The work doesnt stop there; she is bound for the Blue Peter studio as we speak.
It was just such a special night, she tells me, beaming.
I was like, Im going to make it in the industry without this.
I dont need it.
I was releasing stuff and featuring on songs, but it wasnt taking off; nothing was happening.
She came in second place to Ben Haenow.
You have to learn quickly and in front of millions of people.
Theres nothing quite like it.
The single peaked at No.
3 in the charts and went platinum in the United Kingdom.
Then, as quickly as the hype exploded, it fizzled down.
It was so savage, she recounts.
Ive just had a platinum-selling single; I dont understand.
Ive just toured the world with Sax, so why am I not everywhere?
Why am I not on tour now?
She knew it was time to go.
I sort of forced their hand and said, Just let me go.
like just let me go this is agony.
They said I could take my music, and they wont hold me back.
We discuss why this might have happened.
Sadly, the music industry isnt always based on talent, East tells me, matter-of-factly.
It is based on how you might market a product.
And thats why so many artists are killing it, but maybe they arent even necessarilyworkingfor it.
Theyve got an amazing team, and they can see how to sell the product.
Where her music career stalled, she excelled in the TV space.
In December, she and Coppola wowed theStrictly Come Dancingjudges with their 10s-across-the-board performance set to Destinys Child.
Like withX Factor, she finished in second place.
She didnt fall foul to theStrictlycurse, though.
Her husband,Marcel Badiane-Robin, she tells me, was beyond supportive.
Hes fully supported me and thats rare.
She also hostedThe Voidin 2021 and hosts theHits Radio Breakfast Showwith James Barr and Producer Matt.
More music will be coming out this year, she adds.
Now Im doing everything independently, I can release as and when.
Its not a happy song, adds East.
It comes from a position of strength.
Ive always been so conscious of that; I always want to uplift whoevers listening to my music.
Which brings her back to her roots, actually.
Sax was such a bold song to come out with as a female.
I dont think Ive ever written a song thats ever from a position of weakness.
I always want it to be a strong, empowering message.
Easts evangelical approach to positivity, strength, and empowerment is both inspirational and somewhat overbearing.
My husband always says that I live in Disneyland in my head, she admits.
Hes always like, The world could be burning around you, and youll just be skipping and laughing.
I just have a cheery disposition; thats just how Im programmed.
2020 was an exceptionally hard time, even for the usually chipper star.
Her father passed away unexpectedly, and eight days later, she was back at work.
That same month, lockdown kicked in, and she was forced to cancel her headlining show.
I didnt have to face people.
There have been a lot of real emotions in my writing since losing my dad.
I think because I used to write from other peoples perspective, now I write from a real place.
Now, when I write, it feels different.
East plans to continue dominate our screens and airwaves and will drop several releases through this year.
But she has no intention of honing in on one thing and will continue instead to master them all.
What would her ideal career look like, I ask?
The dream for me would be a hybrid of Oprah, James Corden, and Jennifer Hudson.
I want to put all my passions together in one thing, because why not?
Fleur Easts single Count the Waysis out now.
This article was originally published onMarch 29, 2023
