X Factor: The Austin Drage Interview
Every X Factor reject has a busy day on the Monday after getting voted out – but none more than Austin Drage, who is at Number 1 in the singles chart with the Help For Heroes charity song. So this Monday is a little busier than usual, and we eventually catch up with Austin in the afternoon.
He’s getting a little tired out from all the questions, but we get what is possibly the most frank and honest X Factor interviews we’ve ever done.
Unreality TV: Harking back to Saturday night, one of Louis Walsh’s comments was that you were failing to connect with your audience.
To be honest with you, I thought that was a bit of a silly thing to say, because obviously I’ve connected with the audience every week since starting the competition. I’ve connected with the audience as much as anybody else, but I haven’t had the great songs that everybody else had, I haven’t been that lucky.
At the end of the night, did you feel cheated that Cheryl and Louis voted for Rachel based on her potential rather than her final performance?
Yeah, because I don’t think her potential is as much as mine, and I think I’ve showed plenty of potential since the first week. If they’d let it go to deadlock, I think I’d have ended up staying in the competition.
Rachel’s done one song well. I’ve done all my songs well, bar the last one, and that was a bad song on a night when it should have been a really funky song.
If you could’ve chosen your own song, what would you have sung?
I would have chosen Average White Band Let’s Go Round Again. It’s a great song.
And do you believe that song choice was the reason for you going?
Yeah, I believe that song put me in the bottom two. And I believe the fact that I was in the bottom two gave them the opportunity to vote me out rather than let it go to deadlock, which is what they should have done.
I wanted to ask you about that, because I would have thought you would be a threat to JLS
Yeah, I would have thought so. I mean, JLS are a great group, but I would have thought I’d be a threat to them.
And Simon now doesn’t have to worry about splitting votes between you and Eoghan…
I think with me gone, it leaves the market open for other people in the competition. But I think people should also be concentrating on what they can do when they’re out of the competition. I mean, I have an opportunity to release something now that I’m really proud of.
There was a rumour last week that Scott Bruton was thinking of challenging his X Factor contract, specifically the restriction on releasing any records until three months after the competition is over. Do you think that’s a fair term of the contract?
Well, you know, that’s the way the cookie crumbles – that’s the contract you were in and you knew what you were signing when you signed it. But hopefully I can get out of it sooner, I’ll be phoning my lawyer and see if I can get out of it sooner. We’ll see what happens.
(Note: It must be frustrating when you get voted out of X Factor, and everybody including the judges is telling you to get out there and use the publicity for your own good. But the one thing you really want to do – if you were serious about a career in music in the first place – is release a record! Unfortunately a restriction in the contract for contestants prevents them from releasing any music until 3 months after the show airs. Basically they can only gig and make personal appearances.)
So what will you be concentrating on now?
I’m going to focus on writing, producing and getting my face out there for people to know who I am and know that I am a talent. I think I just need to remind everybody what I did at boot camp and what I did back at the start and not what they tried to mould me into.
Yeah, I’d heard that you weren’t happy with the styling…
The haircut just wasn’t right. I tried to make it work, but it just wasn’t me.
I was reading today that you’re involved with a band called The Cameron. Can you tell us a bit more about that?
Yeah, we’re going to hopefully release something when I get back on my feet and hopefully everything will be all gravy when we get back together. We haven’t got a website or anything yet, we’re just waiting for everything to be ready to kind of jump out. I don’t want to give too much away at the moment.
What would have happened with the band if you’d won X Factor?
I’d have come out with the band still, for me it’s not a negative thing. I’m out of the competition now and I can take all the positives out of it.
Before you joined the X Factor, you had a lot of TV experience. Can you tell us a little bit about that?
Yeah, I’ve done Boys Will Be Girls, Snatch with Brad Pitt, I’ve done The Bill, Casualty and loads of other stuff. But to me it was important to get on something that really blew me up and got me in the public eye, and I think I’ve done that now. I want to get out there and push myself into the industry and get a single out, because I know I’m worthy of it.
On Saturday, Simon said to you “You probably have a girlfriend, I’ve probably got you in trouble”, which said to me that as a mentor, he doesn’t know much about you.
