X Factor champs Rak-Su blame Simon Cowell’s Syco label for ‘frustrating’ struggle to release tracks
RAK-SU won The X Factor in 2017 but almost 18 months later it’s time for Simon Cowell to face the music.
The four-piece have hit out at the mogul’s record label Syco, saying their time there had been “frustrating” and “confusing” because they struggled to get their songs released.
Last October a row erupted between Syco and management company Modest that meant the band and fellow winners Little Mix moved to another Sony label, RCA.
Now the group — Ashley Fongho, Jamaal Shurland, Myles Stephenson and Mustafa Rahimtulla — say they are thrilled they can finally put out their music, including new tune Yours Or Mine, out today.
Talking for the first time about their departure from Syco, during a visit to Bizarre HQ, Ashley said: “How was it last year? Frustrating, confusing mostly because it affected us putting out music.
“When we came off The X Factor there were suddenly a lot of cooks in the kitchen. It has taken us a while to get back to where we were before.”
Myles explained: “Since we’ve been on RCA we’ve released the Rome EP, filmed four videos and released Yours Or Mine, so for us, as long as music is released, we’re happy.”
However, they insist there are no hard feelings between the band and former mentor Simon, who invited them to his house to clear the air.
Ashley added: “Simon said, ‘I had faith in you guys, I just want what is best for you going forward’.”
And explaining the idea behind their new song, Ashley revealed: “One of the boys turned around and said, ‘I was out and asked this girl if she wanted to go back to yours or mine’, and we were like, ‘There’s something in that!’”
And they say romance is dead . . .
READ MORE FROM SIMON BOYLE'S BIZARRE COLUMN
Feeling the Gould
ELLIE Goulding harks back to the summers of her youth on brilliant new single Sixteen.
The thumping dance tune, taken from her as-yet untitled fourth album, follows her Top 20 comeback Close To Me last October.
On the new track, in which she gets nostalgic for when she left the family home as a teenager with a pal, she sings: “Do you remember when we moved out? My mum said I love you but it’s a small house. So we changed up and saved up, gave up our town, we were dangerous, couldn’t tame us, what’s missing now?”
The singer, here in my exclusive picture taking the chilly option to promote the tune, has incorporated photos of her friends, family and team when they were 16 for the single’s artwork, below.
My teenage mug would have done nothing to shift copies.
Biz Bit
SIR ELTON JOHN is wheelchair-bound. After visiting the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy, he wrote on Instagram: “Not even a sprained ankle could keep me away from one of the most beautiful museums in the world.”
Fitness fanatic leaves his Mark on training bud Liam
DATING a supermodel has made Liam Payne up his fitness game.
The former One Direction singer has joined forces with Hollywood heavyweight Mark Wahlberg to beef up for the summer after getting together with Naomi Campbell this year.
The duo have been hitting the weights and doing high-intesity workout classes together at F45 gym, in Hollywood’s Sherman Oaks, this week.
Mark, who has invested in the Australian fitness company, has bonded with Liam over training tips and is even encouraging him to sign up to its eight-week challenge so they can both nail their six-packs.
The Oscar-nominated actor revealed his crazy workout regime last year, which includes waking up at 2.30am, exercising twice a day, starting at 3.40am, and sessions in a cryotherapy booth, which uses extreme cold to burn calories and boost muscle repair.
A US source said: “Liam is a huge fan of Mark’s and is really into his health and fitness.
“He is always up for eating cleaner and wants to look as good as he can for Naomi.”
I can always give you some tips, mate.
EMILI’S SUPERPOWER
EMELI SANDE had the best-selling album of 2012 with Our Version of Events and she’s back to do it again.
She has announced the release of new collection Real Life, on June 7, having worked with producer Salaam Remi, who weaved his magic with Amy Winehouse.
The album will feature 11 tracks, including empowering recent comeback single Sparrow.
Emeli said: “I want to give people this superpower every time they play the album, like a battery pack. By the end of the album they’re going to feel restored.”
Yesterday I told how Emeli had forged an unlikely friendship with champion Brit boxer Anthony Joshue.
That should have given her a thing or two to write about.
Biz Bit
KIM KARDASHIAN has revealed an odd talent which may turn your stomach. She said: “I literally can, like, pick up a cell phone with my toes. Dial. Pick up a fork. Eat. I can do any- thing with my toes.”
Pinched hammer is a Thor point . . .
AVENGERS: Endgame is set to be the highest- grossing movie of all time – so I don’t blame Chris Hemsworth for nicking a prop.
But he shouldn’t have let his kids get hold of it.
The Aussie actor, who plays Thor, told Bizarre: “I took Stormbreaker, the weapon Thor has.
“My kids have a toy one then I saw one in the toy box the other day and thought, ‘Oh that’s the toy one,’ but it was the real one.
“They had taken it, so it’s slowly being destroyed.”
He added that he is yet to see the film . . . for good reason.
Producer Trinh Tran said: “There have been sleepless nights right up until this point. We were finishing the movie right before we flew to London. Friday was when the film was finished.”
Scarlett Johansson, who plays Black Widow, seen here promoting the flick in London yesterday, said it had been tough not revealing spoilers.
BIZ METER
DJ and prod-ucer Mark Ronson will release his fifth album, Late Night Feelings, on June 21. It will feature Camila Cabello, Alicia Keys and Miley Cyrus. The album has been inspired by Mark’s 2018 divorce from model Josephine De La Baume, and the title track, with Lykke Li, is out today.
ARIANA GRANDE had better brace herself. Her ex Pete Davidson – who she got engaged to after a month and split with in four – is making a “semi-autobiographical” film, due to be released next June. The US comic has cast Brit Bel Powley as the female lead, although it is not known if she will play Ariana.
PITCH Perfect’s Rebel Wilson wants to go into politics when she quits acting. She said: “I want to help people. I see other people needing to stand up for themselves. And God, as a woman you need to stand up for yourself in so many ways. So when I am done with Hollywood, that’s what will happen.”
A YEAR on from his death, the family of superstar DJ Avicii have released an emotional single, SOS. It will feature on the upcoming album Tim which he had been working on when he died last April aged just 28. On the track, Aloe Blacc sings: “Can you hear me? SOS. Help me put my mind to rest.”
Biz Bit
JUSTIN BIEBER only announced a break from music a fortnight ago but he’s already gearing up to return. US reports suggest he has teamed up with rapper Lil Dicky on a song due out next week. It would be his first since July.
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