Katy Archer, Fashion Writer

Marcus Collins has done what most X-Factor alumni wait a fair few months to do- his new single, Seven Nation Army, has been unveiled today, along with the news that his album will be available not long after it’s release on March 12th.

There are many sceptics out there saying his album is being released way to soon; the successes of Leana Lewis and One Direction are certainly examples of how waiting to release new material has worked to the advantage of talent show contestants.

Speaking to Radio 1 this afternoon, Collins was adamant his decision would be for the best; he wanted to ‘strike while the iron was hot’ and couldn’t wait to get into the studio to record his album, which will be a mixture of covers and his own music.

Contrary to a lot of critics, I applaud Marcus for sticking to his guns and getting his music out there as soon as possible. Waiting months after the show has finished has worked in some cases, but for Marcus, I think the quicker he gets his music released the better. Not only because I am dying to hear what he’s produced, but also because viewers of the X Factor are fickle creatures. Poor Matt Cardle is proof enough of that. With competition in the form of BBC’s ‘The Voice’ gracing our screens in only a few short weeks, Collins would have been left behind in obscurity had he not focused on his new album.

Critics are also very keen to find fault with the song choice. Seven Nation Army, originally released by The White Stripes in 2003, is one of those songs that has come to define the band that produced it. It is a classic, and a risky choice for a first single, but I think Marcus has chosen a winner. It’s not a cover, but more a re imagining of the song. It’s bold but understated, and focuses solely on the vocals. And so it should, because Marcus’s voice is beautiful.

Marcus Collins’s new album has been co-written and produced by his X Factor mentor, Gary Barlow. This can only be a good sign in my opinion!

Have a listen now and let us know what you think…

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