Cheryl loves being a risk taker

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Cheryl Cole may have her hand in a sling after singer and collaborator Will.I.Am rammed his Cadillac into a parked car recently, but the only thing on the former Girls Aloud member’s mind is her latest album A Million Lights.

“It feels amazing to have this album out. We’ve worked so hard on it and it’s a really great feeling to have your work appreciated. If you were to compare my first two albums to this one, I think that I’ve really grown as a performer and an artiste. In the beginning it was really nerve-wracking and I didn’t know if people would like my work. But now I’m very excited about this album and I’m happy that it seems to be doing well.”
Cheryl was clear right before she started work on this album last July that she wanted to have some exciting new collaborations on the album. Ask her about it and she says, “I just wanted to branch out into different genres on this album. I wanted to explore new things and that’s why I was eager to collaborate with different artists. I think it gave me a fresh outlook on my music and I hope that my fans like the sound.”
Her collaborations in this album include Far East Movement and Will.I.Am, the latter she quips talks only too much. “All my collaborations were extremely enjoyable. I had a great time recording with each of them. They all bring a new and fresh sound to this album,” she adds.
The album incorporates genres from dance-pop, pop to R&B and even dubstep. While fans seem to love the mix, critics have had a mixed response. Was it a risk gone too far? “I wouldn’t change a thing on the album. There are always going to be different reactions to your work. If you keep playing it safe then I think you run the risk of being monotonous so I’m glad that I tried something different this time. I love the eclectic sound that the album has and I think that I can really learn from the experience.”
Speaking of the past, Cheryl says reuniting with her former band Girls Aloud is not on the cards for the moment. “I’m enjoying my independence and I think I’m growing as an artiste by doing my own thing right now. That said, I love the girls and they will always be a big part of my life and my career.”