As the live shows for this year’s X Factor UK get underway — minus Slavko Kalezic and Berget Lewis — last year’s runner-up Saara Aalto keeps going from strength to strength.

After narrowly losing out to Matt Terry in the final last year, the UMK 2016 finalist signed with Simon Cowell at Sony Music UK anyway. But, proving once again that she marches to the beat of her own drum, she’s now revealed that she’s said sayonara to Simon’s team and signed a global record deal with Warner Music.

Speaking to The Sun‘s Dan Wootton on Tuesday, Saara revealed that while she was honoured to be part of Sony, she later felt they weren’t the right team.

“When I met the people at Warner they were very excited about my style and making me into this big theatrical artist,” she said.

Fortunately, all is well between Simon and Saara. “He knows,” she said. “I’m doing X Factor Finland, so I’m still part of the Sony family,” she says, referring to her other record deal in her home country at Sony Music Finland.

In a previous interview with The Sun on the relaunched X Factor Finland, Saara explained her new gig.

“They haven’t had The X Factor in Finland for ten years. But because I was on it and it was such a hit, they decided to bring it back and have me as a judge.”

And she’ll take her judging inspiration from a certain X Factor UK judge.

“I’ll be like Simon. I’m going to be quite strict because I’m very ambitious and I will see if the acts have ambition or not. If they don’t, I will tell them they need to go. I know this business needs ambition and commitment.”

Saara is currently working on her new album and a collaboration with with last year’s X Factor UK winner Matt Terry. She recently performed at this year’s Manchester Pride.

Are you excited to hear Saara’s new album? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

Read more Finland music news

Photo courtesy of The Sun’s Dan Jones

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ESCFan
ESCFan
6 years ago

I really hope Saara will be in Lisbon!

She is amazing! For me she is goosebump fest.

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
6 years ago

Has she even done anything at all musically wise in that year with sony?

Marcus (Day One)
Marcus (Day One)
6 years ago
Reply to  Frisian esc

The sad thing is Saara’s latest song is No Fear and it seems like all the hype seems for nothing and it’s a shame.
I think signing up to be a judge on X factor Finland has cause her music career to stagnate and it’s unlikely when she releases her album or another single it will be anymore successful than her other albums.