pull. We dither once we’re out in the street. “Which way is the Tube?” Buzzing adrenaline. “Oh God, can I have a drag of your cigarette?”, says Rachel. “I’ve quit but I need one, I ‘m just so excited.” We walk in a straight silent line to the Tube with outward grins. “She was just… everything you wanted her to be!”