Breaking into the US Billboard Dance and UK Music Week Commercial Pop Charts with her debut single ‘All About Us,’ this young rising star recently collaborated with Kiss FM DJ’s Majestic for a magical remix of her No.2 hit single all about self-love.
Celebrity Journalist Angela Sara West @angela_sara_west chats exclusively with hot London artist Allegra for Surrey Rocks about her latest empowering track, her Spice Girls and Wimbledon tennis connections, celebrating her new ambassadorial role for mental health charity Healing Through Horses, and hosting the hottest house parties!
Showcasing sincerity since her music debut ‘All About Us’ in 2018, this sensational singer/songwriter is all about keeping it real. Excelling in the ever-growing world of dance-pop, her last release, ‘If You Wanna Love Me’ hit the No.2 spot in the Music Week Commercial Pop Charts.
Her latest track, ‘He Ain’t You’, which Allegra recently announced on BBC’s Playlist Show, is already achieving accolades a-go-go.
“Finding out that ‘If You Wanna Love Me’ is No.2 in the Music Week Charts was just so incredible!” Allegra tells me. “I had a lot of fun filming the music video, as it gave me a more 70’s disco vibe. Everyone has been enjoying the song, and I’ve been getting SO much love from all the DJs!”
A Majestic remix
So much so that Kiss FM’s DJ Majestic made a magical remix of the popular single. “My team approached Majestic with no expectations really and getting the ‘phone call from him to say that he loved the track and wanted to do a remix was just so unexpected!” she explains. “I remember listening to it on Kiss FM and I was just dancing in my pjs around my kitchen… I’d just turn up the volume and get partying!”
She shot the music video here in Surrey, in a bowling alley in Guildford. The fun-loving party girls’ inspiration behind her empowering track? “It’s important to me that every song that I release has an empowering message… I don’t want to release songs just for the sake of It. I work very hard with my team, and I make sure that my vision is put out in every project.
He Ain’t You
“It’s all about knowing your worth,” she says of her latest single, which stresses the importance of self-care. “So, that particular track is all about self-love and not needing someone to make you feel loved, and I just LOVE that message.”
“When I made my New Year’s resolutions, I said that this is a year to be selfish and to become the best version of myself,” the young popstar reveals. “I found that 2021 was a very difficult year for myself and many others, so this year, I’m putting myself first and I’m just gonna love myself. I think that’s more important. So, I now just focus on the things that I love… well, the THING that I love… which is music.”
Celebrating girlfriends
With the importance of self-care coming to the fore during the lockdown, she’s been enjoying celebrating Valentine’s Days with her best girlfriends. “Last year, I had the best day… We all dressed up and wore red and had a long three-course dinner at home. The table was decorated with chocolates, roses, hearts etc. It was the best! We even had a red velvet cake which had the words ‘Men Suck’ on it, ha ha! It was a joke, of course, but we just celebrated ‘us’ and danced all night…This year, I wanted to do something similar with all my girlfriends and make a night of it, celebrating the love we have for one another and just dancing the night away!”
He Ain’t You – on the up
She says her latest release, ‘He Ain’t You’, also reflects on personal experience. “So, it’s about how you’ve met the perfect person, who treats you like a princess, but you just end up craving the guy used to be with who treated you badly. I know the old person cheated on me and forgot about me and didn’t really care, but you just crave the other person… You can’t help it…”
How has the new track been received so far? “Very well! It’s just entered the music pop charts and is working its way up! This is definitely something very different, and I think my fans will see a different side to me and how I have developed as an artist. I think everyone will see a slight change in my style in music… exciting things are coming!”
Following in Spicey footsteps…
Following five singles and a multitude of remixes under her musical belt, fast-rising female artist Allegra offers words of love, empowerment, defiance, power and reliability through her catchy melodies coupled with direct lyrics and infectious beats.
“You always think that once a song is out it that should be fast-paced, but there’s a lot of work going on behind it,” she says.
