No.1 for Interviews - The X Factor 2010
The X Factor Guest Judges

Katy Perry, Nicole Scherzinger, Natalie Imbruglia, Pixie Lott and Geri Halliwell talk to No.1 about taking a temporary seat on the world’s most famous judging panel

It’s back! After seven long months of having our Saturday nights to ourselves the vast majority of us are more than willing to surrender them back to Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Cheryl Cole and Dannii Minogue. Yes, The X Factor is here in our lives once again reminding us all that it’s just a sledge ride to Christmas (and the inevitable cheesy ballad sung by the winning contestant who will vie for that festive No.1!) But this year things are not quite as cut and dry as they have been in the past. First of all, Dannii doesn’t appear on the judging panel during the audition stages (as she’s off on maternity leave, but we all knew that!) and then Cheryl disappears too after falling ill with malaria (and we definitely all knew that!).

But never without a beautiful woman or two by his side, Simon made sure he had five such women waiting in the wings, ready to step in as guest judges and keep the show on the road. Katy Perry,  Nicole Scherzinger, Natalie Imbruglia, Pixie Lott and Geri Halliwell all make their debut as X Factor judges and No.1 got the chance to find out what they thought of it all.

Katy Perry
American pop princess, Katy Perry, wowed the crowd at the Dublin auditions with her straightforward, no-nonsense approach to judging. So much so that Simon Cowell has reportedly told Cheryl and Dannii to take a leaf out of Katy’s book and stop being so nicey nicey to contestants!

What were you looking for in the contestants? 
I wanted to find someone that has a spark, that is different and unlike anything that is already out there in the industry. The industry is really competitive and so I was looking for someone not only with a voice, but a distinct voice.

What kind of judge will people see you as?
I'm definitely not going to be a sugar-coated judge because there are people that need advice and criticism and sometimes they need to hear the truth. If it’s obviously not going to work out for them, ever, and they haven’t figured that out, they need to aspire to something else. It’s a bit of a hard thing to do, to tell someone the hard truth, but hopefully I say it in a way that isn’t mean but just helpful. I want people to fulfil their dreams and their goals, but you know, if you can't dance, don’t dance! I’ve only been in the industry – in public – for about two or three years but I've been working at it for a long time and I know what it takes to make it.

What do you think it takes to survive the audition? 
I think you just have to breathe before you go in and realise that we’re just looking for something genuine – for a real talent. Sometimes people get so dressed up or they get so crazy, and they have all these moves, but you can’t just have bells and whistles and not actually have any talent. 

You took part in the Dublin auditions, do you think Ireland is well known for its talent?
Yes, they have a lot to offer the music scene. Ireland and Britain in general does. I usually get my music from y’all first and then I kind of re-introduce it to my friends in the States. So I suppose you guys always have a bit of a jump-start on us!
Were you pleased to be working with the rest of the panel?

I love Simon, I’ve met him a few times before on different chat shows and he’s very confident and very sarcastic, which is definitely my cup of tea. I love Cheryl, she’s a fashion inspiration and, of course, I want her dimples! And, Louis, I had never met before but I was excited to meet him in his home town. I was just so excited to be in such great company.

Did you enjoy being on the panel? 
I did enjoy being on the panel. Simon just tells it like it is, and he always has some kind of rhyme or riddle that goes along with it, "You sound like blah blah blah".  We should make T-shirts out of his sayings! And Cheryl’s just so sweet but she’s not a pushover which is good because I think sometimes when women judge things it can get too sweet and that’s just annoying! And Louis was just fun, he’s really funny. You can tell what he’s looking for… a new boyband!

Do you think you found any talent in Dublin?
I think that there is one act in Dublin that can go all the way.

Nicole Scherzinger
The former Pussycat Doll is said to have greatly impressed Simon Cowell in her role as stand-in judge on the show. In fact when Cheryl fell ill with malaria and was in hospital, Nicole ended up being the only girl on the judging panel for the Manchester auditions and bootcamp. And she hadn’t been in the seat long before press reports started circulating that Cheryl was desperate to get back before Simon gave her place to Nicole permanently (which everyone of course has denied!).

