Kate Nash is England’s hottest pop export since Lily Allen, with hit “Foundations” and other tracks from her debut album “Made of Bricks” in heavy radio rotation across the States.

She’s also the main attraction tonight at Seattle’s Showbox at the Market. So we caught up with the rising Brit star when she phoned from a recent Chicago tour stop. And here’s some of what she had to say.

It’s been a pretty big year for you. What’s changed most in your day to day life?

I guess where I am, today, like not being at home and not seeing my friends and stuff.

Is that a difficult thing for you?

You get used to it. But I think it’s difficult to keep it altogether and, like, maintain relationships.

You’re an example of an artist that has built a fan base through MySpace. At this point in your career, do you make a point to communicate with fans directly?

Yeah, I think that’s really important to me, actually. I think it’s most important, because you never know what’s gonna be written about you in the press.

So it’s like a direct pipeline?

Yeah, that’s really important.

I’ve read in the British media where the critics have been more brutal. Do you read that sort of thing?

God, no. No way. I totally avoid it. I never read anything. I think it’s dumb to read anything. It just drives you insane. …

I don’t need to read anyone who doesn’t know me or doesn’t know anything about me write something. I think a lot of the times it can be really dodgy. It’s not even about the music so much. It can be really personal, and I don’t need to hear that.

Your songs sound personal and kind of confessional. Are they based on things that happened to you?

Sometimes it’s an amalgamation of people’s lives. And sometimes it’s, like, your experience. I think there’s gotta be truth in it. There’s gotta be truth in what you write even if you … make stuff up.

I’ve read in a couple of recent reviews that you have some new songs you’ve been playing on the road.

Oh, yeah. I’ve been playing a lot of new songs just to keep it interesting for me, really.

What are some of the new song titles?

One’s called “Doo Wah Doo.” One’s called “Pickpocket.” One’s called “I Hate Seagulls.”

Your album came out pretty recently in the States. Is the follow up something you’ve started to plan?

I haven’t started to plan. It’s far too early. … I’m not ready mentally to go into another album campaign and tour. I need a break. I need to go home and chill out and write new stuff. You need to experience life to write. I need to be doing normal stuff. I need to be going and inspiring myself.

Ernest A. Jasmin: 253-274-7389

What: The NME Awards tour, featuring Kate Nash (all-ages show)

When: 8 p.m. today

Where: Showbox at the Market, 1426 First Ave., Seattle

Tickets: $17.50 in advance, $20 day of show (few if any tickets remain)

Information: 206-628-3151 or www.showboxonline.com