Rak-Su’s Myles Stephenson sings new girlfriend’s praises as Love Island’s Gabby Allen ‘has been a great support’ in first year after X Factor triumph
IT’S ten months since boyband Rak-Su triumphed on The X Factor, landing a record deal with Simon Cowell and a legion of fans in the process.
But after heading to Los Angeles to complete their debut album, the four-piece from Watford know their biggest challenge is still to come — and they are feeling the pressure.
This weekend the guys joined Sun readers for a surprise gig and showcased their new material to delighted holidaymakers in Scarborough, where chart favourite Dimelo and a selection of new tracks hit the perfect note with fans.
Chatting ahead of their performance, singer Myles Stephenson told me: “It has been an incredible experience since we won the show, but we always knew it would only be the first stage.
“It has given us an amazing platform but we need the songs to stand on their own now for us to cement our place in the business.
“We’ve been working on the new material for months and months, probably about 70 songs in total, so the time has come to start letting people hear it.
“It’s nerve-racking and I’m feeling the pressure — we all are — but we have worked hard and we believe in it.” The band, with me, pictured, have just completed a major arena tour with fellow X Factor winners Little Mix, and singer Ashley Fongho said: “They were great to be around.
“They’ve been really helpful in terms of just keeping it grounded.
“We got to play huge shows, but when we weren’t working we went bowling with them or to the cinema, things like that.
“Little Mix and One Direction both became absolutely massive from the show but it isn’t necessarily like that any more, things have changed — it takes hard work. But they gave us great advice.
“I’ve stopped searching online for reaction to everything we do, it’s not helpful. The results will speak for themselves.”
Alongside fellow bandmates Jamaal Shurland and Mustafa Rahimtulla, Myles is enjoying extra support from his new girlfriend, 2017 Love Island contestant Gabby Allen, as he excitedly told me their romance is already heating up.
He added: “We’re seeing each other and it’s going really, really well — we’re enjoying it.
“She has been amazing.
“Actually she has been a great support to me too because she knows about the showbiz industry and how to handle it.
“Obviously it feels a bit weird that people are interested in our relationship, but we’re making it work and things couldn’t be going better between us.”
Also on the bill at the Sun Savers £9.50 Holiday weekend were Britain’s Got Talent stars including winning magician Richard Jones, boyband Bring It North and quirky singer Donchez Dacres.
Alongside new material, including latest single I Want You To Freak, Rak-Su have also released their first autobiography Our Journey, tracking their first year in the business.
They’re absolutely determined to prove it won’t be the last — and with their attitude I’m sure it won’t be.
READ ON FOR MORE OF SIMON BOYLE’S BIZARRE COLUMN
Jamie: Life is pa-fect
JAMIE Dornan is a true family man, far removed from the sex-mad bachelor he has played in three Fifty Shades films.
And now that family is set to grow, as his actress wife Amelia Warner is expecting their third child.
The Brit star, who is already dad to young daughters Dulcie and Elva, has told of his love of fatherhood.
Jamie, who starred as billionaire Christian Grey opposite Dakota Johnson, said: “Being a dad is the best. I really like it. It suits me.
“Making my kids happy is a good thing for my wife and me to be driven by.”
No wonder he didn’t land the Bond role.
bizbit
YOU ME AT SIX celebrated the release of their new album VI by hosting a cleverly named pop-up vegan kebab shop, You Me At Shish, at Temple Goods in Hackney, East London, on Friday. They also played an acoustic set for fans.
A Swifty exit for Camila
CAMILA Cabello strikes a pose during some downtime while on tour with best pal Taylor Swift.
The singer posted this sexy snap before she performed in Texas on the final night of her stint with the US superstar and fellow support act Charli XCX.
She wrote alongside a snap of the trio: “Thank you @taylorswift for being an incredible friend and person and also blowing young me’s mind by inviting me on tour.”
Camila has been supporting Taylor out on the road with her Reputation tour since May, but will now stay behind in the States while Tay-Tay heads to Australia, New Zealand and Japan with Charli.
She’s earned a break.
bizbit
IGGY Azalea’s Bad Girls tour has been cancelled. The news comes days after rapper CUPCAKKE announced she was dropping out of the tour due to her pay cheque reportedly being slashed by 80 per cent.
He’s no angel but TV Robbie’s an act
AFTER quitting Twitter fearing a backlash over his opinions, Robbie Williams has made a fresh defence of his personality.
The X Factor judge has admitted he can be a “tosser” on TV, but claims it’s all an act.
In a new interview, Rob said: “Not a lot of people have likeability.
“There are lots of people I watch on stage or on television, and I’m sure people do the same as me and go, ‘Oh, you’re very difficult to like.
“Even though you’re incredibly talented, I’m picking up that you’re a bit of a tosser.’ People do that with me, but I only play a tosser on TV, I’m not a tosser in real life.”
The Sun on Sunday told yesterday how Ayda Field’s husband, who has battled anxiety and depression in the past, had stepped away from all social media to avoid negative comments having an impact on his mental health.
Instead, he has hired a team to post on his behalf to his four million followers on Twitter and Instagram.
Hopefully they’ve got his back.
Grande Pete’s rant
ARIANA Grande’s fiancé Pete Davidson might be a comedian but he has a serious side.
He blasted Kanye West, who recently revealed his bipolar disorder diagnosis, after the superstar’s speech in support of Donald Trump on US TV’s Saturday Night Live.
Pete ranted in response: “Being mentally ill is not an excuse to act like a jackass, okay?
“What Kanye said after we went off the air last week was one of the worst, most awkward things I’ve seen here, and I’ve seen Chevy Chase speak to an intern.”
He then whipped out a Make America Great Again cap and declared: “Make Kanye 2006 Again.”
I’d love to see how the rapper hits back.
Instaglam
bizmeter charts
BENNY Blanco, Halsey and Khalid’s new track Eastside knocks Calvin Harris and Sam Smith’s Promises off top spot, clocking 3.1m streams last week.
MARK Ronson and Diplo claim their second week at No5 with their Silk City joint project’s new track Electricity featuring Dua Lipa.
ARIANA Grande occupies two of last week’s Top 20 spots, with her tunes God Is A Woman and Breathin taking No15 and No16 respectively.
Last week’s most streamed singles
- Eastside – Benny Blanco, Halsey & Khalid, 3.1m
- Promises – Calvin Harris & Sam Smith, 3m
- Happier – Marshmello, 3m
- I Love It – Kanye West & Lil Pump, 2.9m
- Electricity – Silk City & Dua Lipa, 2.3m
- Taste – Tyga Ft Offset, 1.8m
- Body – Loud Luxury Ft Brando, 1.8m
- In My Mind – Dynoro, 1.7m
- In My Feelings – Drake, 1.7m
- Lucid Dreams – Juice Wrld, 1.6m
- Shotgun – George Ezra, 1.6m
- All I Am – Jess Glynne, 1.6m
- Falling Down – Lil Peep & Xxxtentacion, 1.6m
- Be Alright – Dean Lewis, 1.5m
- God Is A Woman – Ariana Grande, 1.5m
- Breathin – Ariana Grande, 1.5m
- No Brainer – Dj Khaled, 1.4m
- Lucky You – Eminem Ft Joyner Lucas, 1.4m
- High Hopes By Panic! At The Disco, 1.4m
- Sicko Mode – Travis Scott, 1.3m