Nicola Roberts: 'Beat Of My Drum'

Once named the least desirable member of Girls Aloud, the transformation of Nicola Roberts from pasty and awkward backing singer into glowing, haute couture pop songstress has been a magnificent spectacle. That said, the build up to her solo debut has been one of concern as much as excitement: can she sidestep the inevitable bandmate rivalry reports that affected Nadine Coyle?

If 'BOMD' is anything to go by, she's easily five steps ahead of them both. Remembering her darker days in the band, she admits: "Two left feet I had no beat/ Baby in the corner learning quick/ keep up, keep up, keep up," over hawkish sirens, before launching into an M.I.A.-meets-Daphne & Celeste chorus of schoolhouse chants and head-spinning squiggly beats courtesy of dancehall duo Major Lazer. "Don't it make your heart go wow/ How I've turned this whole thing around?" she asks. We'll be the first to say it...wow.

Watch the 'Beat Of My Drum' video below: