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AlexisIn September 2008, Alexis Jordan’s YouTube page was racking up millions of views. It was at that time that multi-platinum award-winning production and writing team Stargate – the hit-makers responsible for No1 hits such as Rihanna’s ‘Take a Bow’ and Ne-Yo’s ‘Miss Independent’, that entered into a partnership with Roc Nation, forming StarRoc – contacted Alexis and made arrangements to fly the super-talented singer out to New York for a meeting and recording session. She was signed immediately to StarRoc/Roc Nation.

Taken by her flowing red hair and infectious big smile, Flavour sits down with the very beautiful Alexis Jordan to talk Jay-Z, fashion and being a bit of a heartbreaker…

What brings you back to the UK?
I’m back in the UK because I’m promoting my third single ‘Hush Hush’. It’s a great song, great video, lots of colours, lots of dancing; so, yeah, just working really hard and excited for the tour.

Have you had any time to shop? And what’s your favourite store?
Oh yeah, this is actually the most shopping I’ve done out here in the UK. Well, River Island I like – I got this really cute purple blazer from there; Topshop; I went to New Look and got like fifty million shoes [laughs]. Miss Selfridge, got these cute rings from there [shows her hand]. It’s been fun.

Your current album is the self-titled Alexis Jordan. What can fans expect from it?
Definitely a universal sound, it’s not just one plain sound. It’s very diverse: so there’s country, reggae, a little bit of hip-hop LA swag, stuff like that.

Your first release was ‘Happiness’, which did incredibly in the States and over here in the UK – how did it feel to get that type of response?
It felt incredible, I didn’t know that ‘Happiness’ was gonna travel overseas. I released it first in America and it went to No1, which was so great; but I didn’t know I was gonna do all these incredible things I’ve been able to do, so ‘happy’ is what I feel. I feel pretty lucky and blessed.

The new single is called ‘Good Girl’, which is also getting a lot of buzz around it – tell us more.
‘Good Girl’ was written by Autumn and produced by Stargate, and I just love the song so much because it has a little bit of attitude but is still so girly. It’s basically about not everybody’s perfect, and there’s a good side and a bad side to everything.

Well, speaking of ‘Good Girl’, maybe you can officially clarify something for us once and for all. In the lyrics you talk about being a bit of a heartbreaker, or at least ‘’you might mistake me for one’’… so does that mean Alexis Jordan is a bit of a heartbreaker or not?
I don’t know if I’m a heartbreaker, I wouldn’t go into a relationship just to break a heart, that would be kind of mean. As the song says, I might be mistaken for a heartbreaker, but I’m not. I think I may have broken a couple of hearts, but not on purpose.

A girl’s allowed to be choosy, right? Sometimes it just doesn’t work out.
[Laughs] Exactly.

Would you say this album defines who you are as an artist?
I think this album just gives you a little taste of what kind of artist I am; I don’t think it’s all me in this album, I wouldn’t say it’s spot on about what defines me, not yet. It’s just samples of what I can bring.

How does it feel to have the likes of Jay-Z, who is a musical mastermind, behind you and believing in your talent?
I think it’s very cool, not normal [laughs] but awesome; and I’m just really happy that he supports me and calls often and checks up on me. Definitely not normal because of course it’s Jay-Z, but yeah, very cool.

In the industry that you’re in, you’re probably constantly getting told what people may think you want to hear – so how do you remain grounded?
Probably just by keeping my family around me most of the time. My mum’s around me, my cousins, my aunties, so yeah, they don’t lie to me. They keep me humble.

Something we really respect about you is that in your videos you’re sexy, but you’re not doing it by wearing next to nothing, which is something we see a lot of these days in videos. Is that a conscious decision you make?
Yeah, definitely. I just feel like you don’t need to do it. You can be sexy without showing anything – mainly because that’s what makes it sexy. And it just becomes trashy when you do it on purpose to show your little belly button or your little midriff; it’s unnecessary.

Who is your celebrity crush?
I’m not gonna tell you guys, because then you guys will go and tell the celebrity, which is whack [laughs].

We won’t do that to you… just one name? Even a crush you had who you would see on TV and think to yourself, ‘Hmm, he is fine.’
[Laughs] OK ,in that case, I thought Justin Timberlake was so fine.

What is the worst pick-up line you’ve heard over here in the UK?
Oh gosh, when we were walking down the street the other day and the guy was like, ‘Oh my days’. [Laughs] I was like, ‘What are you talking about?’

Well, just to explain that for you, if it was made into a sentence, it was basically him saying, ‘Girl is fine.’ And when do you feel the most beautiful and fine?
Usually when am at home, in my pyjamas, with no make-up on and my hair tied up. There you go, and if you don’t like it then you can go [laughs].

It’s clear that you’re already on your way to stamping your mark and living most teenage girls’ dreams; but if you could have just one wish, what would it be?
I only get one wish [laughs]. OK, if I could only have one wish about anything… Well, it would be that I get to do this till I die.

Follow Alexis Jordan on Twitter or visit www.alexisjordanofficial.com

Words by Natalie Joseph

Alexis Jordan is supporting JLS on their summer tour and has been confirmed to play The Wireless Festival and T4 On The Beach. The full list of shows are below:

Friday 17th June – Winchester Matterley Bowl (JLS support)

Saturday 18th June – Swindon Lydiard Park (JLS support)

Thursday 30th June – London Scala (headline show)

Friday 1st July – Wireless Festival

Saturday 2nd July – Birmingham HMV Institute (headline show)

Sunday 3rd July – Manchester Club Academy (headline)

Thursday 7th July – Newcastle Racecourse (JLS support)

Friday 8th July – Milton Keynes Stadium (JLS support)

Saturday 9th July – Chelmsford Hyland Park (JLS support)

Sunday 10th July – T4 On The Beach

Tickets for her three headline are priced £14.50 London / £12.50 Birmingham and Manchester (subject to booking fee) and are available from www.livenation.co.uk