X Factor star relaunches music career with ‘last opportunity’ on American Idol

After working for almost a decade in the music industry Ché Chesterman is finally hoping to break the US with his ‘last opportunity’ on American Idol.

In 2015 at just 18 years old, Ché stunned X Factor viewers with his soulful voice, smashing his audition with a rendition of Jessie J’s Who You Are.

After a standing ovation from Simon Cowell, he continued to wow the judges week after week, going all the way to the finals and finishing in third.

However, the now 27-year-old star regrets not striking while the iron was hot amid the X Factor fame and wants a new chance to break into the industry.

Ché told Metro that he is auditioning for American Idol to try and push his career through to the next level because next year it will be ‘too late’.

‘It’s the last opportunity I can have to audition for American Idol because next year, I’ll be too old,’ he explained. ’28 is the cut-off point.’

‘After I finished X Factor, I didn’t really come out and hit it while it was hot so I want to take advantage of that this time,’ the Essex-based star continued.

‘I want to release songs. That’s the whole point of doing this. [I’m] trying to reach heights that I probably haven’t reached before.’

In the years since X Factor, Ché continued to work as a live musician but focused on starting a family instead of diving into the dizzying world of the music industry.

‘I’ve had a really long break and I’m just really looking to get back into that [world],’ he added, calling this the ‘right time’ to return to his dreams.

‘I feel so old now,’ Ché laughed before explaining his three children are a driving factor in wanting to secure his career, adding: ‘I just want to look after my family, that’s the whole reason for doing this.’

During his run on X Factor, the singer was known for adding soulful twists to songs as he stormed all the way to the finale, placing third behind Reggie ‘n’ Bollie and winner Lousia Johnson.

‘I was still a bit of a kid, maybe still a bit immature in certain ways,’ he shared. ‘It was a lot of pressure, don’t get me wrong, but that’s just something that you have to know is going to be there when you go into something like this.

‘To complete the whole process was brilliant. I’m so glad that I managed to get to the final and do everything and experience everything I possibly could. It was an amazing experience, especially for my age.’

However, he’s aware that the time for talent shows might be slipping away as ‘We’re living in a new generation now’ where no one is watching traditional TV.

He said: ‘These shows are platforms [and it depends] how you deal with it once you get that little bit of platform is up to you. It’s probably easier than it’s ever been [to be an artist] because of the influx of social media.

‘But at the same time, there’s so many more singers now. It doesn’t matter how good you are as a singer. You have to pinpoint an audience.’

Ché is hoping this experience on the ITV talent show will help him better prepare for American Idol, assuming his audition is successful.

‘I suppose it’s half and half,’ he shared. ‘I think there’s more pressure because of [X Factor] but also less pressure because I’ve done it before. I’ve been there, I’ve done it, so I will have that advantage regarding knowing what I’m doing and knowing what’s coming.

‘But people will expect perfection every single time so that can be a downfall as well. I’m a very go-with-the-flow kind of person, and whatever happens, happens.’

After a decade of being on TV and being recognised, the star has become much more confident on camera and hopes his British charm can win over the US viewers.

He already has a growing American following, mainly thanks to the popularity of soul music across the pond.

According to the singer, his voice has only improved with age and now has a ‘raspy’ edge with a healthy dose of ‘pain’ – as all good soul artists should have.

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