The spirited pop star, co-managed by Matt Meyers and Surrey-based Chris Herbert (who co-founded The Spice Girls), sets a positive mood with her feisty anthems of assertiveness, enjoying an empowering, confident vibe. As a joyful declaration of self-worth and independence, her infectious hits are described as dynamic dance-pop tune that instantly makes life feel brighter. “They show the importance of valuing ourselves and never settling for less than what we want or deserve.”
Her past and present musical heroes? “My parents gave me a CD player and the music I loved playing was Alicia Keys, The Saturdays, Alexandra Burke, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Amy Macdonald… I was also given a bright pink microphone and would just sing all the songs in a mirror and pretend I was on stage with them!”
“I also love love love Beyoncé! I admire her work ethic, too… it’s really inspirational. I watched her documentary and she very much wants to be the first person and last person in the room, and it inspired me to put the hard work in as well.”
As for a collab, “I would really like to collaborate with Rita Ora,” Allegra discloses. “She’s kind of like a childhood hero and she’s just so cool, and I feel like we’d get on very well writing a song, doing a music video together. She seems very cool and I love her fashion sense. Whenever I’m doing an inspirational outfit, I always look at images of Rita.”
Saturday Mash-Up!
Allegra recently showcased an alluring, captivating performance on CBBC’s ‘Saturday Mash Up’, a live entertainment show where ANYTHING can happen!
“We got the call just three days before, so we had only two days of rehearsals, plus the travel there, and because of COVID I hadn’t done any live performances for a long time… So, I just had to do it alone – rehearsing, vocal lessons, and dance lessons as well.”
With live music, hilarious games, and STACKS of slime, hosts Harpz Kaur, Joe Tasker and puppet monster Stanley (Dave Chapman) made sure Allegra had a ball…. “It’s a lot of fun! There was a live audience and all the sweet little kids… It was really fun to be back performing, and now I’ve got the bug for performing live again!”
TikTok
This talented singer’s something of a Tiktok star too… “Yeah, I LOVE TikTok! I get quite embarrassed looking at my lockdown TikToks, ‘coz it feels like that was a weird phase for everyone… I don’t know if everyone feels the same, but I don’t want anyone to see them. TikTok is a lot of fun and you can get your friends involved, and then having my own music on – it’s AMAZING to have all these influencers using my music… I had Tayler Holder from Hype House (who has billions of followers) using the song and all my friends were like, “Wow! This is SO cool, how did this happen?”, and I was like, ‘I don’t know!’”
In tune with tennis – the Wimbledon Tennis Party!
With Wimbledon in full swing, the half Swiss-German singing star reveals a strong SW19 connection… “My mum used to be a professional tennis player and played at Wimbledon at a young age. She was quite famous and trained with Serena and Venus Williams. And she still plays at Wimbledon. So, I almost feel like I’m experiencing a part of her childhood and the hard work she went through as an athlete. She trained so much as a little girl and was traveling all over the world…”
Her name was Emily Bond, which was quite cool as the newspapers would say “The Undefeated Bond. She has that work ethic as well. She’s SO competitive, and thrashes me on the court. She made a man cry once on court! All my friends are scared to play with her… She loves her tennis!”
“I think she would have done really well, had she pursued it… but if she hadn’t had quit, she wouldn’t have met my dad, so… it all happens for a reason!”
Allegra’s also a fan of the sport herself. “As a child, I played so much tennis. I sometimes had to play for hours in the heat, had lessons after school… It’s quite funny because even at school, the tennis coach would think I was like my mother… So, tennis is in the family.”
Her tennis icons? “I LOVE Federer! Obviously, because he’s got Swiss in him, which I do, too… I think he’s SO stylish. You see him against Nadal and it’s funny to see the Spanish kind of rough-looking stallion compared to the stylish Swiss!” she laughs.
What does she love the most about Wimbledon? “I love that everyone dresses up and enjoys strawberries with cream and Champagne,” she divulges. “I can’t WAIT for Lady Wimbledon’s Tennis Party on 2nd July at Warren House. Lots of famous faces will be there and we’ll be indulging in Pimm’s, Wimbledon Garden Gin, strawberries and cream, live entertainment and there’ll also be a big outdoor screen for watching the tennis. Come along and join in the fun!”
