The world’s wackiest reality TV show contestant talks wine (well, lack of it), women and song, and gives us the lowdown on his new single
Tell us about the new single, “It’s Chico Time” You know the song, obviously! It’s pretty catchy, huh? I think it’ll appeal to everyone. The other day I was in my car, stopped at traffic lights, and this old couple spotted me. The guy started waving his walking stick and mouthing “It’s Chico Time” at me. I was like “wow!” I couldn’t believe they recognised me! And you’ve got two-year olds that like the song, too. “It’s Chico Time” is all about finding your inner child, the boy or girl within you. The message is “you can get delirious if you take life too serious” – who’s not going to relate to that?
What or who are your musical influences?
Well, I’d describe my own musical style as a Latino vibe with a hint of Arabic. My top three favourite artists of all time are Michael Jackson, Bob Marley and Elvis. If I could cover one famous track, it would be Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” – if I thought I could do it justice, that is!
Obviously, you shot to fame on X-Factor. What made you decide to audition in the first place?
I was trying to make it in the music industry for a while before the X Factor auditions came up – knocking on doors, recording, sending off demos. I’d been making a music video in Jamaica when I heard about the X Factor. I thought, if nothing else, it’s good publicity. Also, I figured some of the most successful artists in recent years have come from reality TV shows. Look at Lemarr and Will Young – they’re the real deal, incredibly talented, and they both got their big break on reality television. You do the maths!
Wanadoo
Here his single
Wanadoo
