THE TRUTH IS, ALEXANDRA IS HONOURING HER MOTHER
Alexandra Burke
The Truth Is album out now
IF ever there was a rollercoaster year, Alexandra Burke lived it in 2017.
She ended it by reaching the final of Strictly Come Dancing and then having her boyfriend ask her to marry him.
But her Strictly journey started with terrible heartbreak following the death of her mum, Melissa Bell from Soul II Soul.
Now, she’s hoping for a year of simply celebration, with the release of her new album The Truth Is and a nationwide tour.
She admits she was anxious in the run-up to the release on Friday and is glad it’s finally out.
“It was overwhelming as this album is so dear to my heart,” former X Factor winner Alexandra told in10.
“I’ve been writing it since 2013 and so much of my life has changed – good, bad and sad – since then.
“I wasn’t going for a particular style but when I was listening back I heard two songs I wrote in 2014 and scrapped them because that wasn’t how I was feeling now.
“I’ve thought of the detail of the songs so much that I had to detach myself emotionally or else it’d have ended up as a 20-track album and that’s not helpful for anyone.
“It’s very personal. I’d fallen into the trap of saying I was fine when people asked if I was all right, even if I really wasn’t.
“In this industry you can be smiling all the time and not be honest about how you were. I chose to be honest for this, even if it hurt.”
What hurt Alexandra more than anything, of course, was the loss of her mum in August.
The news came just as Alexandra was being unveiled as one of Strictly’s class of 2017, partnered with Spanish professional dancer Gorka Marquez.
“Strictly actually came along at the right time and was a blessing and a distraction,” confides Alexandra.
“There were ups and downs and, yes, there were times when I just wanted to step back and stop.
“But my family wouldn’t have wanted that. I’ve never been the kind of person who quits something.
“And I know mum wouldn’t have wanted me to do that. So, in her honour, I went on and did it.
“We’ve always been massive fans of the show and I know being an X Factor person being asked to do it was also a big deal. And everyone at the BBC was so supportive, I couldn’t have asked for more.”
While fellow celebrities, pro dancers and backstage staff rallied round, Alexandra was regularly attacked on social media.
“It was very hard,” admits Alexandra. “I read articles that were blatant lies and, unfortunately, Twitter trolling came with that.
“Social media is a place where people can share their opinions but they have to be careful about what they say.
“They don’t realise how much they can hurt the person on the receiving end of it. Thank God I have loving people around me to help me.
“Let’s hope the people who wrote hurtful things can write nicer things in the future.”
While Alexandra was accused of turning on fake tears, she insists it’s just part of her emotional nature.
In fact, signing the record deal with Decca was another occasion when she just couldn’t stop crying.
“I’ll never forget the day I walked in because it’s been six years since I’ve been signed to a label and it’s a big deal,” she reveals.
“I suffer with anxiety and sometimes I get panicky.
“When I went in I was so scared I burst into tears.”
Alexandra had plenty more reasons to smiles when her boyfriend Josh Ginnelly popped the question on a surprise trip to Paris.
“It was a massive shock as I really wasn’t expecting it,” she admits.
“Josh is a great guy and it’s so nice to be in a loving relationship.”
Although Alexandra is no stranger to the stage, having starred in musicals The Bodyguard and Sister Act, she says she can’t wait to be doing her own stuff with her tour which starts in September.
It includes a date at Glasgow Theatre Royal on September 12.
But although she showed dazzling dance floor skills on Strictly, she says she’s not planning to incorporate any routines along with the singing on The Truth Is tour.
“I don’t think I’m that good,” she laughs. “But I will be inviting the Strictly gang along to see my show.”