New Music
This young pop star’s been busy working on new music lately. “I was a bit ill for while with covid and then glandular fever, unfortunately, which kind of restricted things and was SO boring because I’m so used to doing things… But I’m now happy to be back and have been writing a lot with two producers and recording in London, which has been really fun.”
This hardworking rising star is also still a student. “I’m studying History of Art at university. I’m also doing work experience in the Haynes Gallery. I say I’m only going to university for my parents (but don’t tell them that!) I mean, I said at the beginning of university, “Yah I can’t wait to learn things.” And now I’m like “I can’t wait to leave… I just want to be doing my music!”
Back with her management team, she’s been doing just that. “I’ve been writing a lot of songs and I’m really excited about things because we were able to sit down and say, “What do you want? What sound do you want? What do you want the production to sound like?” And as I’m quite fussy when it comes to these things, I’m very present in the chat, ‘coz we all work on our ‘phones now…The poor team had to try to understand my texts to the point where I do voice memos now!”
Hands on Allegra adores having her own input. “It’s really important. I’ve always been very fussy, especially now that I’ve been doing this for a while… I’ve become even fussier! I’m also my very best own critic when it comes to recording. You record something kind of a hundred times, one line, but I’m just like, ‘No, let’s do another one’, ‘coz I just want it to be perfect.”
Any performances coming up that fans can look forward to? “Things will be coming up soon… I’m very excited to be doing more lives.”
Healing Through Horses
With her latest track racing up the charts, any spare time sees Allegra in her rewarding role as a charity ambassador, raising awareness of the mental health charity Strength and Learning Through Horses.
“I’ve always loved charity work, ever since I was a little girl,” she explains. “As kids, with my cousins and siblings, we’d always come together on holiday and do performances. And I was the bossy one. And these performances weren’t two minutes long… they were HOURS long! We have a big family and we’d make my aunts and parents come and we would make them pay. We tried to do it every day to make more money to give to charity.”
“So, I’ve always been into charity work, I guess, and I’ve always said to my team that I’m up for it if there’s opportunity for me to help a charity and I’m really excited about it.”
The equine-assisted education and therapy centre helps young people aged between 5-25 to overcome anxiety, stress, and other mental health issues.
The ‘mane’ appeal of working with horses? “I used to do a little bit of riding, and my cousin trains horses, so horses have always been there!”
Allegra went through her own adversities at school. Diagnosed with dyslexia, her schools failed in providing or offering the support that she needed, causing a decline in her mental wellbeing.
Thankfully, music then came into her life, offering a much-needed escape from the classroom. “I didn’t know if I was good at it, but I didn’t care…” she says. “It was a different world from the classroom, and when I sang I was in my element. My own person…”
Having endured her own hardships, she understands the importance of being able to access mental health support when it’s needed, which is why she was thrilled to become a Charity Champion for Strength and Learning Through Horses. “I really believe in the work that they do.”
‘You’re never alone’ – Allegra on mental health
Her message to teens and young adults struggling with their mental health? “A lot of people struggled with mental health during the lockdowns and I really struggled, too… What’s important is to be close to the ones you love. Try to open up – you’re not alone. There are people who do love you if you think that they don’t… you have your family, siblings, cousins and friends, there are people who love and care, so just open up and know that people ARE there for you”
Allegra has advice aplenty on the mental health benefits of music, reading, writing and crafting, too. “I always make playlists for different moods, and I think that helps. You need to find little things that can help you along when you’re feeling a little bit down… Everyone has their days… I mean, … I was crying yesterday for no reason,” she reveals.
“Even if you don’t love music, try things like reading a book, or writing poetry or scrapbooking. Find something that is therapeutic. Whenever I want to communicate something, I write letters. It’s just finding the little things that help you and, obviously, communication is key. People think they’re alone but they’re not.”
