Singer-songwriter , 30, has come long way since she first rose to fame on 12 years ago.
She’s the show’s only alumni to have a number one hit and is in constant demand collaborating with the world’s biggest DJs, such as and .
Here, in a searingly honest interview, she talks about her turbulent 20s and why performing was a pinch-me moment…
The title of your new album Believe Me Now? is very symbolic, isn’t it?
Yeah, it really feels like everything’s come together. It’s been the maturing of somebody that completely lost themselves in their 20s but has now turned 30 and has a much better understanding of sense of self.
The title of the album can be taken in many different ways but I definitely feel like it’s a message to myself. I feel like I’m doing the right thing, I’m being received well and I don’t have to look for a new job!
Have you felt a shift since turning 30?
My 20s were so I’m very glad to get to a place where I know who my friends are, my family are healthy, my relationship’s in a better place and I know who I am. I’m a lot more confident and comfortable in my own skin, and that’s been really helped my music, too; I’m so much more focused.
You’ve written about some very personal experiences – True Colours is about when you were assaulted.
Once we’d collated the album, I realised the theme was very much loneliness and how isolated I’d been feeling from a lot of different things. I’ve drawn a lot of inspiration from growing up. My relationship is so beautiful now.
I met my fella (Charlie Gardner) when I was 22 after I had a sexual assault when I was 21 but went to the police when I was 25 having broken up (with Charlie), then we got back together when I was 26.
I went through a lot of stuff in my 20s that I had no idea how to talk about, then I realised I could be very articulate in my music.
You’ve done so many amazing collaborations, like with Tiesto and David Guetta. Who have you been most excited about?
I was listening to David Guetta’s music when I was barely even a teenager. His career has been so monumentally huge that it was amazing to get to work with him and have him feature on my record.
It’s the same with Chase & Status. Performing Disconnect with them at the Brits was one of my favourite performances this year.
You’re part of a movement where women are finally being treated as equals in the world of dance music…
When I first started out when I was 18/19, there were no other woman really doing it.
There are still no female DJs as big as David Guetta or Calvin Harris but it’s so lovely to see the floodgates open. You don’t just have to be a singer-songwriter, you can be a producer-DJ. That’s been the most powerful thing, to see more women putting a flag in the ground.
We’re showing the world we can do it and we can do it just as well, if not better. I was the first female resident of Ibiza Rocks last year, which was quite incredible but also quite sad.
You sound really close to your mum…
My parents didn’t have a lot when I was growing up, and they gave me everything they possibly could so I want to pay them back. I bought them a little cottage in Wales and they’re living out a lovely retired life.
Before that, my grandparents were incredibly ill and my mum started losing her hair. She was holding down a job and my father was working in financial advising, which he found so stressful. I said, ‘This has got to stop. I need you and so do my four brothers and sisters.’
I think the greatest gift is being able to see my parents live the life I’ve always wanted them to live.
How have you changed since The Voice?
It’s so nice to look back on that who was on a train going down to the public auditions in Birmingham on my own. It’s probably taken more time than that 17-year-old expected.
But I think patience has been the real making of me, to understand that things don’t happen overnight and that persistence and resilience are important factors in life.
Tell us about being Project Icon judge…
The contestants were to how I was when I was doing it, but in certain cases not so different. It was really nice to draw parallels to my experience and to see how they were getting on. That show really prepared people much more realistically for the music industry, I felt.
What’s been your most pinch-yourself moment so far?
last year was pretty special. I’d never been and I vowed that I wouldn’t go until I was playing, so it was a huge moment for me. I went as a punter for three days before I stepped on stage and it was really valuable to get to know what Glastonbury was like.
Believe Me Now? is out now
