Diana Vickers: 'I've come a long way since X Factor'

Diana Vickers says she has "grown so much" musically since she first hit the spotlight in the X Factor in 2008.

The singer's working on the follow-up to debut album Songs from the Tainted Cherry Tree and says the new record has a more sophisticated sound.

She said: "I'm like a writing machine. I still love the first album. I think it's great but I've come so far.

The 19-year-old describes it as the "sexy, adventurous, curious older sister" of her first release.

The pop vibe is still there but she says she's also been influenced by rock and indie music.

"I've been experimenting with different sounds," she explained.

"My music, what I listen to, is broadening.

"I listen to all the oldies but then I listen to The xx and The Doors, and Siouxsie and the Banshees and Bjork."

X Factor faves

The Lancashire lass made it to the semi-final of the X Factor two years ago (the same year as JLS) and has carved out a promising career for herself.

Diana says she got homesick when she was in the X Factor

Her first single, Once, topped the singles' charts and she's also appeared on stage in Little Voice in London's West End.

Vickers' return to the X Factor last week was "so surreal" says the star, who performed new single My Wicked Heart.

She has a few tips for the competition too: "Matt and Aiden. Mary as well. You can't deny she's got a cracking voice."

With talk of fallings out in the house this year, she also offered up a bit of advice for the finalists.

"It can be very intense sometimes," she said. "I got homesick. You are in a bubble.

"Don't take it so seriously, stop getting wound up about it."

Diana Vickers is on tour in November and her new album is due out early next year.