Soaring at 16

Billie is one determined 16-year-old.

Growing up in the quiet southern England town of Swindon, Billie Paul Piper spent hours prancing in front of her bedroom mirror, singing along to the likes of Motown and Madonna.

But instead of just dreaming of stardom, the sassy lass went in search of it.

"There wasn't enough going on for me (in Swindon) ... I needed to explore other places and learn different things," says the tenacious teen, who will perform and sign autographs for fans tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. at Sunridge Mall's Centre Court.

"I love Swindon and I love my friends there, but I always knew I wanted more, know what I mean?"

Her admirable ambition led her to London's famous Sylvia Young Stage School, where future pop tarts Emma "Baby Spice" Bunton and the All Saints' Melanie Blatt and Appleton sisters were also trained.

While studying there, Billie appeared in North American Kool-Aid and Honeycomb Cereal commercials as well as appearing next to -- or at least in close proximity to -- her idol Madonna as an extra in Evita.

But it was while dancing in a TV advert for British teen mag Smash Hits that Billie was discovered by a record rep looking for the next big thing.

Before you could say "Girl Power," the bubbly entertainer had two hit singles (Because We Want To, Girlfriend) and a No. 1 UK album, Honey to the B, under her belt.

"It's actually been a long process," she says.

"I thought hard about it and wisely about it before I made any big decisions. I've always been surrounded by music and people in the industry, so I suppose I was already quite used to all the fuss that is made.

"But there are things I find hard to tackle that maybe someone older than me wouldn't have such a problem with."

Since hitting the top of the pops, Billie has had to deal with everything from false newspaper stories about her engagement to an ex-boyfriend to Because We Want To and Girlfriend being voted the worst and third-worst singles of the year by the readers of Britain's weekly music paper, New Musical Express.

"Things like that, you just try and ignore it and work harder to prove to people you're not the way they describe you," she says. "It's hard work and it takes a long time to convince people that you're in it for the long run

and you're taking everything seriously."

And is she ever serious about it.

Forgoing even the trendiest of parties, Billie prefers to work out and get to bed early so she's alert during her hectic day, which usually includes interviews, meetings, photo shoots, autograph sessions and performances.

"I'm more of a homey girl," admits Billie, who now lives in London "with friends or in hotels."

"Most parties are the same anyway ... I think it's good to make appearances at certain places, but I generally think the whole party scene is pretty naff."

Far from being a recluse, Billie says she loves any chance she gets to meet her fans because she wants to remain down-to-earth.

Unfortunately, some of her fans haven't seen it that way.

During a performance at last year's Smash Hits Poll Winners party, several girls in the audience began heckling Billie and calling her rude names.

"It really upset me," she says. "Because I want to be on the same level as my fans.

"I don't want them to be the fan and me be the star.

"I just want to be their mate. That's what my music is about."

Billie answers fans

It seems that Virgin recording artist Billie is just like any other normal 16-year-old girl - she just has millions of fans and a hit record in England, that's all.

Hoping to spread her success to Canada, the British teen is on a whirlwind promotional tour, which hits Edmonton tomorrow. She'll perform songs from her debut album, Honey to the B, and sign autographs starting at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow at the HMV Superstore in West Edmonton Mall.

Since there wasn't time for a proper interview, we asked readers to submit questions to Billie so she could reply via e-mail. Here are her answers:

From Jen Flatt, age 10:
If you had a chance to join an established "girl group" such as the Spice Girls, would you give up your solo career?

BILLIE: I don't think so, I really enjoy being a solo artist.

Since you are becoming a role model for young girls, who were your role models?

BILLIE: My role model is, and always will be, Madonna.

From Michelle Annett, age 13:
I take ballet three days a week. My question to Billie is: Why did you get started in the music business?

Simply IrresistibleBILLIE: Because I've always loved performing. I've danced and sung since I was very young. I joined local acting and singing classes and eventually went to theatre school in London.

From Crystal Rosentreter, age 14:
Where do you see yourself in five or 10 years?

Simply IrresistibleBILLIE: Hopefully an established singer and artist worldwide.

What's the craziest thing you've ever done?

BILLIE: To be honest, I don't do that many really crazy things, but my maddest is when I was at Canada's Wonderland (in Toronto). I went on that bungy-like thing, which was absolutely crazy!

