We first heard of them on last year’s X Factor but now Belle Amie (Esther Campbell, Rebecca Creighton and Sophia Wardman) are back to launch an assault on the pop charts with their debut single- a girl power anthem entitled , ‘Girls Up!’ Ahead of the release of the single, we caught up with one third of the trio, Esther Campbell to talk Simon Cowell, being a role model and Nicki Minaj’s derriere…
Pride: So, Belle Amie…how’s it all going so far?
Esther: It’s great, really good! It’s been a fun, hectic couple of months as we’ve got our single coming out.
P: Let’s talk about the X Factor as that’s how you got your start. When you first auditioned, you did so as a solo act, as did Sophia and Rebecca. When you were put together by Simon, how did you feel?
E: Do you know what? I’ve always said- because I sang with my sisters a lot, that if I didn’t get through that year I was going to come back with my sisters and try again the next year. I was prepared to be in a girl band; I love it and it’s so much fun. I’m quite timid anyway so when they put me with the other girls, I was like ‘Yay!’ I felt I had people to help me out and stuff. I was on it from the start.
P: What was life like in the X Factor house? Obviously we’ve heard all sorts of stories in the media: people arguing, tensions, people moving out…
E: Crazy! Relaxing actually as well. People really let their hair down and me and Cher [Lloyd] were running about having a laugh! There wasn’t a lot of tension apart from maybe before the Friday before live shows. We all helped each other out as we were all in the same boat. It wasn’t like what was said in the press at all. It was fun-hard work, but so much fun.
P: During the competition you were mentored by the big man himself, Simon Cowell. What was it like working with him?
E: It was really weird. We had to see him as just a human being but when he’d walk up to us we’d be like “Oh my god, Simon Cowell!” He’s quite down to earth actually. On TV you see him as kind of strict and…
P:…Rude?
E: Haha! Your words! I’d say opinionated. He’ll always tell you the truth. If he told me I couldn’t sing, I’d be like ‘Ok, I can’t sing.’ I respected him.
P: There were always rumours floating about during the competition. You were in the groups category with the One Direction boys. Was there any favouritism going on?
E: People always say that! Everyone in the competition was treated equally. Simon spent as much time with us as he did with the boys, I just think the boys went further. It’s harder for girl groups on the X Factor. We were proud of where we did get. Maybe it looked like that, but it wasn’t like that.
P: Are you still in touch with Simon?
E: No. I think he’s in America. No one’s really in touch with any of the contestants. He’s busy and we’re all trying to move forward.
P: What were the judges like? What do you think of the new panel?
E: Louis especially was so nice and so funny. We’d just chat with him in the hall and he was so down to earth. He always liked us and supported us, maybe because Bex is Irish! I think the new panel will be amazing. I’m excited! The girls aren’t too sure but I think Tulisa will be great because she’s so opinionated so it’ll be interesting to see what she’s like and Kelly Rowland is just fit! I think the British fans will get her as she’s so famous. I grew up listening to Destiny’s Child so she’s well respected here anyway.
P: So Cher [Lloyd] recently got to number one-not without a bit of controversy. Do you have hopes to replicate that success?
E: Well she’s signed to a major and we’re signed to an independent label so it’s different. We sang quite old songs on the X Factor and now it’s different. People that like us now and didn’t on the show have seen that change. We just want to show people who we are and we’re not to obsessed with chart positions at the moment.
P: You mentioned changes since the X Factor. Obviously a big one is that on the show there were four of you. Now there are three. What happened to Geneva?
E: I don’t think anything really. She’s just wanted to be a solo artist and we work so much better as a three now anyway. The group dynamic is much better. When she did leave we were nervous and scared and like ‘What do we do? Nothing’s gonna happen now!’ but we’ve worked really hard.
P: Speaking of now, your new single ‘Girls Up’ is out on the 28th of August. I saw the video and there’s quite a positive message in the song. Tell me a bit about it.
E: I’m glad you said that. People are saying all sorts. It’s very woman empowering, it’s about not caring what anybody says. We’re such independent, different girls and the other day we went to a premier and I was wearing a little tutu and it was written that did I think was going to a festival! It’s funny because we don’t care. We dress like we love to dress. Our music is like us. When you listen to the album, you’re gonna get to know us- a Belle Amie that you didn’t know before.
P: What’s the response to the single been like so far? I heard even Perez Hilton said ‘this is a hot track!’
E: All the comments have been really positive but I think it’s also because no one really expected much from us.
P: That’s good in a way because you can just get on with it. You said the track was about female empowerment, do you feel pressure to be role models?
E: It’s not even about pressure- we want to be. When I was younger we had role models. I mean we know our fan base and we are young so we’re honoured. When people send me Twitter messages saying ‘Oh my god you’re my idol!’ I love that, it actually does mean something to me.
P: What other girlbands do Belle Amie look up to?
E: Destiny’s Child, Spice Girls of course. We love all the girl groups out at the moment really, there’s no competition between us.
P: What’s on your iPod at the moment?
E: Oh my God. Beyonce. That new album, so sick!
P: What’s your favourite track? Let’s see if it’s the same.
E: Oh…what’s it called? ‘I care’!
P: What couldn’t you live without? Three things.
E: My iPhone, crisps and Vaseline…the cocoa butter one.
P: What’s the weirdest thing that’s happened to Belle Amie so far?
E: Erm…well we get a lot of date requests from weird people! As for the weirdest thing…it’s more bad luck actually. On our video shoot we had a powercut, then a light fell crashing down from the ceiling.
P: In the video your style’s quite colourful and funky. What’s your personal style like?
E: I wouldn’t really say I have one yet. I do like Rihanna but she wears a bit less now, so maybe not her. I kind of look at girls on the street that have swag. I went on the X Factor straight out of college so I’m still trying to find my style. The girls are trying to give me tips, they like vintage but I’m more like…I’ve got the rude girl earrings on!
P: If Belle Amie could work with anyone who would you pick?
E: Nicki Minaj, because I want to touch her bum!
P: Brilliant! What can we expect from your album?
E: Hopefully it’ll be out next year, it all makes sense together. You learn a lot about us, our passions, what we really care about. It’s not boycentric, we listened to girlbands who stuck up for girls so it’s more for the girls. The boys will follow the girls anyway!
P: Any collaborations on the album?
E: We just did a remix of the single with JME which was really fun. For this album we want to keep it about us but never say never!
Belle Amie’s debut single ‘Girls Up!’ released through Dodient records is out on the 28th August.
