Olly Murs: 'My label hasn't changed me'

Olly Murs has said that his record label has not tried to change him.

The X Factor runner-up signed a joint deal with Epic Records and Syco Music in February 2010 and his debut solo single 'Please Don't Let Me Go' is released on August 29.

Asked if the single was 100% his own, Murs told Heat: "Yeah, I mean I co-wrote the song.

"When I sat down with Epic and they wanted to sign me, they said, 'Olly, we love the look. We love the way you are... We don't want to change you. It's now about finding your sound and where we want to go with it'.

"What would have been obvious would have been to bring out a Robbie-style track. Then everyone would have gone, 'Oh, he's trying to be Robbie', but actually my single is completely different. It's summery, with a reggae-ska feel."

Asked if he still kept in touch with X Factor boss Simon Cowell, Murs replied: "I'm signed to Syco, his record label, as well, so we do stay in contact.

"I mean, I didn't expect him to be my best friend for life - Simon's got his own job and things going on - but I always got on really well with him. We spoke last week actually; he's really excited about the single."