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'The X Factor'
So, tell us. What have you been up to since you finished the X Factor?
Since X Factor I've been incredibly busy. It's been quite a whirlwind. I signed to Sony BMG, which was very exciting, very fabulous. I did the X Factor tour, and it was nice being back with all the guys - we weren't in competition any more! I could go out and perform and meet all the people who supported the show.
Simon Cowell once said he fancied signing you. Is that who you're with?
No, I'm signed to Phonogenic. They look after Natasha Bedingfield and Ross Copperman and myself. They were more suited to the sort of music I want to do. I'm more soulful...more like a classic soul artist. Simon's absolutely great - but he's pop! I've got a lot of freedom [with Phonogenic]. I've written nearly half the songs on the album, and there are no covers on the album. That's kind of how I wished my album to be, way before this. I thought, if I ever have the opportunity to record an album, [I want it to be] songs from my heart and from my soul.
Shayne's first single was a cover. Do you prefer to have your artistic freedom?
I must say the opportunity that Shayne had within the show [was great] - well, he's a superstar now, he's one of the biggest acts in the country! Simon's fantastic at what he does, and Shayne is a pop singer, so it's a good marriage and it's well suited to what he does.
Tell us a bit about your debut single 'Sleepwalking'.
It's out on the 14th August, and I'm really excited about it. It's about not walking through life with your eyes closed. It's about never giving up, and getting what you want in life. It's about not thinking what if - it's feeling the fear and doing it anyway!
Did you enjoy making the album? Were there any highlights?
It was incredible because Song BMG sent me off to Los Angeles for a month to work with some incredible people - like Diane Warren. Meeting Diane Warren was amazing, because I remember just being in her office. She knew my whole story. That was quite mindblowing. [It was like], she knows my name, she knows about my story, she watched the show. She said: 'I've written this really cool song for you' - she played it and sang it to me - it was surreal! I was thinking: 'Diane Warren's singing a song to me!' It's on the album - it's called 'Naked With You'.
What's your favourite track from the album and why?
My favourite - well, all the songs on the album are very special to me, but the one I love the most is a song called 'Old School Loving'. It's reminiscent of all the sounds I used to listen to as a little girl growing up, of all my inspirations. It's a mixture of Dionne Warwick, Al Green, Marvin Gaye...it's got an old school vibe - it reminds me of growing up as a little girl, having dreams.
Do you think it's important to have that emotional connection in your songs?
The album should be personal - from the heart, your life story, really. That's what's good about investing in the writing side of it. I've been a published writer for a while - I was signed to Peer Music, and I wrote for a lot of girl bands, though mainly international acts. I suppose I always had that desire to sing one of those songs for myself.
What's it like, then, coming from knowing that side of the industry, to suddenly being the singer?
It's very interesting, because it's different being in the background, as the focus isn't on you. You can work at your own pace. You just learn so much working in the background - [for instance], I worked as a backing singer for Gabrielle...working in the front is very hard, and it's scary.
Do you think being voted off X Factor when you were was, in retrospect, a good or a bad thing?
My artistic freedom is fantastic right now, though it would have been nice to be in the final. That would have been great, [but] Shayne's a well deserved winner, and he's worked very hard. I suppose that everything happens for a reason - on the night I was very disappointed. I felt I had more to give. [But] you have to brush yourself off, keep on going, carve out a career from the opportunity.
So many come out of shows like X Factor assuming they will get a music career as soon as they leave. How do you feel about this kind of thinking?
I just went in not expecting anything. You've got to try your best to make it from week to week, and to stay in the show. It was a blessing on the Monday morning the week I left the show - I had four record labels on the phone! The support I got from the press and from the public [was great].
Do you think the sheer pressure of coping with being in a show like X Factor will help you in your future endeavours - has it made you stronger?
One thing I've learnt is that you've just got to enjoy every minute of it. It's not just the destination, it's the journey too. You have to keep smiling and be happy. I've learnt so much from my past, that it really has prepared [me] to be a lead singer. I just feel so ready now.
What does the future hold for Maria Lawson?
I pray this album is well received, that it will be in a lot of people's collections in the future. I [hope] that they can empathise with it and feel the songs and relate to some of the topics and subjects. [I want to] carve out a long standing career, [but] that's the hardest part and the most difficult thing to do. I feel like I'm just at the beginning - even though i started years ago! I'm just going to enjoy every day, what will be will be, all you can do is do your best and whatever happens from there is for the best.
Finally, what's on your iPod - any recommendations?
I love that James Morrison song 'You Give Me Something', and there's a track on Nelly Furtado's album that I keep rewinding! Marvin Gaye, Al Green...there's quite a few!
Thanks for chatting, Maria!
