Alexandra Burke‘s new Fabulous magazine shoot sees her pose it up with a bed of roses. And yet, conversely, the last 12 months have been anything but that for the talented songstress.
Characterised by family drama, a departure from longtime label SyCo, and a polarizing X Factor guest judging spot, the 23 year old is rising above the taxing time with the release of new single ‘Elephant’ and her sophomore album.
Peep excerpts from the insightful interview after the jump, where more pics from the shoot also await.
On Leaving SyCo / Simon Cowell:
“It’s been a learning curve and the whole thing with Simon Cowell was hard. He always told me he respected the fact that when he made a decision I didn’t agree with, I would call a meeting to argue my point.
But he’s so busy and I’m high-maintenance as an artist because I want everything to be better and better. We agreed it was best for me to move. I still think he’s an incredible person. I’ve learnt a lot about business from him and I’ve always respected his honesty”.
On The :Backlash” From Her X Factor Judging:
“It’s fine, it’s a TV show, it’s a bit of pantomime. Take it for what it is and don’t take any of it to heart.
You have to grow a really thick skin if you want to survive in this business, and you have to learn to keep on going whatever people are saying. It’s tough, but you have to get tougher. I’m a very different person today from that the girl who won X Factor in 2008.”
On Life After Winning The X Factor:
“You’re so protected when you do that series. It’s like the winning is everything and then it ends and you realise what it’s actually all about is being good, surviving, taking your opportunity and making it work.
[I would constantly Google myself] I was totally obsessed. I wanted to see what people were saying about me. I would only take notice of the bad things. I’d browse forums and look at all these awful things that were written.
After a few months, I had sent myself into depression. My management stepped in and basically banned me from reading anything about myself. I forced myself to focus on positive stuff.
I also accepted that not everyone is going to like me. I’m a strong character, I am who I am. If everyone thought I was great there would be something wrong. Loads of people hated me on X Factor, but a lot of people liked me, too. At least I made an impression. At least I wasn’t boring. I honestly don’t care what people say any more, but it’s been tough to get to this point because you have to go through a lot of upset.”
On Friendship With Beyonce:
“I sent a message to her PA after Blue Ivy was born and got a nice note back. She’s a real inspiration. I was in New York a few months ago and she found out and sent me a message telling me to get my behind down to a perfume launch she was having.
I met up with her and her mum and Jay-Z. That woman has got absolute class.”
——————-
Alex’s epic new single ‘Elephant’ arrives at digital outlets on March 12th via RCA / Sony Music.
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A power house Vocalist, and we all do love
Beyonce and would love her more if it was
not for SOME of her deg=ranged fans who
always seem to want to always spread
hate for Others in the Industry for no reason
at all. My goodness it’s good to support your
favorite artist but my goodness do they always
have to try and pit them 16 grammy’s aganist
the entire music world, always like people have
forgotten that she have those 16 grammys.
I Am waiting for some deranged beyonce fan running
red light’s to rush up in the house to tell ALEXANDER
That beyonce have got 16 Grammy’s though,,,,,LOL…
@LAX u can love beyonce without paying attention to delusional stans. i stan for BEY but i also love rihanna and gaga and i dont down them just to up beyonce. i just prefer beyonce over them all but i give credit where credit is due.
Good call on leaving Simon, he doesnt care about artist development. Flop once n he dunps u,he has no passion for music. It’s all business to him. Thats not terribly wrong if he’d stay behind the scenes and not misrepresent himself on tv
@Lax
The exact same thing can be said about u rihanna fans. We never hear enough of 11 no1s. Have u ever thought that maybe Beyonce fans wont be as defensive if the utmost most devilish things arent said about her by absolute strangers. Rih n Chris Brown may take to twitter to defend themselves but Beyonce doesnt feed into negativity so her fans have a right to be vocal.
It takes two to tango!
@Rob75…..PREACH! I love Beyonce but i also love Whitney, Mariah, Celine and plenty more! Some people just luv to start trouble.
LOVED her honesty! wish her all the best ..
Respect her honesty.
Bey is so sweet.
im sorry but i dont get where it shows she is friends with beyonce..if ur friends then u dont need to hve to contact her team to get to her u wld hve her number..i think its more like aquaintancies..or know each other but it not on a friendship level..sorry..
Alex did the right thing sending a congratulations note, women do not want to be bothered after giving birth. Beyonce and Alex have stayed in touch and are friends they meet up when they are in the same city. Great interview.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2040369/Pregnant-Beyonce-Knowles-debuts-Beyonce-Pulse-fragrance-Bloomingdales-New-York-City.html
Goof for Alex I am so pleased she left rubbish Syco and hope she gets more control of her career.Bless Beyonce is a sweetheart and I wish the both of them the best for 2012,hope they rule the charts.
She got a huge voice so im hoping this move is for the better and branches her more internationally
@JJENN
When you’re a busy woman like Beyonce, the only way to get a hold of her would be through her team. Except for close people like her sis, mom, dad, Jay, Kelly, Michelle.
She said she was friends NOT close buddies, that hangs out everyday.
I love Alex, and I want her to land on her feet. I’m so glad the ladies of Destiny’s Child have so much class with mentoring or keeping connection with new artists (Kelly with Amelia and Misha B; Beyonce with Alex).
Alex is my girl,best of luck to her.
@LAX stfup
leona lewis better be taking notes from Alexandra gurl….SyCO is not the way forward for any musician looking to have a long future…word
A very honest interview, and a good decision to leave SYCO if you want to grow as an artist and do different things. Wishing Alexandra good luck for 2012.
That’s sweet of Alexandra. Gotta love Bey!
LOL @LAX. Not the boy/girl wutevadafuk who’s “team” throws out disparaging remarks about BEYONCE on a REGULAR. Beyonce is the ONLY artist who can not have blond hair. Beyonce is the ONLY artist not allowed to give birth. Beyonce is the ONLY artist not allowed to step outside. Beyonce is the ONLY artist not allowed to be in love. Can’t speak for everyone but I WILL speak for myself. You come for Bey.. I come for your fave. It isn’t my fault the heaux sound like a dying cat being molested in a rain storm by two goats when she sings. Rihgress did as she pleased UNTIL her fans started coming for Beyonce. Turnabout is fair play hoss. YOU trash Bey I trash Rihcycle. Simple as that. See how that works?
Don’t nobody give halfa fukk how you feel or what you think about Bey fans… We seen Rihcopy’s transformation into a WANNA-BUT-WILL-NEVER-BEY, just like YOU DID.
stfu and twirl on a rusty picaxe 😀 get yo LIFE
@LAX…. the thing is on a beyonce post who makes the 1st comment most of the times a HATER they keep their page on the grape juice open day and night all hrs just too see a beyonce post and like an alarm does ring off and they does all charge too her page
but when its not its her fans and its only when u all does come in with the UTTER BULL S*** U ALL DOES WANNA PASS OFF AS FACTS..WANTING TOO MAKE US BELIEVE THAT SO CALLED “TRUTH” IN THE END U ALL DOES COME OUT LOOKING LIKE A BUNCH OF DUMB ASSES
SAME WITH A HOEANNA PAGE HER FANS DOES EVEN TURN ON BEYONCE ON HER NEWS PAGE…. SO PATHETIC AND UTTERLY LAME OF THOSE LOSERS
QUEEN B IS FOREVER @LAX