All-round star Alesha Dixon chats to Louise Cummings about going solo and fulfilling her dreams.
Growing up, Alesha Dixon had the same recurring dream. Like most youngsters with stars in their eyes, she dreamt of becoming a pop star, singing to an adoring crowd of arm-waving fans. “Every night I’d go to bed and dream of being on stage or singing,” she confides. “I thought that if I dreamt it enough times I’d make it happen. They do say that if you visualise yourself doing something, and put out the right energy, you can make it happen.” It’s certainly this fearless female’s positive attitude and steely determination which has seen her survive an emotional rollercoaster, from the success of her days in the trailblazing girl band Mis-Teeq, through her marriage break-up with cheating husband So Solid Crew’s Harvey, to being dropped by her record label.
But, in true star style, she has picked herself up, dusted herself off and more than made a comeback after cha cha cha-ing to the finals of Strictly Come Dancing and then waltzing off with the glittering first prize; launching a platinum-selling comeback album The Alesha Show and tackling one of the world’s most arduous mountains, helping to raise millions for Comic Relief.
“I’m so determined about things I do that if I put my mind to something I won’t quit. Like when I lost my record deal; to me that wasn’t the end of my career. I thought ok, you’ve met a hurdle, get on with it, correct it, make it work, make it better – and therefore I just pick myself up and carry on,” she says.
“I think since the days of Mis-Teeq I’ve had this ability to see the beauty of what I do. I’ve never not been grateful, since I was 18 and I first started singing; I’ve always known I was very lucky to be doing something that I enjoy, so I do appreciate my job. Life is too short so you have to do things that make you happy.”
When I catch up with Alesha in a hotel room in Cardiff shortly before she goes on stage at the Millennium Stadium to support Latino heartthrob Enrique Iglesias, she is as bubbly and dazzling
as her on-screen persona, yet wonderfully down-to-earth. She is seemingly still stunned by the success of her comeback; since signing a new record deal with Xenomania (the production outfit behind Girls Aloud) she has seen her album The Alesha Show go platinum.
“I’m really pleased with the way it’s all going,” she smiles. “The album is still up there, and I am chuffed. There’s no guarantees in this industry but so far so good. We’ve been put on all the big festivals for this year, the Vs and Radio 1’s Big Weekend so I’m extremely happy and blessed that the album has come out.”
See Alesha perform with Lemar and Estelle at Newmarket Nights, June 26th, at the July Course, Newmarket.
For tickets and details of the other acts on at Newmarket Nights log onto www.newmarketracecourses.co.uk or call 0844 579 3010.
Alesha plays Cambridge Corn Exchange on November 2nd. For tickets call the box office on 01223 357851.
Full story in Cambridge Style - June 2009.
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