I don’t think he knew me as well as he thought he knew me. I mean, when he made the comment about me fancying one of the dancers, well of course, all of the dancers were gorgeous. I think that was just a flippant comment really.
Does he spend much time with you when he’s mentoring you?
No, not really. We’ve got a team that work with us on the actual show. Don’t get me wrong, he’s there, but we have to go through that team to get to him because he’s so busy. He’s not there all week, when you need to speak to him about a song.
But you’ve got your vocal coaches there as well, don’t you?
Yeah, but you don’t get much time with them, you don’t get much time with any of it. And it’s such a tight schedule to get everything right for Saturday night. There are weeks where I’d go on, they’d have a routine set out, then they’d take it away from me, and I’d have to learn something else, then end up going back to the original routine. It’s quite confusing when you’re worrying about sound, choreography and everything. It’s a lot tougher than people think.
Did you see yourself as competing against the other acts like Eoghan, Scott and JLS? Because you’re essentially appealing to the same group of voters.
No, I never thought of anyone as competition. I just thought “I’m in it to do my best and win it as best as I can.”
[Austin turns the tables on me at this point and asks me if I thought he should have gone out on Saturday. I explain that in our chart we said either Daniel or Rachel should have gone. Turns out we ranked him higher than Ruth Lorenzo too.]
You’ve been styled in a way you’re not happy with, and you’ve had to fit in with theme weeks that you’re not necessarily comfortable with. But what music inspires you and do you identify with?
I listen to a lot of BB King, Stevie Ray Vaughn. I listen to Guns N Roses, some soul like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder. I listen to a diverse amount of music, do you know what I mean? I love blues, I love soul, I love rock. I think X Factor stripped me of my musicality, because they tried to mould me, and I’m already moulded in what I do.
[We lapse into a bit of random banter about the Michael Jackson night, and he tells me that they played him the David Cooke (American Idol contestant) version of Billie Jean. I am suitably outraged and tell him to go and check out the Chris Cornell version which Cooke ripped off.
If he'd had a choice, Austin tells me he'd have sung The Way You Make Me Feel]
Finally…who’s your tip to win the show this year and why?
Laura White – because she’s really talented and she’s a musician and that’s what I want to see more of – more musicians playing music and not puppets. I wish her all the best of luck.
Chat about this on the Unreality TV Forum »
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November 4th, 2008 at 7:52 am
Wow… Someone’s bitter. What happened to his philosophy of ‘What’s done is done’? He needs to get over himself.
November 4th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Actually, I have to say, Austin was surprisingly frank during the interview, not bitter at all. I think he’s relieved to be free of the styling that he was uncomfortable with from the start, and he’s being quite pragmatic in that he’s looking to the future and what he can carve out with his band.
There’s no doubt that he’s very confident and sure of himself, but check out some of his clips with The Cameron on YouTube and I think you’ll find that’s justified.
November 4th, 2008 at 11:04 am
[...] Austin told Unreality TV: [...]
November 4th, 2008 at 11:38 am
I wish you all the best Austin. You are a top bloke and a real musician, not a puppet they wanted you to become.
November 4th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Austin is so right they stylised him to the hilt when everyone preferred the original persona .I think if he keeps his head down and doesnt get drawn into slanging matches he will definitely go far .
And he should never have been voted off in the first place think there was some tactical voting going on there!!!!!!!!!
November 4th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Very interesting and honest interview and he is right he should not have gone home. He should be proud of himself as he gave a good performance every week. Have to agree change the hairstyle.
November 4th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
It’s quite refreshing to read an interview where for once the contestant says what most people are actually thinking rather than nicing it up so they don’t offend the show. I’ve watched the clips of Austin’s stuff on youtube and he definately is better than what they were making him on the X factor. I hope he has a long successful career ahead of him
November 4th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
I really admire this interview because he is not afraid to say what he thinks. Austin should not have gone out on Saturday and i agree with Rachel and Daniel. I wish all the luck in the world to Austin and his band.
