The star first hit the charts in 2001 with girl group Mis-Teeq and went solo several years later
(Picture: PA)Alesha Dixon has revealed she’s been secretly working on her musical comeback after a seven-year hiatus.
The star, 44, first hit the charts in 2001 with girl group Mis-Teeq. She went solo several years later and scored several Top 10 hits with The Boy Does Nothing and Breathe Slow.
Earlier this month, fans were left disappointed when Dixon confirmed that a Mis-Teeq reunion was not on the cards, due in part to bandmate Su-Elise Nash now being based in Australia.
However, the BGT judge said she had been quietly working on her solo album, which she hopes to release on her own label in 2023.
Teasing her long-awaited musical return, she told The Standard at The National Lottery’s Big Bash launch: “Music is a passion project for me. There’s no pressure.
“It’s all about having fun in the studio and putting music out when I feel comfortable. And I have got a body of work now that I’m doing a few tweaks to.
“I’ve got some studio sessions at the end of November and I’m going to put out either an EP or a full album in 2023.
“Music is always going to be in my life. It’s the reason I’m here doing what I’m doing today. It’s part of who I am and so I might take a little bit longer to get there because I’m juggling multiple things.
“I can’t wait to put something out and for people to hear what I’ve been up to.”
Dixon set up her own record label, Precious Stone Records, in 2015. She had parted ways with record label Asylum Record in 2011 following her album The Entertainer.
The ITV star said it was important for her to no longer feel “like a product”. She also wants to be in control of her creativity, which her own music label allows her to do.
“I’ve had every scenario in my career, signing to independent labels, major labels and in a way, you are a product,” Dixon said.
“And ultimately, I think I’ve always wanted to get to a position in my career where it’s not about somebody else’s decision as to what choices you make and what you want to put out into the world.
“And the more independence you can have as an artist the better.”
Dixon released her fourth studio album, Do It For Love, in 2015. While it wasn’t her most commercially successful offering, peaking at number 81 in the UK charts, the star said that it had been the most “rewarding”.
“It wasn’t my most successful solo album, but it didn’t matter because it was my most successful experience in terms of doing everything myself — editing the videos, choosing the directors, writing everything, producing the record — every aspect of it creatively, we did ourselves. That made it so much more rewarding.
“Not only that but it’s a great way to operate in business and what I tried to do more in my life, in my career, is take ownership, creative control and realise you can do everything yourself. You’ve just got to apply yourself.
“It doesn’t mean it’s easy; there’s ups and downs and moments where it can be frustrating, but the pay-off is so much sweeter when you do it that way.”
The music landscape has changed significantly since Dixon first started out over two decades ago. Social media and streaming services now play a pivotal role in creating an artist’s success.
Reflecting on this trend, The Greatest Dancer host believes it’s easier for musicians to achieve success independently nowadays without a major label behind them.
“I think where the artists of today have an advantage is their reach and because of social media, the way they’re able to connect with the world,” she continued.
“The world in a way has become such a smaller place so when you put music out into the world, it’s a lot easier to travel and for that music to spread around the world.
“Whereas back in the day, you had to work a lot harder for your music to be heard internationally, you had to have major labels behind you, putting lots of money into your projects.”
