Alesha
Alesha Anjanette Dixon (born 7 October 1978 in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England), known by first name Alesha, a former member of UK girl band, Mis-Teeq, an MC, singer, songwriter, occasional model and television personality.
She was expected to have her solo debut album Fired Up released in 2007. But Alesha has recently posted a message on her MySpace page saying that she is “…currently…in the studio making a fresh album due for release in 2008.” She adds that “It's going to be fantastic, I can't wait for you to hear it!” This therefore shows that her first unreleased album 'Fired Up', is to be scrapped.
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Biography
Alesha is one of seven children born to an English mother and Jamaican father.
Mis-Teeq
Dixon's career began in 1999 when she met Sabrina Washington when they both joined Dance Attic (a popular dance class school in West London), and together they formed a duo and recorded a demo titled Inspiration. During an audition, they met with Su-Elise Nash, and then together they formed a trio. They were soon signed to Telstar Records with the addition of a new member, Zena McNally, and became the popular UK garage / R&B girl band, Mis-Teeq. They released their debut single “Why?” in 2000, and it was not long before McNally left the band to pursue her own solo career. The band made a decision to remain a trio.
In 2001, they released their debut album Lickin' On Both Sides, featuring hits “All I Want”, “One Night Stand”, “B With Me” and doube-A-single “Roll On/This Is How We Do It”.
In 2002, Dixon presented the MOBO Awards with LL Cool J.
In 2003, Mis-Teeq became the face of JD Sports stores nationwide.
In 2003, Mis-teeq released their second album Eye Candy, which included the singles Scandalous, Can't Get It Back and Style. In 2004, Mis-Teeq toured the United States and released their debut single Scandalous from their American self-titled debut, a compilation of the albums Lickin' On Both Sides and Eye Candy. They also released One Night Stand before coming back to Europe to start work with their third album. However, Telstar Records was shut down and the band was left with no choice but to have released a Greatest Hits compilation right under exclusive licenses with Universal Recording Company.
The last song she recorded with her band was 'Shoo Shoo Baby' for the Disney film Valiant. In March 2005, they released their Greatest Hits compilation and announced that they were separating to pursue solo careers.
In spring 2005, Dixon guest presented the music shows CD:UK and CD:UK Hotshots on a number of occasions.
Solo career
Alesha announced that she was signed with a ?500,000 contract deal with Polydor Records. She spent an entire year preparing for her solo debut album, 'Fired Up', working with a wide range of producers including Richard X, Xenomania, Johnny Douglas, Brian Higgins, Estelle and Paul Epworth.
In June 2005, she announced her first solo single to be Superficial, but the song leaked by illegal file sharing and Alesha announced that the debut single would be Lipstick.
She released her official first debut single Lipstick on August 14, 2006, which charted at #14 on the UK Single Charts. She released her second single “Knockdown” on October 30, 2006 which charted at #25 on the UK Download Chart. But, on the UK Singles Charts, the single peaked to #45, on the second week, but falling down to #68 the third week.
On November 6, 2006, fansite revealed that Dixon had left Polydor Records. Polydor Records is willing to support her regardless of the fact of her departure, and even gave Dixon full rights to her unreleased debut album, Fired Up.
In February 2007, Dixon was one of the presenters of ITV2's coverage of the BRIT Awards and in March she presented The nation's favourite Number 1 Men for VH1, co-hosted a week of episodes of Channel 4's daily music show Freshly squeezed and appeared as a guest judge on Comic relief does Fame Academy for BBC Three and the T4 Reality TV show Musicool.
Alesha has recently posted a message on her MySpace page saying that she is “…currently…in the studio making a fresh album due for release in 2008.” She adds that “It's going to be fantastic, I can't wait for you to hear it!” This therefore shows that her first unreleased album 'Fired Up', is to be scrapped.
Modelling and guest appearances
As a model Dixon is represented by Select Model Management and has appeared in Another magazine, on the cover of Tense magazine and in various other Editorial fashion shoots. Dixon was cast as the lead female in the video clip for She Wants to Move by N*E*R*D after Pharrell Williams spotted her on the cover of FHM magazine. Dixon has been featured in the publications annual 100 sexiest women in the world poll on a number of occasions.
In December 2006, Dixon filmed a role in the music video Girls Gone Wild by American rapper Ludacris.
In March 2007, Dixon was announced as the face of the urban clothing brand Eko Red.
Alesha will be appearing on the new series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Personal life
In 2005, Alesha married her long-time fiancé Michael Harvey aka MC Harvey, who was a former member of So Solid Crew.
In November 2006, it was reported in the UK newspaper The Sun that Harvey started an alleged affair with fellow The Games contestant and West End stage star Javine Hylton, also a friend of Alesha's. The couple soon split and Harvey moved out of the marital home which he shared with Alesha.
In July 2007 Reveal magazine reported that Alesha has been dating Neptunes & N*E*R*D star Pharrell Williams. The pair met in 2005 when Willams chose her to star in his video for the single She Wants To Move. The couple met again when Williams flew to the UK for the Concert for Diana that took place on .
Discography
Albums
Fired Up (Unreleased) (2006)
This Is The One And Only Alesha (2008)
Singles
| Year | Song | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Lipstick | 14 | 40 | |
| Knock Down | 45 | 107 |