Lead your own way…
“I guess every teenager goes through a phase where they’re like, ‘I have to look a certain way and I have to do this because everyone is doing it.’ I’m a shepherd, not a sheep. I like to lead my own way. I like being my own person. Self-care, I guess, is just doing what you love. If you don’t like to do sports, that’s fine. If wearing face masks help you then do that. It’s all about loving yourself.”
Allegra’s now living her ‘best life’ to the full with a buzzy bunch of girlfriends in SW London. “They are uni friends and I’m just having the best time! I just recently moved out of home, so I’m happy to have my own space. I come from a big family home, so it can be a lot sometimes, but at the same time, I haven’t moved far from my family home. I went to boarding school as a young girl, so I love being with my friends. I’m quite the socialite. I love socialising, going out, and dancing…”
From clubs to house parties
Clubs no longer cut it for this all-singing-all-dance queen. “I don’t love clubbing anymore,” the singing socialite reveals. “I think it’s lost its touch… I love house parties! I’m now known for throwing parties and had one just two weeks ago with all my friends… I just love throwing parties! I LOVE hosting, which a lot of people don’t like doing, due all the pressure.”
Allegra adores going to the ‘trouble’ of all the organising… “It’s not a proper house party if you don’t get a complaint from the police!”
Hanging out in Chelsea, with James Blunt!
Her fave hangouts out’n’about include Chelsea. “I love Stanley’s, by a little farmhouse area just off the King’s Road, which is fun. Oka the sushi shop is REALLY good…” she divulges. “I also go to The Fox and Pheasant pub, which is really great and is owned by James Blunt, so sometimes he’s in there… I LOVE his music.”
She’s also a fan of one of the ‘Made In Chelsea’ set’s original haunts. “This is SO like 2010, but I also like Bluebird. I loved it during the part of lockdown where we were only allowed to sit outside at restaurants… I LOVED that… I loved sitting outside with friends there, having Pimm’s.”
Mallorca – the Love Island…
When it’s time to swap A&R for R&R, Allegra finds her family’s escape pad in Spain is just the ticket. “We have a little a place close to the Mallorcan capital, Palma, that we go to. It’s great to get some sun!”
‘Made In Chelsea’ stars were recently spied filming near the village, and Amber from Love Island was among the other famous faces there last summer. “Everyone’s going there now… It feels like it’s become the news place… I’m like, ‘Excuse me, this is MY place!’… It’s quite small, but very social. I used to play tennis on the island, at Nadal’s Rafa Nadal Academy, where we bumped into him once, but being English, I complained about the heat!”
She’s something of a culture vulture when it comes to the gastronomy there. “I love Spain… I love the food… I love trying little things. My ex-boyfriend, who I met there, taught me the Spanish way, I guess. Every time I ask for a double gin and tonic here, I’m like, ‘Is this really a double?!! Because in Spain, they bring the gin bottle and you can tell them ‘When’! My tolerance has not gone up but my taste for a strong gin & tonic certainly has!”
Up next for Allegra? “There are a few tracks and a new EP will be coming soon. I’m pushing my team, who have worked with me since I was 14, so they’ve seen me grow up and my last video was quite like racy! It was filmed in a bath, and there’s a shower scene with a guy… and I loved it! I wasn’t at all scared and I’m very open, and I was like, ‘Come in everyone!’ So, I’m now like, ‘Come on guys. Let’s go!’ I’m very fast paced, like I want to do this, this and this… I get carried away with it.”
“I like doing behind the scenes vlogs during music videos, which a lot of pop artists won’t do because it’s so busy, and I’m always like ‘No, I have to do it’, ‘cos I always want to see behind the scenes from the artists. I always like to bring that extra bit.”
“I definitely want to release a lot more music… I just want to focus on music and loving my friends, my family and myself!”
Allegra’s latest release, ‘He Ain’t You’ is out now on Radikal Records?
Follow Allegra on Insta: @allegraworld check
Strength and Learning Through Horses @strengthandlearningthruhorses
© Angela Sara West 2022 @angela_sara_west
