LONG ROAD TO SUCCESS: Fleur is enjoying a UK top-three hit with her latest single.

By Geoffrey Rowlands


It was ten years ago that the then 17-year-old Fleur East competed in the second series of British television’s X Factor. With her childhood friends Nicola Owusu-Akontoh, Stephanie Yamson and Vivienne Umeh, London-born Fleur was a member of the vocal quartet Addictiv Ladies.
Now 28 and currently enjoying a UK top three hit with her latest single, Sax, Fleur still bristles with indignation when remembering the devastation she and her friends suffered after being the first act eliminated from the show. They were sent packing by the casting vote of judge Louis Walsh. Fleur insists his vote was an act of revenge against their mentor, Simon Cowell.
“It was cruel and malicious to pick on a young group of girls like us,” Fleur insisted. “Louis Walsh and Simon had been arguing about various artists for a while. With Simon mentoring us, we were sure Louis voted as he did just to spite Simon.”
Only Louis knows if Fleur’s allegation is true. However, he had previously suggested Addictiv Ladies were “amateurish” and needed more vocal coaching. He had also said they were “really good fun but not ready for the big time.”
Louis’ words were prophetic. The group eventually broke up while Fleur attempted to forge a solo career around university studies which saw her gain a degree in journalism and history.
In 2011, she was hired by drum and bass producer DJ Fresh as the vocalist for his BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge session and subsequently sung on Turn It Up, a track on his 2012 album, “Nextlevelism.”
“I learned a lot from working with DJ Fresh. I toured with him and performed at various music festivals. It was like doing my apprenticeship in the business.”
Not that Fleur had been inactive since the demise of Addictiv Ladies. She had performed street dancing, worked on several diverse musical projects and sung backing vocals on tour with Leona Lewis.
“This other stuff had made me realise my burning desire to have a career in music. The big difference in working with DJ Fresh was being the focal point of our performances. The tickets might have been sold because it was a DJ Fresh show but he doesn’t sing so it was my responsibility to present each song in the right way.”
A solo deal with Strictly Rhythm Records saw Fleur release two singles, Broken Mirror and Turn The Lights On. Neither made any impression on the charts. It was a similar story for singles by Horx & P3000, Cicada and Wideboys on which Fleur was the featured vocalist. Only One in a Million by Drumsound & Bassline Smith, which reached number 53, gave her any taste of chart success.
“I’d actually given away my 2013 EP, ‘She,’ but still couldn’t seem to build a significant following. I was working as a waitress and a fitness model just to earn some money. My music career was going nowhere. I felt really depressed and was on the verge of giving up my dreams until my friends and family persuaded me to audition for the 2014 series of X Factor.”
Now in the ‘Over 25s’ category, Fleur was again mentored by Simon Cowell. There was nothing amateurish about her performances this time with her rendition of Mark Ronson’s Uptown Funk being hailed as “truly astonishing.”
She eventually finished runner-up to pop/rock vocalist Ben Haenow but earned the reward of a recording contract with Simon Cowell’s Syco label. Most of this year has been spent working on the songs for her debut album, “Love, Sax and Flashbacks.”
“I did the X Factor concert tour and then divided my time between London and Los Angeles writing and recording the album. The songs have all kinds of old school influences, funk, hip hop, soul, and are packed with energy and attitude.”
Lead single, Sax, had the benefit of being used in a television commercial for a supermarket. But it was Fleur’s outstanding presentation of the song on a recent X Factor Results Show that attracted enormous critical acclaim. Some even suggested it was the best performance ever seen on any UK talent show.
“Being on X Factor changed my life. The first experience wasn’t so good but I found the determination to continue in the music business, kept trying to improve and then made a second attempt. All the contestants, whether they do well or not, should use me as an example. You do get a second chance if you need it and the show really can make you a star.”
in brief
Missy Elliott

It was 2012 when we last heard new material from Missy Elliott. Triple Threat and Ninth Inning were intended as promotional singles for her seventh studio album, “Block Party,” which is still being recorded. The songs were iTunes-only downloads but sold well enough to reach numbers 34 and 43 respectively on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip Hop Digital Songs chart.
Missy is back again now though with a new single, WTF (Where They From). Also featuring Pharrell Williams, who was instrumental in Missy’s return to the studio, the official video can be seen at www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO_3Qgib6RQ
“Pharrell called me after I did a guest spot on Katy Perry’s half-time show at the last Super Bowl. He wanted to know what I was doing. I was cleaning my house at the time but he said people were missing me and I should be working on new songs.
“I felt so nervous before releasing the WTF video. Something special is always expected in my videos. It was such a relief to read so many positive comments. My new album won’t be too long now so I hope the response to that will be just as good.”

Cobra Starship

Fans will be saddened by the news that American dance pop quintet Cobra Starship have broken up.
The decision was taken solely by founder member, lead vocalist and bass player Gabe Saporta. In a statement on the band’s website, Gabe wrote, “There was something magical about how everything came together. However, I know that sometimes when things go on for too long, that magic can start to fade. I would rather close this chapter of our lives and be able to look back on it fondly than allow something that means so much to us stagnate.”
Cobra Starship released four studio albums, “While The City Sleeps, We Rule The Streets,” “Viva La Cobra,” “Hot Mess” and “Night Shades.” They are all posted in full on YouTube.

Atmosphere

Hip hop duo Atmosphere have been making music for 26 years. Rapper Slug, real name Sean Daley, and DJ/producer Ant, full name Anthony Davis, have released eight studio albums and numerous EPs all on their own Rhymesayers label.
The label celebrates its 20th anniversary with a concert on December 4 at the Target Centre in Atmosphere’s home city of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Every artist on the label will be performing with Atmosphere creating a new track, This Lonely Rose, especially to mark the event.
The new song features guest appearances by label mates Aesop Rock and Blueprint. It is the latest of many postings at (no www.) soundcloud.com/rhymesayers. The website showcases Atmosphere’s own work along with output by all Rhymesayers artists. Numerous tracks can be downloaded for free.

Spodee

Rapper Spodee recently left TI’s Grand Hustle label having never released an album during his six-year tenure. He claimed Grand Hustle had not given him the opportunity to become the solo artist he wanted to be.
Judge for yourself what Grand Hustle might have missed by checking out his three “Trench Muzik” mixtapes. They can all be heard and downloaded for free at www.datpiff.com. Type Spodee Trench Muzik in the website search box to access links to each mixtape.