Cheryl


Tells Us About Her New Album


“I’ve grown as a person and an artist, you can hear that in my music. I feel brand new,” explains Cheryl, who’s become an entity in her own right since she unknowingly left Newcastle, over a decade ago, to supply some of pop cultures finest moments throughout the noughties. “I’m bullet proof…. I feel as hard as the times I’ve had but I think everything happens for a reason, even if you can’t always say what that reason is.”


On the eve of a new era, Cheryl’s looking forward to (booty) shaking off her 20’s with her third studio offering, A Million Lights, a body of work that indicates an advancement in both her confidence and maturity.


Cheryl’s sold over 10 million records, her debut single ‘Fight For This Love’ even going to number 1 in 10 countries. In a further nod of approval, Grammy award winner Adele also performed a live version of Cheryl’s chart-topping hit ‘Promise This’. Then there’s Cheryl’s two Brit Nominations, an accolade she’s hoping to build on with her latest release.


Sonically, A Million Lights draws heavily from Cheryl’s preferred R&B playlists - Beyonce and Erykah Badu all on shuffle - whilst also taking off-road trips into the dance tent, as witnessed on offerings from Calvin Harris (‘Call My Name’) and the preferred dub-effects of newbies like Panther (‘Girl In The Mirror’).


“As soon as I heard the intro to the Calvin track I knew I had to have it. I love the energy of it and it’s the perfect introduction to summer,” she says of ‘Call My Name’.


Having picked from a slew of beats to pen to and songs that captured her imagination, Cheryl’s had nearly a year in the studio, working with a vast array of production talent, resulting in a powerful new chapter in her already impressive discography.


“A Million Lights just felt right as the title track because it’s about how I feel – light and nice.” A sweet ballad if ever you’ve heard one, it further showcases Cheryl’s ability to channel vulnerability into the mix. “I could have picked 30 tracks I loved enough to put on this album. Since I started working on it last summer, July time, I literally went on a mission.”


22 full on!


And we can’t be forgetting will.i.am, whose relationship with Cheryl spans mentor, friend, manager, producer and collaborator.


“Will is a crazy genius. He said to me three years ago the next popstars will be DJs... Enter David Guetta, Calvin Harris et al… Will’s got amazing foresight and he’s super smart, he looks at me with an outside perspective and has really encouraged me, especially as a writer. But I don’t care if people know I wrote six songs on the first album or not. It can take a lifetime to master your craft and for me that’s getting on stage and performing, entertaining the crowd with a song. I live for that. Sometimes for a songwriter that’s their worst nightmare. This album feels like a match made in heaven, and I’ve been able to work with some amazing talent.”


As to her favourite track on the album it’s the dubstep excursion ‘Girl In The Mirror’ that gets the nod.


“I kept singing it after I’d been sent it and I could really relate to the idea of arguing with yourself and ‘who are you’. It also goes back to my fans, the Soldiers, we’re always worrying about stuff and sometimes you need to stop stressing. Yes life expects you to be strong but sometimes you just need to chill...”


Indeed Cheryl confesses to being at her happiest with a cup of Newcastle’s finest Ringtons tea in hand (she’s currently sinking five cups a day), with an episode of Coronation Street on the go. Also whetting her appetite is the prospect of an Autumn tour, with three albums worth of material to be picking the ultimate pop-outing from.


“I am very aware of my ability, I know I’m no Mariah Carey but I think the emotion in the song is what matters. It’s making people feel what you’re singing about. This album is designed to entertain and I know when I take to the stage and I see a million little lights it really is game time.” Shine on.


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