Wes Nelson is glad he swerved working with X Factor boss Simon Cowell after enjoying shock success as a singer.
The former Love Island star, 22, told MailOnline the record contract offered to the winner of X Factor: Celebrity last year ‘doesn’t compare’ to his current deal with Universal.
In an exclusive interview, Wes, whose debut single charted at No3 on Friday, said he ‘didn’t see the point in signing something he wasn’t fully confident with’ as he affirmed, ‘there are some good record deals and some bad ones.’
‘Simon never put the deal on paper’: Wes Nelson is glad he swerved working with X Factor boss Simon Cowell after enjoying shock success as a singer
Wes, who found fame on Love Island in 2018 when he fell for ex-girlfriend Megan Barton-Hanson, competed on X Factor: Celebrity last year alongside his former co-stars Zara McDermott, Samira Mighty and Eyal Booker.
While band No Love Lost went their separate ways and Megan McKenna won the competition, Wes signed a deal with Universal Music Group and EMI Records and released his debut track See Nobody in September.
The former nuclear engineer is grateful to have found his own path after revealing the deal he eventually signed was the best for him ‘creatively and financially.’
He said: ‘Simon never put the deal on paper. The thing is – the deal, they already send them off before you start and it only comes into light if you win.
‘I’m in control’: The former Love Island star, 22, told MailOnline the record contract offered to the winner of X Factor: Celebrity last year ‘doesn’t compare’ to his current deal with Universal
‘When I look at that compared to what I’m in now, it’s a complete contrast.
‘The one I’m in now is nice because I’m in control of my sound, my music. No creator wants to be strangled.
‘The deal I have right now, out of all the deals I was offered, was the best in terms of my creative, the finance, everything. The team really believes in me and they headhunted me.
‘There are so many things that come into play with a record deal. They ticked all of them.
‘I was never going to a sign a deal unless all those fields were ticked. Over six months, Sony, Warner, all the majors were making offers and they were good deals as well but I didn’t see the point in signing something I wasn’t fully confident with. I didn’t want any doubts.’
‘The team believes in me’: The former nuclear engineer is grateful to have found his own path after revealing the deal he eventually signed was the best for him ‘creatively and financially’
‘I have always been massively interested in music’: Wes said he had ‘three karaoke machines in three Christmases’ and was ‘completely obsessed with music’ growing up
Wes, who split from Megan after she accused him of being unfaithful with his Dancing On Ice pro partner Vanessa Bauer, is determined to show the legions of fans he amassed during his time in the Love Island villa that he has what it takes to become a credible musician.
He said: ‘I understand it’s what people have seen me for the last two years, I do need to keep working on it and I know it won’t happen overnight.
‘I am super young, by the time I left Love Island at 20, people were like, that’s you for the rest of your life, you’re now a reality star, but that’s not the case.
‘I don’t want to just do reality TV for the rest of my life. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t regret any of it and I’ve loved every minute of it.
‘But I want to stay on the upward curve with my music, and it’s going good so far.’
‘I know it won’t happen overnight’: Wes is determined to show the legions of fans he amassed during his time in the Love Island villa that he has what it takes to become a credible musician
Former lovers: Wes split from Megan Barton-Hanson after she accused him of being unfaithful with his Dancing On Ice pro partner Vanessa Bauer (pictured in 2019)
‘It was difficult’: Wes revealed it was tough to turn his back on reality TV after being part of shows like Dancing On Ice earned him millionaire status by the time he was 21
Wes revealed it was tough to turn his back on reality TV after being part of shows like Dancing On Ice earned him millionaire status by the time he was 21.
But Wes gave up the prospect of his ‘best year financially by far’ to pursue his music dream.
He said: ‘It was difficult because I had so much work that was planned TV wise and it would have been one of my best years financially, by far, but I turned all that down with blind faith that I was going to get a record deal and do well in music and it finally came to light, which made it even more special.
‘I gave up so, so much just constantly grafting away in the studio but it all came together perfectly.
‘I went from being a nuclear engineer to Love Island, doing more TV, swimming the channel, then music – I’m happy I have settled now with music.’
Throwback: Wes wasn’t short of attention during his time on Love Island after leapfrogging from Laura Anderson to Megan, and then going onto date 2019 islander Arabella Chi
Wes wasn’t short of attention during his time on Love Island after leapfrogging from Laura Anderson to Megan, and then going onto date 2019 islander Arabella Chi until they split earlier this year.
But Wes, who most will recognise for having a chiseled six-pack, said female fans don’t flatter him.
He said: ‘There are new fans that come in all the time… everyone is more interested in my music, which is much more wholesome than someone saying ‘you’re fit’ – but don’t get me wrong, those are very nice compliments and that’s not me being a big headed.’
Asked if he believes his good looks have boosted sales of his single, he said: ‘I suppose it helps!’
Unlike Kem Cetinay and Chris Hughes, who often demonstrated their love of music in the villa, Wes admits he used to be too shy to show his voice in front of an audience.
Luckily his Love Island experience gave him the confidence to finally overcome his fears, which previously saw him ‘shaking’ in the studio.
‘I was so nervous’: Unlike Kem Cetinay and Chris Hughes, who often demonstrated their love of music in the villa, Wes admits he used to be too shy to show his voice in front of an audience
He said: ‘I have never had that confidence to sing for people.
‘Over the past few years whether it be Love Island, or Dancing On Ice, and facing cameras all the time, social media, that has given me the confidence to say, you know what let me take a leap of faith and here I am.
‘I never used to talk in front of a crowd or sing for anyone, my parents didn’t even hear me sing that much. It was difficult for me to say I love singing.
‘I was scared by it at first and it was daunting for me. I remember my first studio session and I was so, so nervous and it was just one producer and me, I wasn’t even in a room full of people.
I was so nervous I had to put my hands behind my back when I was singing because I could feel myself shaking.
‘But now I’m that guy at the party that will be singing for everyone and you can’t get the microphone out of my hand. I’m a mic hog now!’