Rebecca Ferguson: Motherhood has helped me with the blues

X Factor star Rebecca Ferguson is ready to return to the spotlight after a turbulent 18 months
New release: Rebecca Ferguson has covered Billie Holiday’s classic album (Picture: Alex Lentati)
Alistair Foster13 January 2015
The Weekender

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X Factor star Rebecca Ferguson has revealed how motherhood helped her cope with a turbulent 18 months as she returns to the spotlight.

In an exclusive interview with the Standard, the 28-year-old said she wanted to pursue a more classic sound and will perform several intimate shows in London in February and March.

She has covered Billie Holiday’s Lady Sings The Blues for her next album, after a difficult 18 months in which she left her management company, a couple were arrested for allegedly swindling her out of £100,000 and the father of her third child walked out on her while she was pregnant. Her latest arrival, Arabella, is now three months old and Ferguson said: “I’ve learnt a lot. I am a lot more content now and am far less bothered about what people think of me. Having children really puts things into perspective.

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“I was perhaps a bit too bothered about chart positions with my first two albums, but now I just want to do what makes me happy. With this new sound I really have found my niche.”

Ferguson, whose voice has been described as the best ever to come out of the X Factor, recorded Lady Sings The Blues over six months at Capitol Records in Los Angeles.

She said: “The record label had been looking for someone good enough to reinterpret the album for years. I had to put my own stamp on it and I really wanted to do it properly — do it justice. I think we have done that.”

Ferguson will perform the album at St James Theatre on February 16, 18, 20 and 21, and March 19-21. Tickets are on sale at stjamestheatre.co.uk.

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