Ray Quinn
'SIMON COWELL IS DEAD…SWEET'
By Beth Hardie,
Mirror.co.uk07/03/2007
X FACTOR finalist Ray Quinn spoke exclusively to Mirror.co.uk about his hopes of working with Gary Barlow, how “sweet” Simon Cowell is and answered accusations he’s a fake.
The 18-year-old Liverpudlian, speaking from Bournemouth where he was performing on the X Factor tour, reveals: “I’d definitely like to get writing my own stuff, maybe with people like Gary Barlow or Guy Chambers.
“That would be great to be able to work with them.”
Big words for a little guy. But Ray has the backing of one of the most powerful men in the music industry, Simon Cowell and his label Syco Music, which is set to release Ray’s debut album this month.
Such is the music mogul’s enthusiasm for his new protégé, he whisked him off to Los Angeles for a month to record the album at the legendary Capitol Studios and to shoot a video in Las Vegas.
Click here to listen to Ray talk about recording his album in LA.
Naturally, former Brookside actor Ray couldn’t be more thankful or full of praise for his serpent-tongued boss and goes as far as describing him as “sweet” – a word almost certainly never used in association with the high-trousered one before.
“He’s cool, he’s wicked,” enthuses Quinn when asked if he’s as evil as the TV baddie we all love to hate.
“He’s really fun and exciting, dead sweet and very generous and I respect him. He’s been listening to my stuff, getting dead excited.”
His “stuff” is actually that of the swing era, namely the Rat Pack and Ray readily admits he was probably born in the wrong era as it’s not exactly the norm for a lad his age to be getting down to Dean Martin.
Perhaps it was this that led to the internet-based rumours that our-Ray was not 18 at all but a fully-grown man of 29-years, a claim he obviously denies. Or maybe it was his incredible confidence and ease with which he handled the trials of a reality show watched by millions nationwide.
Indeed, this was just one of the accusations thrown in Mr Quinn’s direction. There was also the tricky matter of a video showing him rehearsing for a place in Eton Road, who just so happened to get onto X Factor and didn’t mention the fact they were manufactured. Then there were the claims both acts were signed to the same management company, which in itself was a breach of show rules and had resulted in judge Louis Walsh booting off his group Avenue the week before.
Eton Road claimed they’d turned down a deal with Liverpool-based Colette Fenlon Management to take a shot at X Factor but Ray admits to being on the books of a management company.
After a pause he confirms: “I had an agent. I don’t know if they did.”
But he’s adamant the audition tape came about because their paths crossed as young hopefuls and not because they were primed and manufactured ready and waiting to be snapped up by the programme.
“I’ve never been a part of Eton Road. All it was, was before the X Factor, you all try and break into the industry whichever way you can, so I just went for this random audition and that was it really.
“I’ve known them quite a long time, they’re friends of mine.”
Whatever the finer details of the mystery, Simon Cowell wanted him and of course, what Simon wants, he gets.
And Ray, whose every other word is “wicked” and “cool” certainly isn’t complaining.
“I’m enjoying it and living life to the full while I can,” he gushes. “I’m making every moment last and never forgetting a minute and enjoying every moment that I’m blessed with, because it is a blessing and I’m loving every minute.”
Click here to listen to Ray talk about what he'll do if his new record flops.
Ray Quinn is now a cog in the Cowell empire; he walks the walk and certainly talks the talk.
Whether or not he can sell the records remains to be seen.
Ray Quinn’s self-titled album is released on March 12.
