Quotes from Fleur East

After my first video, I went out and had chicken noodle soup with my sister and manager. We were like, 'How rock n' roll are we? Celebrating the first video with chicken soup.'

It's funny because the perception is that the typical 'X Factor' contestant is the person who's just working 9 to 5 and just decides to one day go and audition. So yeah, for me, it was a very different story.

I would never totally deny myself any specific type of food.

My mum is from Ghana, and she used to play highlife music in the house, and my dad used to listen to music.

Everyone assumes it is just 'Wendy who works at Tesco' who goes to audition for 'X Factor,' and then their lives are changed, wham, like that. Me, I am someone who has tried for years in the music industry.

I've been hyper-conscious about staying away from rubbish. I don't eat white bread, white rice or cereal unless it's porridge.

I used to shop in ASDA all the time. Every now and then I still go in to get a little salad for lunch.

My album is very uplifting and positive and fun. That was my mission - to get people up on their feet and escape the seriousness of life.

I can't ignore what I grew up listening to. My parents used to listen to Michael Jackson non-stop. They used to listen to Luther Vandross, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder.

I hated my big hair. I always wore it straight.

I feel like I'm quite versatile. I want to do lots of different styles.

Even writing verses from my first album, there were songs that I didn't use because I just felt that they weren't really for me. But I think that happens naturally when you write songs. You're in a different mood in every session. There's so many songs out there that could potentially be used by other artists.

I'd love to write with some people from the U.K., like Ed Sheeran, Emeli Sande... there's a very long list.