He’s a star!
x
November 4th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
AUSTIN will do better than all of the other contestants put together! He should have won the show! The only reason he didn’t is because “they” didn’t want him to! They want a puppy who has no mind of its own and not much experience in the world of music! Then “they” can change the puppy into something “they” want it to be! AUSTIN didn’t need the changes! He is the most talented, passionate and wonderful person ever in the history of the show! HOW COULD THEY LET HIM GO? It is so “their” loss! WAIT AND SEE! AUSTIN WE LOVE YOU! JUST CAN’T WAIT FOR YOUR SINGLE, ALBUM AND CONCERTS!
November 4th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
I thought the hair looked amazing. In fact, I would say, bar the demin shirt, Austin’s makeover has done him no end of good.
Great singer, should keep the stylist.
November 4th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
austin has got a great positivity about his future in music – he’s taken alot of knockbacks over the years and still keeps trying, i admire that!
he’s a lovely genuine guy, very talented, and it may infact benefit him to have been knocked out of the competition as now he can go his own path, in his own style and have the added advantage of being the ‘one that was wrong done by’. im sure a redording company will snap him up.
good luck mate, see you again soon
November 6th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Austin shouldn’t have been voted out. He was cheated because it is meant to be judged on their final song not on their potentail, I agree with him when he says if it had went to deadlock she would have been sent home. She never sang the start of her song on Saturday where as Austin has sang every song good.
Good luck with your band Austin when you do get a song out I will be buying it your a great singer I hope you go far.
November 6th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
X-factor are completly ruining the contestants, I can honestly say i liked all the contestants in auditions more then i do now, they cut diana and laura’s shaggy style hair nd hav tried 2 turn them into dolls so the public can no longer relate to them..and as for austin’s hair cut..that was tragic..They’re trying to make the show pretty on the eye, but its effecting the way the contestants are singing, Laura white doesnt look HALF as confident as she did at bootcamp and I think thats down to not feeling comfatable in herself, perhaps what shes wearing or her image.Give us back the old quirky contestants any day intead of the caked up fake ones!Still love them tho..Laura to win!
November 6th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
What an utter idiot
I know everyones taste is different, but he wasnt THAT good
He had a fairly good voice, and obviously bags of self confidence (narcism, egotistical or whichever way you want to look at it), but he is hardly in the same league as truly great artists (which does include Leona – I’m not overly keen on all these talent shows, but every now and then you will come across someone worthy like her)
This lad needs some serious humble pie – and obviously being kicked out by both the nation and people in the business who know what they are on about didnt do that
Maybe one day, the little lad will grow up and see sense (wait til your sucessful before you become a diva!)
November 6th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
The tone in a WRITTEN interview will ALWAYS come across differently. Funny how EVERY dozen VISUAL interview I’ve seen with Austin since the elimination, has been nothing but positive – unlike Scott’s attitude or Rachel’s bottom two behaviour. I would have NOT been able to control my bitterness yet Austin has been content, chirpy and absolutely hilarious – not ONE bad word about anyone – pompous, selfish, greedy, money-machine Simon & turniphead, little snake Louis included. There is ALWAYS editing involved in an written interview, regardless – trust me. The fact that you can’t hear the person’s tone or delivery is another reason you should never take these things seriously.
That aside, the interview was very insightful and refreshing. What was said is less than a quarter of what goes on backstage. Dannii Minogue has no musical talent but at least the woman does her job well (oh and btw: if you knew any of the contestants’ families, you would know no one in the house genuinely gets along with Rachel…). As for the other 3 judges – not one knows anything about morals or music whilst their teams are bossy generic-s.hit-producing people with two tongues and no ears.
Austin was ROBBED, simple as.
He was the strongest, most versatile technical vocalist and performer to ever walk their stage. Spiteful racist(nope I havent forgotten about that), two-faced Cole has voted off the largest threat to her girls each week whilst little girl Louis will do anything to claw back at Simon.
I can’t even believe some of the acts in the competition.
Alex: horrible often flat vocals, ugly girl, zero personality, zero originality, incredibly annoying. Overpimped is an understatement.
Laura: sweet but boring girl. Needs serious vocal training to control her wavering Cilmi-esque shouting & poor diction. The amount of promotion she has received is ridiculous & unfair.
Diana: Jesus Christ.. WHO is voting for her?!??!?!! HORRENDOUS does not even begin to explain this…girl. She sounds like she is whimpering whilst gurgling phlegm, imitating a drunk Jessica Simpson yodelling. Don’t get me started on her scarecrow hair, bare feet & THAT hand. Bubble gum pop rubbish like this should be ILLEGAL!! Overpimped, talentless, bratty, immature hoe.
