Gorgeous 23 year old MySpace diva Laura Critchley is about to release her hotly anticipated debut album. She chatted to Maire Bonheim about working with the Sugababes, those rumours about Robbie Williams and getting axed from the X Factor because she was blonde!

Describe your style.

The style of the album is a cross-over of country and soul, but definitely still pop.

What’s helped you most in breaking onto the scene?

I’d say the most important thing for any singer or songwriter is to gig as much as you can. I’ve done three big tours this year and loads of gigs in between. There’s no point in being a bedroom singer.

You’ve done a lot Reality TV like Fame Academy, First Up and the X Factor.

I wouldn’t base my whole career around reality TV shows but growing up I definitely did a lot of competitions, and I think it’s great to do everything and anything to spread your music and get it out there.

I think Fame Academy was one of the best. I was much younger then but I got to be in the same group as Lemar. He was a great inspiration to me, he had a fantastic voice obviously, and got through to the house. I kept on watching his progress and that’s what spurred me on with mine. I’ve remained friends with him, I actually saw him at a charity ball last Christmas and I told him that I was signed.

What about the X Factor?

I’d say X Factor is a lottery really – it attracts a lot of people that just want to be famous, a lot of people that have been singing for years, and a lot of people that have never sang a note in their life. I didn’t get through the first round because I was blonde! I sang my song, and they said they couldn’t accept me. I asked for pointers about why I didn’t get through, and they said it wasn’t my age or voice, it was just that they’d let a lot of blonde singers through already that day!

I’m quite wise to how these programs work, so I kind of understood that they had criteria to reach. Rejection is something you learn to handle after a lot of auditions. It’s actually great that I didn’t get through, because now I’m signed to an independent label and I have my own songs on the album, which in some cases with the X factor you can’t do.

How much of an influence has MySpace had on your success?

MySpace has been great. It was actually the reason I got signed. Andrew Gemmell [Big Print Records manager] spotted me on MySpace and he fell in love with my song Sometimes I. He asked me to perform at one of his company parties. There was another man there called Jeremy Marsh, who signed Annie Lennox and Take That. They got together after I sang and said they wanted to sign me.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?

Hopefully on a third or fourth album. I want longevity in this industry and I’m never going to stop writing music.

Who have you been most starstruck by?

Probably Brian May, the lead guitarist from Queen. I used to love Queen when I was younger. I met him at Mika’s after-show party and I felt really starstruck and nervous to go up to him. I spoke to him and he was just really polite and nice, I even had a photo taken with him! I think he must be used to it. Other than that most people have appeared quite normal to me.

What was it like working with the Sugababes?

I was expecting there to be catfighting because you hear so much about them in the press, but they were really nice girls, very normal!

Best gig you’ve played to date?

Wembley Arena was good, but some of the festivals I did were great too. Knowsley is my favourite festival because it’s in my home town of Liverpool.

Which other celebrity would you like to be stuck in a lift with?

Jack Black, definitely! He’s so funny! He would just have you laughing and you wouldn’t mind being stuck in a lift with him would you?

What’s your advice to people trying to break onto the scene?

Be determined, persevere with people who keep telling you no all the time and just carry on pestering them anyway. Network, contact as many people as you can. Most importantly gig and have loads of self belief in yourself. I’m sure they’d have that if they were in it for real anyway.

Are the rumours true about you and Robbie Williams?

No! Me and Robbie aren’t together! I’ve just recorded on his album, so we are friends!

Have you ever been chatted up by a celebrity?

If I have been I haven’t been aware of it. If I could go on a date with anyone who was famous it would have to be Jack Black. I’m a big fan!

When was the last time you threw up?

My god I can’t remember! Probably three New Years Eves ago when me and my friend Sarah shared 3 bottles of rosé!

Laura’s single What Do We Do is out 12th November. Her album Sometimes I is out 19th November, 2007, both available at HMV in store and online.

Visit www.lauracritchley.com / www.myspace.com/lauracritchley