Geneva Lane on leaving Belle Amie, her split from Zayn Malik and being a Cher Lloyd fan
VIDEO Exclusive: check out this acoustic version of Geneva Lane's debut single, Karma
Thursday 11 Aug 2011
Above: Former Belle Amie member Geneva Lane is releasing her debut single, Karma, in October
| ABOVE: Geneva Lane says she doesn't regret any part of her X Factor journey |
| ABOVE: Geneva Lane left X Factor girl group Belle Amie earlier this year |
WHILE One Direction, Belle Amie and Matt Cardle are about to release singles and Cher Lloyd already has a No.1, their fellow former X Factor contestant Geneva Lane is gearing up for her own success.
But with her very own single on the way and a legion of online fans backing her, Geneva is taking her X Factor journey in her stride and is determined to prove why she's better on her own.
And seeing as Karma is brimming with not-so-inconspicuous lyrics aimed at certain 'former' friends of hers ("I know you wanna see me fall / but I’ll keep rising... Karma has a way of finding / it’s way right back to you"), she's not likely to abandon her dreams any time soon.
We had a quick chat with the singer to find out what really happened with Belle Amie and why Karma has been a long time coming...
Tell us why you left Belle Amie and what happened when you left the group...
I think it was a shock for the girls when I decided to leave. I loved being in the group, it was an amazing experience and we learned a lot from each other.
Before I went on the show I was heavily involved in performing with a live band and gigging, but I put all of that on hold to be in the band.
Sometimes you just get caught up in the moment and while it lasted it was absolutely brilliant, but as time went on I realised that it wasn't what I wanted and I missed performing with a live band and songwriting.
I think everything happens for a reason and we are all on to good things. Hopefully, one day, it will be water under the bridge.
How is your solo music different from Belle Amie's music?
Belle Amie have gone down a different route musically. Their song is suited for a girl band, and as a solo artist I have a lot more freedom creatively to experiment with my sound.
It's [Belle Amie's single, Girls Up] very catchy and it suits their image. I know that what I've done is what I'm passionate about and I'm sure it's the same way for the girls, we just followed different paths.
Who or what inspires you as a musician?
I dunno if this counts, but being at home and listening to what mum and dad would whack on during the day or when they would take me to see bands play live really influenced my taste in music and my decision to pursue music as a career.
How has The X Factor shaped who you are now, do you regret any part of it?
I don't regret anything. Being part of the band brought out the best in me. It really helped build my confidence as a performer. The X Factor is a good platform to start a career with. I've met a lot of people and learned a lot from seeing that side of the industry.
Are you a fan of any of the new music that your former fellow X Factor contestants have been releasing?
I'm not gonna lie, I was a fan of Cher Lloyd from her first audition! She's doing so well, we're all so proud.
What kind of music are you listening to at the moment?
I listen to a lot of music! I'm very open-minded and am always looking for new artists to listen to. I'm having a bit of an Ed Sheeran phase at the moment. I think he's awesome! A brilliant songwriter and all round performer.
What happened with you an Zayn, do you think you guys will ever rekindle your romance?
We're all busy doing our own thing. I'm just looking forward to the future and focusing on my music.
Are you dating anyone else? What about celebrity crushes...
I am single, I'm happy and I'm loving it. Hmm.. I think John Mayer is a bit of alright ;)
What can we expect to hear from Geneva Lane in the future and do you have an 'ultimate career goal'?
I would love to perform at Glastonbury, performing on stage is what I love most about what I do. I have a lot planned for this year and next! Watch this space :)
We will!
Check out the exclusive acoustic version of Geneva Lane's first single, Karma, above.
Karma is released on October 3rd through Hillbilly Records.