Ruth: She needs to get over herself & BADLY work on her pronounciation. Or just give up.
Rachel: noisy, irresponsible out-of-tune mess.
JLS: tacky, arrogant, weak vocalists.
Daniel: he’s more of a karaoke singer but the fact is he is a very decent man despite people’s misjudgements.
Eoghan: BY FAR, the worst ‘vocalist’ on the show. Kid can’t hold a note to save his life. There is flat & out of tune and then there is someone who can’t sing. How he made it past his audition is beyond me.
November 6th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
There are 8 people left on the show.
2 have 0 vocal talent; 1 is good, 5 are dull &/or below average/annoying. I won’t name names.
Judging from him and his band’s youtube videos and all the various backstage XFactor footage, this guy’s talent, professionalism, authenticity, compassion and charisma surpassed everyone else’s. Well thanks to Simon Cowell’s daft song choices, he showed only 30% of his ability. Simon is so high up on his throne, he does not think it important to get to know a person properly. The way he talks to you is always formal & always orderly, even when the show is not on. Yes, I am speaking from experience. He barely comes to talk to his acts and when he does, it is to give you utterly pointless ‘advice’ followed by a handshake and a pat on the back. He will instantly dismiss anyone early in the competition who has a mind of their own. You must be a blank canvas – much like Leona – no personality, a “yes sir” attitude and no musical ideas of your own. Heaven forbid you have an IDENTITY!!
Booting Austin off was like booting Leona Lewis off 9th place – except Drage actually has personality, multi-musicianship, a mind of his own and a strong sense of musical being.
Good luck to him and his band and here’s my advice for anyone thinking of auditioning for this show: if you have no idea who you are or who you want to be and have no problem with being molded into another robotic popstar with no musical freedom, singing other peoples songs for a living, go for it!
November 6th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
I am aware of how editing in both tv and journalism often distorts things greatly, I am aware of a number of people who have actually met & interviewed the guy who dislike his apparent arrogance (even if that isnt how he itends it to come across).
Slightly concerned at the maturity of some people who seem to dislike some of the artists on the show (or even judges) due to hair, complexion, features, clothes, lack of shoes etc….and these people are our future (frightening!!)
November 7th, 2008 at 12:51 am
GREAT interview. It was getting seriously annoying hearing the same old dishonest, repetitive answers from evictees.
Had Simon sat down to really get to know Austin as an artist, as a human, & put a LITTLE more thought into his song selections allowing him to sing a couple of eg. Blues/Jazz/Soul tracks instead of stuffing him into an “unknown” or “un-interesting” box, Austin could have really shown what he was capable of and shone. Ooops, my bad, that’s the point of the show. Oh well. Now that he’s no longer musically restricted, he can hopefully use his stepping stone wisely to bring his fans some music.
He is so incredibly versatile & multi-talented it’s difficult to predict what route he will take. He has a phenomenal voice and his guitaring is solid. He’s actually a great harmonicist too. I’m not sure whether Austin’s songwriting is quite on par with his other talents but there are successful, credible singing icons who have never written a wong in their life. If he co-wrote with some great songwriters, I think Austin could have a genuinely long career.
He could easily hold his own but it’s even better to hear that he’s sticking with his band The Cameron. Sweet decision & they’re ace.
November 7th, 2008 at 12:53 am
*Song* rather!
Wong lol.
November 7th, 2008 at 1:31 am
Re: Who really cares.
And I am aware of many who have met him in person and have said how truly lovely, funny and charming he is. Blunt honesty and arrogance are not the same thing, mind you.
As for your latter concern. I love Laura’s style but I have read all sorts about her image alone. Freedom of speech. Do I dislike the contestants due to their appearance? Nope. Austin is short. If I disliked him, I may want to childishly use that fact against him like his haters do. I listed what I listed just like these haters constantly do to make a point – not only do some have poor or average vocals, they don’t have anything else going for them either. Had all the hopefuls been treated equally, I probably would not even care. But they’re overpimping the chosen ones and bashing those who don’t fit their agenda – why did they put them through to begin with?? When you dislike someone’s voice and genuiney can’t see any musical talent there whatsoever, and this person is continuously praised & promoted whilst a deserving talent is unjustly squashed and dismissed, everything about the pimped one will annoy you.
