Alexandra Burke: ‘I’m recording new album after 10 hours of Strictly rehearsal’
For most of us, 10 hours of Strictly Come Dancing training would be enough work for the day. But Alexandra Burke says she is then hitting the studio to work on her third album.
The singer, 29, who lives in rural Hertfordshire, told the Standard: “We are practising 10 hours a day. They are long days but I absolutely love it. It hasn’t stopped me singing — I’m recording my third album at the moment.
“I’m basically taking whatever time I have spare in the evenings and working in my studio at home. I built it four years ago in a downstairs room — it’s small but it’s got everything I need.
"It’s where I recorded my last album. I always record from home now, I work better that way. I’m just really keen to get it finished.”
Burke has not released an album since 2012’s Heartbreak On Hold. In 2013 she parted ways with her record company RCA, citing “differing views” over her career.
She then had a successful spell in the West End. This year she has made it to the final five of Strictly with partner Gorka Marquez.
Burke has received high scores from the judges on the BBC dancing contest but found herself in the bottom two last week, before comedian Susan Calman was eliminated.
Strictly Come Dancing 2017 - In pictures
Burke admitted she was not surprised after what had happened to Aston Merrygold, a frontrunner who exited in week seven.
She said: “I really feel like I surround myself with positivity — that’s my general attitude anyway. I have the attitude of, ‘All I can do is try my best’. But I just had this bad feeling. So I wasn’t shocked. We are at the final stages. And after what happened to Aston, we all know anything can happen. He was a sure ticket to the final.”
The nerves are greater than those she felt on her way to victory on The X Factor in 2008.
“This time I haven’t got a microphone, which is sort of like a comforter to me,” she said.
Next Wednesday, the star will launch TK Maxx’s Christmas Sock Day.
People will be asked to put on festive socks and post selfies. For each picture shared and tagged #socksie on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, the retailer will donate £1 to Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens.
