Tori Kelly: I'm working with Pharrell and Ed Sheeran

Image source, Reuters

  • Author, Amelia Butterly
  • Role, Newsbeat reporter

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Managed by Scooter Braun, the man behind Justin Bieber, 20-year-old singer Tori Kelly says she is no longer scared by the fame she can expect.

"I understand that linking up with somebody like Scooter, the fame just kind of comes with it because of how big of a machine that is," she says.

The 32-year-old also takes care of musicians including The Wanted and Psy.

"You don't really think of the other artists. He's really good at not playing favourites ever," says Kelly.

She first appeared on American Idol in 2010, but failed to make it through to the final 24.

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Image source, Record Label

"When you're on those shows I think if you don't win it's all about what you do after the show," she tells Newsbeat. "For me it was going straight to the internet and posting as many videos as I could."

Her cover of Frank Ocean's Thinkin Bout You has now had nearly 16.5 million views on YouTube.

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"It's insane. Me and my friend Angie Girl, who's beat boxing in the video, we freak out over that.

"I sat there and was like, 'What do I really want to be known for?' That's when I decided to put out my first EP all on my own."

Her sound, which she says she is still "experimenting" with, is influenced by the gospel music she grew up with.

Image source, Record Label

She has been working on her own material with a number of big name artists and producers, including Pharrell Williams.

"I've been a fan of him since the N.E.R.D. stuff, way, way back," she says.

"Me and my whole family listened to them growing up so just to be working with him on that level is really cool."

Tori Kelly's also been in the studio with Ed Sheeran, who she describes as "a really close friend". They've written a song together she hopes will come out soon.

It had been reported their track was to be included on the next Hunger Games soundtrack.

"That was a really big rumour that I was actually excited about too but unfortunately it's not going to be," she explains.

"That just means there's other opportunities out there for the song and I'm still a fan of Hunger Games, so I'm not going to be bitter towards it."

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