British singer Paloma Faith has credited Prince with supporting her as she recorded her new album, calling the funk icon's approval "validating".

The Purple Rain hitmaker became a mentor to the pop star while she worked on her latest release Fall To Grace, and she admits his advice was invaluable.

She tells Britain's Daily Mirror, "Obviously, it could be here today, gone today. If my album was dreadful, Prince would have lost interest very quickly. But I found his support validating because it made me feel confident to do the best I can. And I have."

Prince befriended Faith after she opened for him at a concert in Copenhagen, Denmark last summer (11), and she was left speechless when he joined her onstage during her set.

She recalls, "Suddenly the crowd went absolutely mental. I looked round and saw that Prince had pulled up a chair onstage and was sitting there bopping his head to the music. The band were all mouthing, 'It's Prince!'"

Another beautiful artist Prince christened...