Ruti’s got The Voice to break show curse

THE VOICE UK champ Ruti Olajugbagbe says she can break the show’s ‘curse’ and land a No.1 single… once her A-level studies are over.

The 18-year-old, whose cover of The Cranberries’ track Dreams leads the midweek singles chart, hopes to avoid the fate of former victors whose careers failed to take off.

‘I was aware of that [the ‘curse’] but it didn’t worry me,’ she told Guilty Pleasures. ‘Maybe they (ex winners) didn’t top the charts but people from The Voice have been successful in their own way as musicians,’ she added.

Ruti, mentored by Sir Tom Jones, revealed she had previously turned down two chances to take part in the ITV show. ‘I was like, “I don’t want to do it”, but when it came round again, I thought, “What’s the worst that can happen?”’ she said.

And Ruti, of Essex, has big plans. ‘I’d love to have a No.1, perform at Glastonbury and sell out shows.’

She also explained why she paid tribute to The Cranberries singer Dolores O’Riordan, who died — aged 46 — in January. ‘Her voice is so unique. I wanted to do her justice,’ she added.

Having signed a record deal with Polydor, Ruti goes back to reality on Monday, when she returns to school. But she will put university plans on hold to pursue a pop career. ‘When I’m free I’ll be taking a gap year,’ she said.

Author: Andrei Harmsworth