Dance show marks comeback for Alesha Dixon

By Richard Smirke

LONDON (Billboard) - By her own admission, October 2006 was a "dark time" for pop singer Alesha Dixon.

Dropped by her record label in the same month she split from her husband, urban star MC Harvey, the former member of hit-making R&B girl group Mis-Teeq suddenly found herself unemployed, with her private life splashed all over the tabloid press.

But two years on, Dixon is again riding high on the U.K. charts thanks to her winning turn on BBC 1's "Strictly Come Dancing." "The Boy Does Nothing," written by Dixon and pop production powerhouse Xenomania, debuted at No. 8 on the U.K. singles chart earlier this month on downloads alone. An album, "The Alesha Show," follows November 24 on Asylum/Atlantic.

"Even though that period was very difficult, part of me feels like I was meant to go through it," says the 30-year-old artist. "I don't believe I could have made this album had I not been through that."

After her "Strictly" triumph, Dixon found herself in high demand, even receiving an offer from Universal, the label that dropped her in 2006. Eventually accepting a four-album deal with Asylum, she set to work with a hit team of songwriter/producers, including prolific Los Angeles writer Diane Warren.

According to Asylum/Atlantic marketing consultant Lou Hart, the resulting album ideally suits Dixon's across-the-board appeal. "We have four clear markets we are appealing to: teen girls, teen boys, 35-40-plus women and the gay audience," Hart says.

The promotional campaign for "The Alesha Show" began October 18 when Dixon returned to "Strictly" to perform, and continues through December with U.K. in-store, TV and radio appearances. Dixon is also set to perform at Miss World 2008, held December 13 in Johannesburg. Atlantic's Warner Music parent hopes to release the album in January across Europe, and in the United States next spring.

"Because people have given me a second chance, it's energized everything," Dixon says with a smile. "Winning ("Strictly") lifted my spirits -- it got a different audience to know who I am as a person and put me in a far stronger position."

Reuters/Billboard