Lily Allen has confirmed she plans to take time off from recording and performing, starting next spring.

The singer said she planned to use the time to set-up a rental fashion store and a record label, which will promote new artists.

"My last gig is my Dizzee Rascal concert at the O2 [Arena in London] in March. That's the last thing I've got planned,” she told BBC Radio 1.

"I'm just going to concentrate on doing some behind the scenes sort of stuff."

Allen, who was discovered via MySpace, also spoke about her decision to take a step back from technology, describing herself a “neo-luddite”.

"I've stopped everything, I haven't got a computer and I haven't got a blackberry. I don't do emails or anything now," she said.

"I've decided to stop being so hypocritical and consume things and pay for them. I buy music in vinyl and buy newspapers. I support the industry I'm in."

Allen said she and her sister planned to open a “democratic” rental fashion store, while her label would sign new bands at “a really early level”.

"I don't want to compete with other record companies but I want to support new artists,” she added.

Tickets for the singer's joint gig with Dizzee Rascal are on sale now.

(by Jason Gregory)