OUR LATEST ISSUE
Alesha Dixon
Alesha's new album: The Alesha Show
She had major chart success as one part of Mis-Teeq, danced her way to first place on Strictly Come Dancing and is known to teenagers and grannies ali
"It doesn't matter how good-looking you are. If you don't mentally turn someone on then what is the point?"
You've just turned 30. Did you have a crisis of sorts?
No, I really didn’t. I kind of had a moment last night when I had a glass of champagne with my cousin and I was like, here’s to the twenties. Because it’s like the end of an era, but at the same time this is an exciting new chapter. My twenties for me were up and down, up and down, I’m hoping this is going to smooth out now.
How did you feel now about everything that happened to you in your twenties with Harvey and Javine and the divorce?
I feel that where I am in my life now it’s just a completely different space. A year on, obviously you’re still dealing with things but two years on I’m definitely in a good place. They are the past. They are a part of my life that’s happened and is dealt with.
And being dropped by your record label?
I never took it personally, I just looked at it for what it was, you know. It wasn’t my time. It was too obvious looking back. You know, girl group, somebody leaves, signs deal, it was too obvious. There wasn’t enough of a story.
Have you always been so comfortable in your own skin?
The only image problem I had was that I grew up in an area that was predominantly white, and I’ve never been disconnected from the black side of my family but when I was growing up, you know, I didn’t go out with boys because I had darker skin. It wasn’t a problem, I just thought that’s the way life was. I like to be seen as mixed race, because I am equally white and black. As far as I’m concerned, you know, my mother’s white and I have a strong connection with that side of the family and my father’s black and I have a strong connection with that side of the family. But obviously in the eyes of people just judging on face value you are seen as black I suppose.
Barack Obama is mixed race, isn't he, but only his black-American heritage seems to be noticed.
Absolutely. He's great though. I think Obama has had an impact on the younger generation out there; the younger generation have become interested in politics and they weren’t before.
And what are you doing now? You've got a new album haven't you?
Yes, it's a scary time for me! The album is a balance between up-tempo records and down-tempo. There’s the emotional songs on there, the more thought-provoking records, and then there are the songs like Boy Does Nothing and Let’s Get Excited which are just feel good songs. I think the feel good songs reflect where I am now and then the emotional songs are kind of talking about things that have happened since I made the last record.
Talking of boys, is there anyone lurking in the shadows of your life at the moment?
No, I don't have time. I work Monday to Sunday! I’m open to dating if I meet someone great, but at the same time I’m quite happy being single.
What would that 'great' person be like?
I want someone who’s independent, got their own thing going on. For me it’s not important what they do for a living, it’s just that they do something for a living that they enjoy. They have ambition I suppose. And somebody that would like a family and somebody that can cook would be good. Very important. I’ve met guys that are really attractive but I’d rather talk to a plank of wood, so it doesn’t matter how good looking you are, if you don’t mentally turn someone one then what’s the point?
Alesha's single 'The Boy Does Nothing' is on sale now, and her album 'The Alesha Show' is due for release on 24th November.
