21 year-old Laura White caused a stir when she auditioned for this years series of X Factor, Despite feeling ill she managed to impress all the judges with her soulful version of Jocelyn Brown's “Somebody Else's Guy”.
Judge Simon Cowell told her: "You're incredible. Your lack of image - it's so appealing."
Interestingly yesterday’s Sunday Mirror revealed that Laura’s performance history and singing career had some parallel similarities with Leona Lewis. It transpires that Laura White was once signed to Kylie Minogue's record producer - and has made an album.
The Sunday Mirror also claims that Laura is no stranger to the industry, and has been groomed by one of the UK's top music moguls, having been discovered in 2002 singing in a local bar, by none other than Matt Aitken, Aitken’s former company Stock, Aitken and Waterman has produced records for Kylie Minogue, Elton John and Paul McCartney. She was reportedly signed up with a five-year contract, which ended after the recording of a six-track album and the release of 2 singles two years later.
Contestants with previous contracts are allowed to apply for X Factor, but only if the contracts are expired. Several other finalists over the different series of X Factor have been in similar situations. In 2006 Leona Lewis won, having sparked controversy when it was revealed that she had been coached by Janet Edwards whose other protégées include Boy George and Scary Spice, Mel B, and had released an album with Spiral Music.
Laura spent the next year in the recording studio where she worked with producers to put together a six-track CD for record companies in between studying for two A-Levels. She doesnt mention this on any of her blogs or her own web site. However she does mention her successful audition for the "E4 school of Performing Arts" along with 23 others, from an original 10,000 auditionees, and that she made her first TV debut on E4 in September last year. Her update suggests a hive of activity....
"Currently, I am working with many producers, musicians and musical contacts including dance group 'digital rush'. I have also recently been working with many songwriters/producers including Daniel2Dark and Stuart Connor of Paradise. I also am in the process of recording my album, of my own 10 original tracks to showcase this summer in London"
Gooodness she is busy! Looks as if shes had more than one contract too. Will Laura be the next X Factor winner? Will she successfully land a new record contract?