Nicola Roberts will be releasing single 'Lucky Day' later this month, with her solo album Cinderella's Eyes to follow.
Her outfit in the single's video drew a bit of controversy, but Nicola has taken it in her stride.
We chatted to the singer about the video, the upcoming album and spending time in the studio.
-'Lucky Day' comes out in a couple of weeks. Could you tell us a bit about the track?
It's a track I wrote with Dragonette. I actually wrote it in February 2010, a long time ago now. It's a romantic reference, with a down-beat track underneath. The top-line's quite cute and girly.
-How was it working with Dragonette on the track?
Amazing. I was with them for quite a while writing, and they were the first people that I went in with when I started making the record. I learnt a lot from them. They're really lovely people, they work really hard, they're so talented.
-You received a bit of cricism for the video. Did that bother you at all?
No. Not at all. I'm not safe with fashion, and I haven't been for a long time. I liked it, and everybody on the team liked it on the day. It was 120 degrees, so anything longer, I'd have died!
-How's the reaction been to the track from your fans?
It's been really good. It's totally different to 'Beat of My Drum'. It's important for me to show that the album is quite diverse. There are different sounds on there, and different subjects.
'Lucky Day' felt like the right one to go with next. We haven't had much of a summer, but it feels like a summer track and the reaction's been really good.
-You mentioned that the album will be quite diverse. Where do you draw on for your influences?
I got listening to loads of music when I was making the album, because I wanted my horizons to be really wide. I didn't want to go into making a record and not accept a sound because I wasn't used to it.
So, I was listening to all kinds of stuff, so that I wouldn't be adverse to anything that came along. I was listening to a lot of rap music. I really like the lyrics that means something, real-life lyrics.
-Do you think the diversity will surprise some fans once they pick it up?
I don't know, I don't know what people expect. It's hard to say. We'll have to wait and see.
-You said you wrote 'Lucky Day' last year, and I'd assume a lot of the other tracks too. Has it been hard sitting on them for so long?
It has been hard. It's such a long time since I wrote it. Now I've got a video and released it, it's found a new life with me. Although I'm used to hearing it, the people who support me aren't.
-How did you find the whole song-writing process?
Amazing. I loved it. Everyday I miss making that album. I genuinely do.
-Had you done a lot of song-writing before those sessions?
I used to write at home a lot. I used to write a bit for Girls Aloud. When the band first went on the break, that's one of the first things I said. I wanted to get better at it. I wanted to be at the studio non-stop, and learn. It's just amazing that I had the opportunity to do that.
-Is there anything in particular that you've learnt from what you've done so far?
Loads of stuff. Like, understanding making music better. Song-writing in general, and vocally I've learnt a lot about myself. I want to get better and keep learning. When I have a day off from promotion, I'll go into the studio and keep working on music.
-There's one cover on the album. What made you pick 'Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime'?
The lyrics mean a lot to me. I identified with the song in general. It might not be powerful to everybody, but it's powerful to me. I wanted to do it, I love the song.
-With the amount of writing you've done, some of the songs will be quite personal. Are you nervous putting those feelings out there?
Not really. I'm quite open about the way I feel about things. It's inevitable that if you write an album or a song, obviously it's going to come from how you feel. You're writing it for yourself, it's just the way it is.
-How did you find it working solo compared to being in a band?
It's very different in every way, actually. Obviously making the album was very different, and even just day-to-day is different. There's not five of us, it's just me. You have to take everything on, and when you make a decision, you have to be sure it's the right one.
-Do you have any plans to get back with Girls Aloud, or are you taking each day as it comes?
It's our 10th Anniversary next year, so we should be celebrating that together.
-What do you have planned for the rest of the year?
We're just taking it as it comes. The album's out at the end of September, and the single's out on the 18th. There's lots of promotion. There's lots planned, we're just taking it as it comes and enjoying it.
Female First - Alistair McGeorge
Tagged in Girls Aloud Nicola Roberts