Could you please elaborate on your “complexion” comment? Because I don’t remember mentioning anyone’s complexion!
November 7th, 2008 at 1:37 am
If only Austin was a bad-mothed, tone-deaf, un-authentic, contrived, generic, clueless, talentless ex-druggie and convicted criminal with 20 children one of whom had died – he’d have sailed through to the final
Is this a talent competition or bl.oody SOB FACTOR lol. All Austin needs to do is come back next year with a story about his dead dog.
This show is a joke. Btw. Everyone raves about Leona. I don’t get it.
November 7th, 2008 at 2:18 am
I know Austin. Honest to god, that boy is anything but arrogant. He’s not half as confident as he portrays on the outside. Austin was completely insecure and guarded only a few years ago and though less so now, he still is and covers it well. He gets hurts too easily and has been hurt more than I can say. I hope he never reads this. He’s young but he’s lived a tough life. I pray things finally turn out good for him this time. He deserves it more than anyone I know. He is so hardworking, driven, passionate about his music and hates himself when he thinks he’s disappointed someone. He’s been knocked down since he was young but he always gets up. I don’t think he will ever give up. I sound so soppy!! But I love that boy to bits & I so want to see him progress.
November 7th, 2008 at 2:44 am
I liked the frank interview. Austin’s a legend. He’s sound and was constantly fantastic on the show despite some of the awkward songs and the dodgy makeover. There are a good few people still in the running who’ve been constantly terrible. It’s better he escaped early I think.
We’re all sat here in the Common Room at Uni watching his Globe Hackney youtube vids ha ha. His band is tight. Not sure what sort of route he’ll take but there’s that new track “Reset To Zero” by Anthoney Wright and I can see him and his band releasing something similar.
November 7th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
I love him not matter what and he can sing and is hot, he gets my vote all the tiem xxx
November 7th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
Watch this:
http://www.blinkx.com/video/x-factor-austin/CITbzBCMBA9k5rczkkZCPw
Watch the backstage videos on the XFactor site.
Listen to these: http://www.essexfm.co.uk/Article.asp?id=938552
“Apparently I’m so far back in the closet, I’m in Narnia”
The boy is hilarious, genuine and absolutey lovely.
Austin is super chatty, HONEST, cheeky and knows exactly who he is as an artist. To translate this as arrogance is beyond ignorant. If I were serious about my music, breathed it, loved it more than anything and had been working to make it for almost 10 years – then was suddenly stripped down of everything that made me exciting and authentic, overlooked, branded “not generic enough”, given a daft new makeover, awkward songs, ignored by my mentor, had my fans phone vote-ins diverted to other contestants and finally voted off (all over again) whilst other talentless or less talented acts were kept in, gushed over, pimped and told “you’re the one to beat” – I would be more than a little peed off and upset. The editing was so severe this year, that someone like Austin who 9/10 of the time is hilarious, chirpy, smiling, cracking jokes and caring, was portrayed as a miserable cry-baby. (Note why Austin showed his emotions this year: youtube.com/watch?v=XkVVpRzgWto)
Alexandra and Austin both auditioned for the show once before. Alex was chosen as the huge comeback star whilst Austin who they’d also rejected, was simply totally dismissed. In the media, Daniel is the guy with the dead wife, Eoghan’s the cute little Irish showman, Alexandra is the re-auditionee and the next Whitney (constantly pimped as Simon repeatedly tells Louis he made a stupid decision sending her home whilst not once mentioning or screening his own act Austin’s previous audition or their rejection), Ruth is the Spanish senorita, JLS are the fun ’sexy’ boyband, Rachel is the strong mother with the troubled past who desperately needs a second chance, Diana is the oh so ‘original’ chosen one with an ocean of promotion and Laura is the shy belter receiving plenty of promotion as she is apparently god’s answer to music. Most of the above can’t even SING.