Tell us about your experience of auditioning for a talent show…
I got my first break in American Popstars which was at the forefront of the whole pop reality phenomenon. I drove 12 hours to attend my audition, which was held in the nearest city to where I grew up. I grew up in a small town in Kentucky and I didn’t have the means to go out to Hollywood for someone to discover me. So I found out this popstar audition was happening and I went! I waited until four in the morning in a long line of people, and I sang in front of the judges and the rest is history. What people don’t realise is that even after being on that show I have had to work to continue my career. So it is almost never ending but it’s really good and it’s worth it. I just wanted to make sure I put a lot of my heart and thoughts into judging the auditions, not only as an artist but as someone who has been there and has done it.

What were you looking for in the contestants?
Well because I am a singer first, I was looking for amazing voices. But I think for me what The X Factor is, is the star quality that these artists and performers bring to the stage. Ultimately I just wanted to be moved and I wanted to feel something from them. 

Because you were part of the Pussycat Dolls, were you looking out for girl groups?
Actually no I wasn’t, because my passion and my love is for music – I was realy looking for the voice.
You don’t have to have the greatest voice ever I don’t think... you don’t have to try to do too much but as long as you have some control and your own quality sound.

How did you enjoy your X Factor experience? 
It’s been amazing; it’s been a really wild ride. I’ve had a lot more fun than I even anticipated. I loved it. I just think the whole thing is quite a phenomenon. I’m definitely an X Factor fan!

How did you find dong the auditions in front of a live audience?
I really enjoyed it! There’s a lot of great energy out there. It’s an amazing setup; it’s beyond an audition – it’s like the ultimate audition. I feel like I’m in a constant concert! And there’s not only us judges up there, there are thousands of people behind us, so the good thing is when I got stuck, the audience really helped me out!

How did you find the Manchester auditions?
I was really excited about how great the personalities were; how people were so witty and genuinely happy to be there. A lot of them were a little scared and timid but a lot of them were just really funny.

Natalie Imbruglia
From her beginnings on Neighbours, Australian Natalie Imbruglia has gone on to enjoy huge musical success around the world. A friend of Dannii’s, Natalie was more than happy to step in for her at the Birmingham auditions (and step aside for her coming back too!)

How did you feel when you were invited to become a judge for The X Factor?
I was over the moon about it because I’m a huge fan of the show. Dannii’s a friend of mine so I was happy to step in while she was off having a baby.

What qualities do you feel you bring to the judging panel?
I’ve been on stage since I was five so even before my music career, I was performing in one way or another. I wanted to be incredibly honest but I certainly wasn’t mean in how I delivered my answers. It’s important not to break someone’s spirit but there are a lot of people out there who have an unrealistic view of their talent and it’s important to tell them the truth.

Which of the judges did you find you mostly agreed with?
I agreed and disagreed with all of them at one point or another. It’s all down to taste and that’s why there are four judges. 

What do you look for in an audition performance?
I was looking for something fresh and original, someone who moved me and had star quality, opposed to being just a good singer.

Have you had many memorable auditions this year?
There was a guy who Simon, Louis and Cheryl didn’t want to put through and I felt strongly they’d made a mistake. I championed him, so they invited him to come back out and eventually put him through. It felt good that I’d been a part of helping get him through.
 
What song would you sing if you were to audition for The X Factor?
Something current because we’re looking for a popstar to compete in the current market so I’d choose something from one of the artists who are doing well in the charts at the moment.

Pixie Lott 
Pixie may be a relative newcomer to the music scene – her debut single, ‘Mama Do’, was only released last June – but she knows just what it takes to make it in the industry.

Were you excited about being one of the guest judges?
I was very excited. I'd never done anything like this before so I was excited to watch the singers and find some talent. It is different to what I usually do. I'm used to being on the other side performing, so to actually be judging other people was a very new experience for me, but I didn’t really feel nervous, I just felt really excited.

