What’s the new single called?

COMEBACK. I wrote it when I was 16, so it’s a few years old. I’ve always loved the track, but I never knew how people were going to respond to it. It’s got a very strong meaning, people can really relate to it.

It’s about catching someone cheating on you?

Yes. The guy I wrote it about didn’t actually cheat on me, but I wrote the song for all the people who get taken advantage of and screwed over by people they’re in relationships with. Not enough people are saying, ‘No, enough of this’, so it’s motivational.

The video has you and your friends marching around an ex’s house. Is that something you would do?

It is an illusion, at the end of the video you see that I didn’t really do that. It’s meant to represent what’s going through my mind, and what everyone wants to do when they’ve been messed around by someone or find out bad news. The first thing that goes through your mind is revenge, I think, materialistic or emotional.

How does releasing your own music compare to being a guest vocalist?

It definitely feels different, mainly because I’m on my own. With Rudimental, I could ring them up and ask what they were doing and what they were thinking, but now the spotlight is very much on me. I was very lucky to be a part of Rudimental’s success, and Naughty Boy, so I thank them for letting me. I’ve only ever wanted to be a solo artist though, and there feels like there’s a lot riding on this. If anything, that makes it more exciting and makes me dream bigger.

You went to the Brit School. How long before that did you want to be a singer?

Not long. I started out as a musical theatre student, so that’s what I wanted to go into. I’m not from a musical background, so I didn’t know how to approach it. It wasn’t until I was studying at the Brit School that someone said, ‘You should try to be a recording artist’ that the idea came into my head.

What made you not want to be in musicals?

I always wanted to be in the West End and it was my dream to one day be a leading lady. I loved musical theatre and I still do, but it wasn’t until my last year at school that I realised how hit and miss the whole thing is. There were so few jobs and roles and, realistically, I was never going to get to the level that I wanted to be at.

I felt I had things to write about. Singing other people’s songs isn’t the same.

What would’ve been your dream role?

Something in The Lion King, definitely. I think my performing style would be right for it too.

When will your album be ready?

It’s almost ready, and we’re looking to release it early next year. I’ve got a lot to do before then, I’ve got my tour in October, then I’m going on tour with Bastille for three weeks around America. I’ve been so fortunate to get in this position, I sold out my first UK tour earlier this year without having released a single of my own, so that was amazing. I’m supporting Basement Jaxx at the O2 London, so I can’t wait for that. I’ve got a lot to look forward to.

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