Torch song-pop singer/songwriter Nerina Pallot was born in London on April 26, 1975. As a child she taught herself piano, later adding guitar to her repertoire before studying violin and opera at boarding school. After signing to Polydor, Pallot issued her debut LP, Dear Frustrated Superstar, in the summer of 2001, releasing the singles "Patience" and "Alien." After management secured her the opening slot on rocker Bryan Adams' upcoming arena tour, the label pulled the album from stores with an eye to reissuing the disc complete with a new single, "Photograph." But an appearance on the British children's television program Live and Kicking proved disastrous when fellow guest Faye Tozer of pop group Steps accidentally pushed Pallot off the show's couch; the mishap aired live and made Pallot the butt of much joking, and Polydor terminated her contract just a few weeks later, never returning Dear Frustrated Superstar to retail. Outside of contributing lead vocals to electronic duo Delerium's 2003 single "Truly," Pallot spent the next four years out of sight, finally resurfacing in the spring of 2005 with Fires, issued on her own Idaho label. The LP proved a critical and commercial favorite and was reissued in updated form a year later on the Warner subsidiary 14th Floor Records, reaching number 21 on the U.K. album charts. The single "Everybody's Gone to War" became a Top 20 hit.