What's your most embarrassing moment?

BILLIE: When my song didn't start when I was performing in Birmingham and I had to stand there on stage for five minutes until they fixed the sound problem!

From Paula Nemyo, age 15:
What does your family think of your fame?

BILLIE: My family is very supportive and enthusiastic. They're very down to earth and keep me focused.

On March 26, I'm turning 16 and I have no idea how to make it a birthday to remember. I was wondering how you celebrated your 16th birthday.

BILLIE: I had a big birthday party! The most important thing about your birthday is to make sure all the people you love are there. And make sure you have some good music to dance to!

From D. Carter:
I am a songwriter. I have written 16 songs. Please, if you could give me some direction on how I can get my songs into circulation, it would be of great help to me.

BILLIE: You need to record them down to tape and send them in to record companies. Keep writing about your experiences, and never lose hope.

Thanks to Virgin Records, Billie and all her questioners. Each participant has won a CD copy of Honey to the B, plus a Billie poster and sticker.

Billie gets what she wants

Brit teenie popper's out to prove she's no lightweight

Don't let Billie's pint-size package, gorgeous that it is, and young age -- that would be 15 years old -- fool you.

The latest British pop import to grace our shores -- a more youthful, solo version of the Spice Girls or All Saints -- says she's dead serious about having a music career.

Even if there's already Billie merchandising -- mugs, badges and belts -- and her first single, Because We Want To, is really nothing more than a throwaway teen pop anthem.

The song, off her debut album, Honey To The B (due in stores Oct. 13), debuted at No. 1 in England. Now it's climbing up the charts in Canada, and has so far sold just over 300,000 copies worldwide. The tune begins: "Why you gotta play that song so loud? Because we want to! Because we want to! Why you always run around in crowds? Because we want to! Because we want to!"

I think you get the picture. Billie does.

"I think the reason everyone likes the song is cause it's good fun, it's not serious," says the remarkably self-possessed singer. She's sitting in a Queen Street W. coffee shop following her appearance at YTV's Psyko Blast at Paramount Canada's Wonderland last Saturday.

"It's not so formal. It's not about love, which is what (most of) my songs are about. It's not about sadness. It's about being young and having a good time."

And given Billie's idol is none other than Madonna, you can pretty much figure out her career blueprint.

"She's 40 now, it seems so weird," says Billie, commenting on The Material Girl's birthday last Sunday. "I just like her 'cause she's so individual and so unique and she's such a great performer and a real inspiration to everyone, I think. And I like her 'cause she just doesn't care what people say."

So imagine the thrill when Billie -- real name Billie Paul Piper -- worked as an extra on Evita and got an eyeful of Miss Ciccone from "about five yards away."

"I was really starstruck," says Billie, with a big grin. "I didn't know what to say. But she was working and I didn't really want to disturb her 'cause she was really taking it seriously. And, you know, I didn't want to put her off in any way. And I was just so amazed by it all, I couldn't even believe it."

Billie, a native of Swindon, England, got the Evita gig through her London theatre school, the same place that trained one of the Spice Girls (Baby Spice) and three of the All Saints.

"I love the Spice Girls," says Billie, who is now tutored on the road. "These past few years, they've been a really big inspiration. I think it's their music for me and sometimes what they say. But you know, I'm not really into the whole Girl Power thing. I think it works for the Spice Girls and it works for their fans, but I don't really represent Girl Power. I'm sort of more of a youth thing. I want to represent youth."

Billie's big musical break came after she appeared in a commercial for the teen magazine Smash Hits, dancing away to the Prodigy song Firestarter. A record company executive, on the look-out for a new solo female artist, spotted her.

The next thing Billie knew, she had a record deal.

"It happened so fast, it was like an overnight thing," she says. "A couple of weeks before I was doing a school tour in the U.K. and clubs and stuff like that. And then all of the sudden I released my single and then I'm No. 1 and then I'm on the front of every newspaper."

Perhaps a little bit overwhelming? Not for Billie, who will start touring early next year.

"I think I'm ready for it, I really want it," she says. "I'm so passionate about what I do, I just want to do it all the time. It's like I went on holiday for a week and I was so looking forward to coming back to work. After about five days of just sitting on a beach, it's a bit boring. For me anyway."