Singer Sky Ferreira Reveals the One Thing That Gives Her Confidence

I may be a musician, but I actually have severe stage fright. And I have to go through a whole process before I perform. When I started writing music and singing, I never thought about the fact that eventually I'd have to get up on stage to do it. I mean, in school, I was the person who would cry if she had to give a speech in front of the class!

I used to think having a drink would help, but it doesn't; it just makes me more self-conscious. So now I have a way of dealing. It starts with Transcendental Meditation, which I learned from Bob Roth at the David Lynch Foundation. I do it twice a day because it makes me think more clearly. Like, I'll be really upset about something and I can't get past it or come up with a solution, but after I meditate, my mind is clear. It has drastically changed my life.

Then, if I'm getting ready for a big night, I usually do my own makeup because most of my friends are dudes, and they're just not interested. I'll do my eyeliner—something good and greasy. And I like to wear a vintage leather jacket that I've had for about seven years; that's sort of my armor. Finally, I'll put on perfume because it makes me feel as if I didn't just roll out of bed. It finishes the look.

The new Jimmy Choo Illicit is feminine but not necessarily too girly—and it has jasmine, which is my favorite flower. But I think I like it because it relates to my music. My sound is aggressive, but it's a bit sexy, too, and it has a vulnerable side to it. And when I'm onstage, that's what it feels like. It's a very vulnerable position to be in.

1. "I've been using this moisturizing shampoo since I was 10. My hair is so thick and dry—it's basically horse hair." Mane N' Tail Shampoo, $5

2. "The heart of the perfume is jasmine and rose, but not, like, sitting-on-a-bed-of-roses girly. It's sophisticated, like a pair of Jimmy Choos." Jimmy Choo Illicit Eau de Parfum, $112 

3. "I don't like to wear a lot of face makeup because I don't think it's healthy for my skin, but I like this eyeliner pen." Yves Saint Laurent Effet Faux Cils Shocking Eyeliner in No. 1 Black, $34

4. "These have a soft texture that can go smudgy if you want." Marc Jacobs Beauty Highliner Gel Crayon in (from left) (Plum)Age, Intro(Vert), and (Wave)Length, $25 each

This article appears in the October issue of Marie Claire, on newsstands now

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