Austin Drage, the show’s most soulful singer-songwriter- instrumentalist (guitar, drums, piano, harmonica) who has the passion, determination, technical ability, versatility and vocal strength to sing anything aside from opera, was branded an unlikeable, deseperate cry-baby and booted out before getting to show half of his ability. I’d be pretty annoyed but Austin has taken it amazingly. He’s my age but his maturity and “c’est la vie, onwards and upwards” attitude is incredible.
Rock on Austin. Wish you all the best. You already have a great band, a great head on your shoulders and great artistry.
November 8th, 2008 at 4:37 am
Austin is Hitler’s Biggest Fan:
http://www.holymoly.com/page/WhenHMMet/0,,12643~1445991,00.html
ROFL. Dude seriously cracks me up. He’s great.
And LMAO at the link posted by someone above.
“Apparently I’m in the closet. I’m so far back I’m in Narnia.”
PSML!
November 8th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Austin wants Laura to win? Sweeet. She’s my second favourite.
I’ll buy Austin’s album if it contains a couple of Blues tracks. I dig him and his band’s sound a lot. Good luck mate.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:49 am
he was a good singer but not better than rachel so get a grip !
November 17th, 2008 at 10:51 am
DIANA 2 WIN i love her get well soon xx
November 17th, 2008 at 10:53 am
good luckin !
November 22nd, 2008 at 3:21 pm
I have no idea how that out-of-tune fogfhorn Rachel is still in the comp. She seriously sounds just like a foghorn lol. All her performances have been a mess and oh.my.god she doesn’t half murder “Hero” :S It’s all going fine and then Boom!! Rachel starts wailing. It’s a studio recording yet she manages to ruin her part. GirlBand also ruin their parts. The blonde girl sounds like she is trying hard not to burp :L Marvin, as lovely as he is, should not be allowed to sing bless him. Eoghan and Britney impersonator Diana sound bubblegum-pop, overproduced and generic like GirlBand. Laura and Austin, the two musicians, sound stunning. Followed by Alex and Ruth. Laura and Austin NEED to perform a duet. Valerie perhaps or an old Blues/Jazz/Swing/Soul classic; they are both excellent as the above styles.
November 22nd, 2008 at 3:22 pm
*AT
November 22nd, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Rachel Hylton has LONG outstayed her welcome.
November 22nd, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Alicia, you can’t even compare the two!
Rachel is an irresponsible gobby woman with a painfully out-of-tune, excruciatingly sharp hideous voice. Austin is a note-perfect phenomenal vocalist with a 15-step range. On top of that, he plays the guitar and drums exceptionally and the harmonica and piano, writes, is hilarious, charming and an absolute sweetheart. Rachel and Diana need to go next week.
November 24th, 2008 at 9:53 am
OMFG!! Hes soo fitt (Austin) i wuld any dayy
lol.. shame he went tho lewi dnt no wat hes tlkin about !!! Austin is a well gd singa !! JLS to winn tho cum on who wuldnt LMAO x
loves lauren x
November 28th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
austin i loved you i really didnt think you should have went out babe and i wish you all the best in the future i so hope that you make it to the xfactor tour because i am absoulote dyin to meet you Hunniee
Lovee Gemma
December 14th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Austin shouldn’t have gone…. i don’t understand why some people are being so negative about the contestants on here….. this year the finalists were amazing this year (apart from 1 or 2)….. so focus on the interview! Good Luck Austin!!
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:10 pm
[Quote]
>I listen to a lot of BB King, Stevie Ray Vaughn. I listen to Guns N Roses, some soul like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder. I listen to a diverse amount of music, do you know what I mean? I love blues, I love soul, I love rock. I think X Factor stripped me of my musicality, because they tried to mould me, and I’m already moulded in what I do.
[/Quote]
Seriously Austin, what were you thinking that they would have given you a BB King’s song to sing or maybe Vaughan’s stuff?
People who love REAL music should never take a part in a reality pop show. I love your voice but it seems that being famous is more important for you than singing/making a good music.
There is no art in nowadays pop music and you know about it so what’s the point to desperately go in this direction? I’m sure that your ‘New” fans don’t give a shit about your musical taste and they wouldn’t have been happy if you chose to sing blues/rock/soul stuff. They want a cheesy pop stuff from you, they want a new Lee Ryan or a new Shane Ward!