It's nearly twenty years since La Roux launched on the music scene, turning heads with her falsetto vocals and irrepressibly catchy electronic music. In 2009, her song Bulletproof reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, and in 2011, she won a Grammy.
But life in the spotlight hasn't been easy; the years which followed saw La Roux – whose real name is Elly Jackson – navigate a "toxic" feud with her management and record label, lose her voice for four years, receive an autism diagnosis and end her long-term relationship.
South London-born Elly, 38, has appeared in the pages of hello! for many years, having taken part in family shoots as a child alongside her mother, Trudie Jackson, who played Sergeant June Ackland in The Bill for 24 years.
Now, following a busy summer touring the US and supporting pop star Hilary Duff, La Roux tells hello! why she is back with new music – and how she's ready to take on the world.
Welcome back, La Roux! Tell us about your new album, Old Flames…
Thank you! I think this record is one of the best records I've ever made. I've referenced a lot of the early-noughties stuff that I miss, like Mariah Carey's Heartbreaker. The title makes it feel like it's ...