OK! Interview: Natasha Bedingfield

There's no brighter singer out there than Natasha Bedingfield. The British songtress, whose second album Pocketful of Sunshine is in stores now, is proud that her happy songs spread a message of hope. "Music is a very powerful thing," Natasha tells OK!. "If I'm angry, I can write a song about it, and it seems to make everything okay." The 26-year-old stopped by SoHo's Bar Martignetti to chat with OK! about her tunes, touring with Justin Timberlake and why she'd never be caught red-handed without knickers.

What's one secret you can tell me about Natasha Bedingfield?

I'm not serious all the time. I've written a lot of positive-minded songs, but I've also written a lot of silly songs. I don't think people know I'm silly.

Are you a prankster?

Sometimes I am Im not very good at pulling pranks. But Id love to do a female version of Punk'd. Id be Ashton Kutcher!

What was it like touring with Justin Timberlake?

He's so nice! He left me a big bottle of champagne and a card that said "Welcome to the craziness that is our tour, which was just really nice!

What's your favorite track on your new CD?

"Pocketful of Sunshine." Its about going to a familiar place when you're in that situation that you want to escape from finding a peaceful place within.

Who have you loved working with in the past?

Adam Levine. He's really funny. He and Maroon 5 they're all real musicians. I went to a party at one of the guys' houses, and they had instruments set up and they were just jamming, they were just doing it for fun.

Who would you love to work with next?

I would love to do something with Coldplay. Chris Martin, the band, Gwyneth Paltrow, everything. I'd also love to work with Mark Ronson. He's so sexy, and that comes through in his music.

How long have you been with your boyfriend Matthew Robinson?

Just over a year, actually, the longest relationship I’ve ever had. He's American, a friend of a friend.

How do you feel about your music being on The Hills?

I love it. I'm really happy it's just another way for people to pick me up, and get interested in the music.

What was your most recent adventure?

I just traveled to Costa Rica for my Christmas vacation and I did learn to surf a little bit. I can get up on the board if the waves are small! I took my brother and my boyfriend and two friends. We did ATVs and four-wheelers through the terrain, really fast.

What do you think of girls in the media who really haven't found a positive way to portray themselves, for whatever reason?

I'm not really any better than they are. I don't look down on them. I have a lot of fun, but I don’t do it in front of the camera because I’m not an attention seeker. Like, if you were wearing a miniskirt and not wearing any knickers underneath, then you're doing that purposefully. I did the Diana concert, and a rumor went around that I wasn't wearing any knickers. I was wearing a very short dress and very high shoes. It was funny, I got a call from my granddad and he said, "What's this about you not wearing knickers?" I actually had to say, "You know me, do you think I would do that?"

What's your favorite thing to eat?

I love lamb shank. It's my favorite thing. You don't have it in America. It's a younger meat - it just falls off the bone - it's kind of like a roast. I really like blackened cod too.

What's on your iPod?

I have so much stuff! Recently I've been listening to Jimi Hendrix, Kenna, a band called the Bird and the Bee.

Do you work out a lot?

I like doing very high action things. Running, boxing, a lot of free weights. They're not heavy. I eat what I want, really, because I think that while you're working out you can eat better. I had this trainer once who said, "You work out so you can eat."

Do you like cupcakes and sweets?

I don't eat a lot of junk food, but yeah, I'll try a cupcake. Recently I haven't been eating so well, just from busyness. When I'm not working out I tend to eat a lot less.

What is your beauty routine? Do you have anything to recommend?

I like Dermalogica. And this year I've been using mineral foundation, which I never did before. It's really good - it definitely made my skin happier. I have to wear makeup all the time at my job and it can be really bad if you use the wrong type of things.