The UK have now seemingly adopted America export Ashley Roberts, and if you're wondering if the bubbly, down to earth and loveable personality is truly what she's all about, you're in for a treat, as she's one of the nicest interviewees we've spoken to.
Soon to be releasing her debut solo single, she's getting back into the music industry after a very successful run on British television, and looks busier than ever.
We got the chance to chat to Ashley about her new music, whether she'd be open to joining any other talent show panels and much more in the interview below.
How do you feel branching out as a solo artist?
It's exciting, it's nervewracking, it's a little of everything. I think I'm probably feeling everything that's natural to break out on my own. I'm grateful for the experiences that I've had, but now I'm super excited about doing my own thing, and yeah - it's rewarding too, to be able to have a creative input; I get to throw my stories into my music and all that, so, it feels right, it feels like the right timing.
Is the energy different at all, in the recording studio?
Well yeah, of course it's definitely different because it's just me, and I get to kind of - we didn't really get to have the opportunity to write on the album with the girls and Dolls so - I get to tell my story now, I get to have my input and have a creative say, and that just is rewarding when you put it out there. It's scary, because it's your own art, but it's rewarding as well.
You mentioned the creative process, how is that process for you?
I enjoy it. I mean, it's a little of everything. For different songs it's a different process; a different producer; a different energy, and it's just been really cool now to get to sit here and talk about it, seeing it come into fruition and really happening, and when I get in the studio depending on who I'm with I just kind of get into a zone, and then you unfold a song afterwards, it's kind of cool! (laughs)
You recently released the music video for your lead single 'Clockwork', how was the experience of filming that?
Oh, it was - I was excited to be honest! The night before I went to bed I was really excited, music videos have always been like the fun part for me. It was really cool.
We shot it at this old mansion about an hour out of London, and it was just fun. It was cool and I feel like we accomplished what I really wanted to which was kind of like a cinematic story of the relationship that's happening, and kind of do an artsy - we were thinking colours along the scheme of 'Drive', the movie, so I feel like we accomplished what we were trying to do.
What do you want to convey through the video?
Well it's about that relationship that you kind of keep going back to and you know you shouldn't, but it's exciting and it's passionate and it might leave you scarred a bit!
One of those where you're like: 'I shouldn't be doing this, but, I am!' (laughs)
How would you say you've evolved as an artist since your days with The Pussycat Dolls?
I just think I've grown up as a human being, and just figuring out who I am as just myself. For seven years I was part of a brand and a group and just venturing out, I did turn the other direction when I left the group and I was like: 'Who am I? What do I wanna do? What do I wanna say? What kind of music do I wanna make? Do I wanna make music? What kind of artist am I?', and I just feel like over the past couple of years, the experiences in my life have shaped the artist that I am and the person that I am today, and I feel like I have a lot more awareness of who I am and what I wanna say and just, what kind of life I wanna live and stuff, so, it's a lot of lessons.
Do we have a name yet for your album?
We do have a name! I can't reveal it unfortunately but it will be hopefully revealed soon.
We'll have second single beginning of August and then album will be released late summer.
Brilliant, so what should fans expect from this record as a whole?
It's - you know there's different sounds and different inspirations and different stories. It's not one particular thing - I didn't wanna feel like I had to be put in a box of a label of what I am or what kind of music I make, so theere's a little bit of everything on there, all facets of my personality get to come out and play! (laughs)
Will you be touring to support the album?
Yeah, I'm gonna be doing some radio shows over the summer to promote the single and the album and everything, and then I'll definitely be popping on some more live stuff for sure.
The UK have really taken you into their hearts since your time on I'm A Celebrity, how does that feel?
Yeah, it feels amazing. Beyond any expectations I had and I'm so grateful for it because it's allowed me to have a platform to get to do what I really love to do, and I just sometimes have to pinch myself. There's so many amazing things happening in my life right now and I just feel very blessed to be able to have that opportunity and the UK has provided that.
You take care of Ant Versus Dec on Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway - I know they're taking it on the road, will you be involved with that?
(laughs) I don't know! We'll have to see.
With Dancing on Ice now at an end, can you see yourself joining any other television panels for shows like that?
If the opportunity came up I definitely would be open for it. I enjoyed doing that and it's something fun, so if it came up again I definitely would.
Do you think there could ever be a Pussycat Dolls reunion?
I don't know. Everybody asks that and I have the same response because it's never say never, the door isn't closed but at the moment I think we're all focusing on our own individual journeys and paths.
Finally, do you have any other projects in the works that you can share some details about?
Well, I have a perfume that I just launched which is really exciting, and you can get that at keyfashion.co.uk or Argos and perfume shops and all that good stuff.
You can pre-order the single it comes out the 25th of May, I'm super excited about that, and then I have a few other things in the pipeline I can't quite talk about, but it's gonna be an amazing and busy year, and a lot of stuff going on.
'Clockwork' is released May 25th through Metropolis Music.
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