Hi , login or create a new account below

WORDS: ROSALIND TULLOCH

Walking into the Queens Hall we are immediately met by a relaxed and friendly Diana, whose down to earth persona instantly puts everyone at ease. She leads us into the auditorium, praising the beautiful venue and telling us that she is going try and get candles everywhere! Not sure what Health and Safety would think, but you have to admire her creativity as she sashays between the old fashioned pews to find an appropriate seat for our interview.

HOW DID IT FEEL TO HAVE YOUR FIRST SINGLE ‘ONCE’ DEBUT AT NO. 1?

Absolutely incredible! It was amazing. All week it was me and Chipmunk battling alongside each other and it was really intense; the minute I got it, I was literally screaming. My Mum and sister were there; it was an absolutely incredible moment that I’ll never forget!

WHAT WAS THE X FACTOR EXPERIENCE LIKE FOR YOU?

I’ve got some really great memories. It’s really intense; you are sucked into a little bubble and all that press attention is hard! I was also the person that was sick every night before I went on stage, and having to learn a new song every week. It was so nerve wracking, but so amazing. It’s such a great platform, to sing in front of the judges and all the people you meet – it’s amazing, it’s absolutely incredible!

WHAT ARE THE JUDGES REALLY LIKE?

Literally, what you see is what you get! Simon is just so funny, he’s so sarcastic in his humour! Cheryl is lovely, Louis is cheeky and Dannii is amazing!

WHY DID YOU NOT WEAR SHOES DURING YOUR PERFORMANCES?

My shoes! I mix it up a bit you know, cause on the X Factor I did wear shoes for about four performances! It was just when I was feeling so nervous; even on my tour I thought I would wear shoes a lot but recently I’ve started taking them off so that I can get into it more and I can really jump around and have fun without worrying if I’m going to fall over! I can just be a bit more free!

YOU’VE BEEN VERY BUSY FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. WHAT'S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU?

Obviously X Factor was great. Writing my album was absolutely incredible ‘cause I worked with so many great people. Doing the West End (starring in a revival of the play, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice – Ed) and my tour, and getting my Number One – there are too many highlights!

HOW HAS YOUR LIFE CHANGED SINCE APPEARING ON THE X-FACTOR?

So much! Now I live in London by myself, I’ve got my own little flat, though I’m constantly on the road – I was in Manchester last night! I’ve still got friends that I’ve known since I was seven years old and I try to see them as often as I can, but I’ve got new friends in London as well. I’ve got my new band. Obviously, I’m not at school anymore, I’m working; it’s so strange!

WHERE DID THE NAME FOR THE ALBUM COME FROM?

There’s a song from the album, which will be my next single, called ‘The Boy Who Murdered Love’. There’s a line in there that says ‘you’re a tainted cherry tree’ about someone who is so beautiful and you want them so bad but you know that they are so wrong for you ‘cause they are just a nasty piece of work! And I just liked the imagery of a tainted cherry tree which is why I picked that.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE SONG FROM YOUR NEW ALBUM?

Oh, I hate this question! I love them all, I really couldn’t choose. I love all the up-tempo ones like ‘Once’ and ‘The Boy Who Murdered Love’, and I do a cover of a Bjork song from when she was in the Sugarcubes and ‘You’ll Never Get To Heaven’, but I love the song ‘Known’ ‘cause it’s quite down-beat and it means a lot to me.

IS THERE ANY ARTIST YOU WOULD LIKE TO DUET WITH?

I would love to do something with Kings of Leon. I’d love to get Freddie Mercury back but he’s not going to come back so... Chris Martin, Gary Lightbody from Snow Patrol. There are so many people I could write a massive list!

WHICH ARTISTS INSPIRED YOU?

Judy Garland; I think she is absolutely incredible. I fell in love with her when I was in Little Voice! I bought everything on vinyl and I watched documentaries on her religiously. But there are so many artists, people like Beyonce who you watch – and the stamina and the quality that she sings live, and the fact that she can dance and everything, is amazing. Then there are people I listened to growing up; the Spice Girls, Queen and The Beatles – so many!

WHAT EMBARRASSING SONGS DO YOU HAVE ON YOUR IPOD?

I’ve got a bit of Miley Cyrus on there, I think! And I have the Button Moon soundtrack, if you remember that!

HAVE YOU HAD ANY CRAZY FAN EXPERIENCES?

Fame can be difficult sometimes, especially when you’re a bit sad and down and you want to sort of hide away, but at the same time it’s so worth it. And X Factor really prepared me for it ‘cause it’s such an intense show. Fan things? Yeah, a bit crazy, like people following us back to hotels – it’s crazy, but it’s good!

WHICH FLAVOUR OF ICE CREAM WOULD YOU BE?

I love chocolate so it’d be something chocolatey, maybe with some strawberries, cause I’m quite fruity as well. So, something like chocolate strawberry shortcake, with milk chocolate and white chocolate and then loads of toffee sauce on it! A lot of variety in there!

IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON AN ISLAND WHAT ONE ITEM WOULD YOU TAKE?

I think I’d take my iPod.

WHERE IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO VISIT?

I’d love to visit New York. I’ve never been there and I love the idea of it!

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HAVE IN STORE FOR YOU?

I have no idea; anything could happen, at any time in life, so I just hope that I’m well and healthy and everyone around me is and that I do a really good second album – fingers crossed! – and hopefully it will be as successful as this one!