She's back with a new sound
Singer-songwriter Cher Lloyd is finally releasing a new album after two years, and says her latest work will surprise
Call it the "re-activation" of Cher Lloyd.
It has been two years since the English singer released her last studio album Sorry I'm Late, and now she's back with her new single Activated.
"I think people are going to be surprised," Lloyd told M in a phone interview from Los Angeles. "(Activated is) definitely nothing like what (fans) have heard from me before."
Indeed, it has a calmer and more soothing vibe, in contrast to her previous energetic and sassy pop hits like Want U Back in 2012, and the chart-topping Swagger Jagger in 2011.
The 23-year-old rose to prominence six years ago when she finished fourth on the seventh season of UK reality TV singing competition The X Factor.
She said that it has taken two years for her to release new music because "you can never put a time on creating music, it just comes when it comes".
She had to take a break from writing certain songs in her upcoming third album because "you just can't force it".
But Lloyd's as-yet-untitled offering is now close to completion and, like Activated, she will be releasing it independently.
Her first two albums were released under English music mogul Simon Cowell's Syco Music and Epic Records in 2011 and 2014.
DIFFERENT SOUND
Lloyd described Activated as "a new beginning".
"It was just a way to express how much I'm ready for this next phase... I'm so ready to give the fans new music and also have new people listen to this new music as well."
Like Activated, the album - which does not have a release date yet - will generally have a different sound too.
"It'd be strange to not progress," she said, adding that it will be "more mature" and that it is natural for records to evolve as the artist gets older.
She said: "There's definitely a collection of emotions on this album. There're some points where it's quite revealing, and then there's other songs that you could really dance to."
Looking back at her fledgling days, Lloyd feels thankful for her time on The X Factor.
While she is no longer able to follow the show closely due to her busy schedule, she feels that she learnt important lessons from it.
She said: "There's really no easy (alternative) way into the (entertainment) industry. But for me, it was about learning more and getting myself educated about the industry so I could go on to form a long-lasting career."
Looking forward, she said she might have kids "one day" with her husband of two years, hairdresser Craig Monk.
"But not right now, because I'm releasing music and everything. But we're very, very happy together and everything is great."
Other stars with the X Factor
LEONA LEWIS, 31
The X Factor Season 3 (2006) winner
Biggest song: Bleeding Love (2007) peaked at No. 1 in 35 countries, including the UK Singles Chart and US Billboard Hot 100. It sold more than a million copies in the UK and four million digital downloads in the US.
Biggest album: Her debut album Spirit (2007) reached No. 1 in nine countries and sold over eight million copies.
Net worth: £13 million (S$23 million)
ONE DIRECTION
The X Factor Season 7 (2010), third place
Current members: Niall Horan, 22, Liam Payne, 22, Harry Styles, 22, and Louis Tomlinson, 24
Biggest song: What Makes You Beautiful (2011) hit No. 1 and No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart and US Billboard Hot 100 respectively. It sold over one million units and 4.8 million units in the UK and US respectively.
Biggest album: The boy band's debut album Up All Night (2011) sold over five million copies worldwide and peaked at No. 1 in 17 countries.
Net worth: £125 million
LITTLE MIX
The X Factor Season 8 (2011), winner
Members: Perrie Edwards, 23, Jesy Nelson, 25, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, 24, and Jade Thirlwall, 23
Biggest song: Wings (2012), the lead single from their debut album DNA, reached No. 1 in the UK and Ireland. It sold over 500,000 units each in the UK and US.
Biggest album: The girl group's third album Get Weird (2015) is their best-selling to date, after selling over 520,000 units in the UK and peaking at No. 1 and No. 2 in Ireland and UK respectively.
Net worth: £12 million
Other stars with the X Factor
LEONA LEWIS, 31
The X Factor Season 3 (2006) winner
Biggest song: Bleeding Love (2007) peaked at No. 1 in 35 countries, including the UK Singles Chart and US Billboard Hot 100. It sold more than a million copies in the UK and four million digital downloads in the US.
Biggest album: Her debut album Spirit (2007) reached No. 1 in nine countries and sold over eight million copies.
Net worth: £13 million (S$23 million)
ONE DIRECTION
The X Factor Season 7 (2010), third place
Current members: Niall Horan, 22, Liam Payne, 22, Harry Styles, 22, and Louis Tomlinson, 24
Biggest song: What Makes You Beautiful (2011) hit No. 1 and No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart and US Billboard Hot 100 respectively. It sold over one million units and 4.8 million units in the UK and US respectively.
Biggest album: The boy band's debut album Up All Night (2011) sold over five million copies worldwide and peaked at No. 1 in 17 countries.
Net worth: £125 million
LITTLE MIX
The X Factor Season 8 (2011), winner
Members: Perrie Edwards, 23, Jesy Nelson, 25, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, 24, and Jade Thirlwall, 23
Biggest song: Wings (2012), the lead single from their debut album DNA, reached No. 1 in the UK and Ireland. It sold over 500,000 units each in the UK and US.
Biggest album: The girl group's third album Get Weird (2015) is their best-selling to date, after selling over 520,000 units in the UK and peaking at No. 1 and No. 2 in Ireland and UK respectively.
Net worth: £12 million
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