Jesy Nelson launching pop comeback with new music video eight months after leaving Little Mix
JESY NELSON is set to release her debut single as a solo artist next month – nine months after quitting Little Mix.
I can reveal she has completed the song and it will be accompanied by an energetic video she has spent the past few days rehearsing for.
But her return is likely to raise eyebrows among her fans and her former bandmates Jade Thirlwall, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Perrie Edwards, after she said she couldn’t continue in the group because of her mental health.
Jesy has spent the past three days at a west London studio in intense training with a troupe of 20 dancers expected to feature in the video.
A music insider said: “Jesy spent several months at the beginning of the year working on the music and it has all come together quite quickly.
“Her new record label Polydor are keen to strike while the iron is hot, so they are throwing everything at her project and want the first single out in a matter of weeks.
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“It is more upbeat than some might be expecting and there will be plenty of choreography in the video.
“The difference this time is that she is not comparing herself to her bandmates. It’s been so refreshing for her.
“Jesy has been working hard and is feeling really positive about this new chapter of her career.”
It is worlds away from how she felt towards last October’s music video shoot for Sweet Melody, which she said was the final straw for her in the group.
In May, Jesy said: “The last music video we did was the breaking point.
“Whenever we had a music video, I put an enormous amount of pressure on myself to try and lose weight. I have a fear of looking back on the camera.
“If I don’t like what I see, I find it so hard to be in front of the camera and feel amazing and perform.”
If those feelings have gone this time around, then leaving Little Mix last December really was the right decision.
I love you Maur
GIOVANNI PERNICE shared this snap of himself and Love Island’s Maura Higgins looking loved up on Instagram – days after hastily unfollowing another Islander, Amy Day.
Amy entered Casa Amor last week. The Strictly pro had previously liked a string of Amy’s photos on the app, dating back more than seven months, but clearly had a rethink after her telly debut.
Giovanni has now unliked all of the snaps as well as unfollowing her – suggesting his current girlfriend is Maur than enough.
Weeknd sees lite on drugs
THEY have inspired some of the brilliant music he has made but THE WEEKND has ditched hard drugs.
The Blinding Lights singer says he is “sober lite” meaning he only occasionally drinks and still smokes cannabis.
He said: “I’m not a heavy drinker. The romance of drinking isn’t there.”
Asked by GQ if he does any drugs other than marijuana, he replied: “No. Drugs were a crutch. It was me thinking I needed it.
“And not doing the work to figure out how not to need it. And I’ve spent the last few years realising that and thanking God that I don’t need it.
"Because for a lot of people, it’s hard to shake it. But I knew I didn’t want it.”
The musician, who has previously dated Bella Hadid and Selena Gomez, also said he feels guilty dating people who aren’t famous as they get dragged into the spotlight.
He added: “I just try not to bring attention to myself.”
The Weeknd – real name Abel Tesfaye – has teased his next album is just around the corner.
He said: “It’s the album I’ve always wanted to make.”
Sounds epic.
Stormzy has a singalong
STORMZY could enjoy all the lavish trappings of superstardom while celebrating a birthday – but the grime supremo has rather less extravagant tastes.
Having marked his 28th birthday at Thorpe Park last week, the rapper spent his weekend at a karaoke bar in central London, alongside pals and a string of glamorous models.
Stormzy, who had hired out the popular spot Lucky Voice for the event, was later pictured with an arm around one-time Playboy glamour girl Melissa Howe.
A source said: “It was a fairly down-to-earth party for someone so famous, and given he’s a performer, doing karaoke is almost like a busman’s holiday.
But he was clearly enjoying himself.
“He was laughing with friends as they left late on and they clearly had all had a great night.”
The sensible star had even arranged for all guests to be Covid tested before attending to avoid any problems afterwards.
This week Stormzy announced plans to fund 30 more scholarship places for black students at Cambridge University.
Ten youngsters a year, for the next three years, will receive annual grants of £20,000 as part of a deal with banking giant HSBC.
The Stormzy scholarships were first launched in 2018.
Stormzy said: “For 30 more black students to have the opportunity to study at Cambridge University – the same year our initial 2018 scholars graduate – feels like an incredible milestone.”
And he has clearly been feeling generous this week.
He gifted fellow rapper pal Dave a hugely expensive Audemars Piguet watch.
It’s likely it was to celebrate the success of Dave’s second album, We’re All Alone In This Together, which topped the charts last week and has been lauded by critics as another triumph.
Footage of the gift has been widely shared across social media prompting questions from fans over what such a flash timepiece could cost.
I guess if you’ve got to ask, you can’t afford it.
Rihanna heads to hot spot
LOOKING at Rihanna’s pink fluffy hat you wouldn’t know New York is in the middle of a heatwave.
The Work singer popped out for dinner wearing the fluffy creation as temperatures neared 30C in the Big Apple.
Fans are clamouring for new music as the singer hasn’t released an album since Anti in January 2016.
You may well think all she ever does is get dressed up for long, fancy dinners, as she seems to be photographed doing just that almost daily.
But I guess if I had spent years on the pop treadmill, relentlessly releasing albums and touring the world, I would want to enjoy my time off too.
I might just wear something that didn’t make me drip with sweat, though.
Swim at the Oasis, Anais?
NOEL GALLAGHER’s daughter ANAIS looked like she was auditioning to be the latest bombshell to enter the Love Island villa as she rocked this Eighties-style swimsuit on Instagram.
The model and photographer, left, could be perfect for the villa too, as she has revealed she has a soft spot for Toby on the hit ITV2 show.
He has been coupled up with Kaz, Chloe, Abigail and currently Molly since joining the series – but admitted at the end of Sunday evening’s episode that he had changed his mind once again and wanted to go back to Chloe.
Anais tweeted: “Toby is the most entertaining Love Island contestant in history. As soon as you take your eye off him . . . my man BRINGS the content once again.
“Sorry you’re not allowed to vote Toby out any more. Because at this point it’s comical and he needs to stay.”
Getting Anais in there with some rock’n’roll tales about her dad would certainly spice up that show.
DaBaby: I'm sorry
DABABY has finally said sorry for homophobic remarks he made on stage a week ago, after being axed from three festival line-ups and condemned by acts including Madonna, Dua Lipa and Elton John.
The rapper wrote on Instagram tonight: “I appreciate the many people who came to me with kindness, who reached out to me privately to offer wisdom, education and resources.
“That’s what I needed and it was received.
“I want to apologise to the LGBTQ+ community for the hurtful and triggering comments I made.”
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Eil be number one
BILLIE EILISH will almost certainly hit No1 on Friday with her new album Happier Than Ever.
Read more on the Irish Sun
It has sold more physical copies than the rest of the Top Ten combined, putting it firmly ahead.
It is also ahead on downloads. But last week’s No1, Dave’s We’re All Alone In This Together – set to drop to No2 – is the most streamed so far this week.