Leah Ferroussat has seen commercial success over the past two years, selling 12 million singles and 4.5 million albums worldwide. However, she has faced challenges with her health and dealing with intense media scrutiny. She believes in staying true to herself and her music, rather than trying to please others or the media. While fame has its difficulties, including dealing with abusive comments online, she has enjoyed her career and performing for her fans.

1. Leah interview:
“You can’t please
everyone so why try?”
Over the past two years, Leah Ferroussat has shifted
12 million singles and 4.5 million albums worldwide.
But, as we find out, it’s not always been easy…
‘The journey is more important in music than where you end up.’ Those are the
words that really stuck in my mind from the last time we interviewed Leah. But
what did we expect? Then, having released only one single to then be propelled
to stardom after winning the Brit Awards’ Critics’ Choice Statuette we could tell
we hadn’t even seen half her talent yet. She was a charismatic motormouth that
was not afraid to speak her mind and didn’t care who didn’t like her as she was
therefore her music and fans nothing more not even popularity - maybe that’s
why she’s so successful, you can’t please everyone so why try? So, when we
asked what she meant by the title of debut single ‘The Guy I Could Be’, that was
her response ‘Guys have such laid back responses to life so why can’t I with
music? I mean it’s got me this far hasn’t it?
Two years later and Leah has changed from a girl singing pop rock covers of
Avril Lavigne to a solo woman with a successful career under her belt. She chills
in her PR team’s office (on what else but a white leather sofa may I say)
awaiting the big release of her second album, ‘This is me’, still as chirpier as
ever. Yet when we approach her with tricky questions we are met with a pause
for thought. And when the issue of the media portrayal of her relationship is
brought up she declines to comment saying she’s in this for music not for gossip
like some silly little sl*ts. This, you suspect, is a woman who’s spent the last
couple of years learning about of fame’s dark side, wanting to be known for her
music but doesn’t care if she isn’t liked.
Last time we met, you said, ‘I just want to see where my career goes
and try to enjoy myself.’ Have you enjoyed it?
‘Yeah, I have. Although there have been moments when the stress has taken
over and I’ve just wanted to scream; preparing for concerts or gigs are the
worst but when it comes to performing I love it I mean what artist wouldn’t and
if they say they don’t they are bullsh*tting. Another stressful time is during meet
and greets… so you’re giving a group of fans some attention and thanks for
liking your music etc but then you get pulled away and told to do an promotional

2. interview and I stand there like ‘I don’t care how famous I am or who likes me
Im about the music that’s all’ I mean I’ve got to the point now where stuff like
that is laughable I mean have they not realised yet?
You did the Concert for Stephen Lawrence at the O2. Is that a cause that
is close to your heart?
‘Definitely, I feel a duty to try to help cut gun and knife crime in any way I can
no matter what the situation, I mean they happened at my school and you hear
about it in the news so why wouldn’t you want to help in any way I’m just
fortunate I can help with my music which is something I love. Stuff people
witness is horrific and I’m glad I can help.
You’ve suffered in the past few months with health problems…
‘Yeah, I was told I have something wrong with my voice – damage or something
and was told to cut down singing or something. It really got to me I’d just
started my journey in the music industry and they wanted to take it away from
me. I wasn’t going to let that happen so I put myself on vocal rest occasionally
but I can’t do much more, just look after myself. But when getting that news the
first thing I thought to myself was “I’m notgonna give up.” I’m not that person’I
mean I’ve always told others not to so why should I… hypercritical much.
Everyone has a go at me for pushing myself to hard sometimes but I don’t see it
I’m naturally a laid back person and the fans get that so I don’t care what the
media can say.
Have you had a lot of abuse from the media or the public?
‘Oh yeah sometimes it seems like they don’t f*cking stop! I’ve had death threats
for cancelling! But seriously the social media are the worst its always one bloody
extreme to the other and if you’re in the middle they don’t give a sh*t or just
twist things. It doesn’t bother me, but sometimes it p*sses me off yet I still find
it funny reading things about me I didn’t even know I mean they take learning
new things about yourself or learning a new thing every day too far it’s cr*p.
And the fans can be just as bad you get the ones that love your music saying “I
LOVE YOU!” or those ones that scream “I HATE YOU AND I WANT YOU TO DIE.”
because they don’t like what you do I mean if you don’t like it don’t listen to it …
simple. There’s no middle ground everything’s an extreme, because people want
to be noticed.’
How do you deal with death threats?
‘Well, I used to comment back, but I’ve learnt it’s a complete waste of time and
they probably don’t understand half the words I used anyway. I’ve had fans go
“I didn’t mean it. I just wanted to get your attention.” This makes me laugh

3. even more. I do read my time line though I mean I don’t care what people like
that say, it doesn’t affect me.
Do other female artists annoy you with their approach to the media? ‘A
lot of artists do and it is especially the females, I understand you want to be
known but seriously have some class and dignity about it. They love to play the
victim which really annoys me I mean they know what they got themselves into
so why make it worse for yourself. No one’s ever heard me sing “He broke my
heart” or “I’m fed up and I’m gonna give up.” I’m not that girland to be honest
never want to be yeah some of my songs might be more calm than others but I
don’t go righting about every relationship issue under the sun. I never was and I
never will be. I always try to switch it around like “Okay. If you want to cheat on
me, I’ll see you later.”'
You wrote Miley Cyrus’s first Top Three single, ‘Party in the USA’. Did
you see her twerking?
‘I think everyone has seen her twerking. Some of the things she’s doing are a
little crazy, but she’s probably trying really hard to get away from the
Hannah Montana thing but seriously she is trying way too hard its embarrassing.
Doing that in the public eye isn’t easy but she needs to get some class about
her. I’ve done or worn things in the past that looking back I’m like “Whoa!”but I
never took it to her extreme, I like to see myself with some class and I will keep
it that way thanks. I’m not desperate for attention you either like me or not it
doesn’t bother me. So let’s just hope she never does it again.’
Last question I promise… Do you ever struggle with fame?
‘Sometimes, the media just don’t give you a break and when I got take in with
my illness they were there, in my face flashing the camera and everything , I
mean they only care about their story and I care about me so we aren’t going to
get along. That’s the bit I hate. That’s the bit I… [Sighs] those are the moments
when I lose faith in the public as I just realise what this world is coming to… its…
shocking. Even a doctor asked for my autograph I mean it was turning into a
joke. I’ve learnt to be true to myself and so if anyone doesn’t like me, like the
media it’s their problem and not mine.