What were you hoping to get out of your day in Cardiff?
I was just hoping to find someone who really made me feel excited.  I love watching people with voices that really make you feel drawn to them. I also loved to see the characters because I always really enjoy watching the earlier auditions of The X Factor because you do get some individual characters! I just wanted to find someone different.
What was it like sitting with an audience of thousands behind you?
I think having a big audience in the room just adds to the excitement because you hear how the audience responds, what the public think, and I think it just creates a better vibe.

A band has never won The X Factor although JLS have done very well.  Do you think this could be the year?
I think JLS have definitely paved the way with bands because they're doing really, really well but I also think that we need a male artist – because they're always my favourites!

What do you think you brought to the panel?
I think, hopefully, I was able to bring something to the table in the fact that I'm actually out there at the moment so I know how it feels to get on a stage and sing to people. In the past, I went through the whole audition process and I know how scary it can be. I hope I made them feel at ease because I know exactly how it feels. I definitely empathised with
them.

Geri Halliwell
Former Spice Girl Geri is no stranger to the judging panel. She was one of the judges on Popstars: The Rivals where she discovered fellow judge Cheryl Cole. She stepped in for Dannii during the Glasgow auditions.

How did you feel when you were invited to become a judge for The X Factor?
I felt really excited. I love the fact it gives everyone a chance to be a star and I absolutely love empowering people. Also, I have history with all three judges. With Cheryl, I picked her for Popstars: The Rivals so I’m really proud of her and just thrilled with her success. Again, the Popstars connection is there with Louis, he’s just like a comfy uncle I’ve bickered with. Then there’s Simon! We have a different kind of history, so it was really nice to have the opportunity to get to know him a little better. I still can’t decide whether I want to slap him or kiss him – but don’t tell him I said that! To their credit, everyone made me welcome and by the end of the day it very much felt like a warm family.

What qualities do you feel you bring to the judging panel?
I made a promise to myself just to be honest and to be of service to the contestants, regardless of what everyone thought of me. I did my best to give constructive feedback and go with my gut instinct. I wanted to share my experience and give direction with compassion. It’s not easy to audition, but equally I wouldn’t want to be dishonest to anyone so I tried to be kind but authentic.

Which of the judges did you find you mostly agreed with?
I would say it was an even split. Sometimes I shared a female
viewpoint with Cheryl, I can also have mad cheesy taste which I would say Louis relates to whereas
Simon and I had our moments of agreeing which felt good but also moments of disagreeing – we're either completely opposite or very similar, so I’m confused! Sometimes though I was out on a limb and I was the only one
saying no and I felt like a total bad guy, but equally on occasion I was the only one saying yes. It made me question my own judgment but sometimes it’s just a taste thing.

What do you look for in an audition performance?
Raw talent, a sparkle in the eyes and originality. The bottom line is this: I won't remember what you sang or what you said, but how you made me feel... If that person makes me feel good, if they connect with me and with the audience then it’s a good audition. I love it when someone surprises me; when I get a preconception of how they look and then suddenly I’m blown away when they start to perform.

Have you had many memorable auditions this year ?
I have to be honest I was impressed with the calibre of the Scottish auditions. There was a lot of young talent. There was a blonde girl aged about 16, she was very raw but when she started to sing she had a Christina Aguilera vibe. She went through so I’m going to be tuning in and will be interested to watch her grow and to see how she will develop with some direction.

What song would you sing if you were to audition for The X Factor?
I wouldn’t do it! You’ve got a better chance seeing Halliwell and Cowell doing a duet! Maybe we could do ‘Especially for You’ by Kylie and Jason.

How do you know when you’ve found the ‘one’ in the competition?
I just get that feeling. It’s a bit like falling in love. It’s not a head choice; it’s pure heart.

In your view, what is The X Factor?
Being a star is beyond having a great talent... It’s one step further. I believe it’s someone who has a mixture of strength and vulnerability. They communicate with their eyes, their voice and their smile. I would use Leona Lewis as a prime example. You also need a mix of humility and ego. You can'’t manufacture it, you either have it or you don’t. It’s that likeability that makes people just want you to win. Most importantly, if someone has The X Factor you think about them after they’ve left the building.Back to Interview Home Page

 

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