Alexandra Burke is to feature a duet with her mum on her new album.


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The Elephant singer says she is close to completing the song for her as-yet-untitled second album with mum Melissa Bell, who was a member of 90s group Soul II Soul.

She said: “She is a big influence. She does backing vocals on it already. Now I want a duet with her.”

However, Melissa suffers from kidney disease and Alexandra doesn’t want to push her too hard.

She told the Daily Star: “I have to be careful because my mummy’s not too well. She can’t get up and sing as much as I want her to. But I’d like her on a track. It’s not finished until she’s on it.”

Alexandra – who shot to fame after winning the UK version of The X Factor in 2008 – says her latest music has been influenced by her mum, and includes a lot of dancefloor numbers.

She said: “Mum’s record collection was a big influence. We wanted anthem songs, to smack it with the up-tempo. It’s got 90s pop style like Soul II Soul and a Donna Summer, Robin S vibe.

“It’s a singer’s album. You have to have a serious voice to scream out these big choruses.”