Blast

The crowds are gathered and singing along to another former X Factor finalist Austin Drage in the courtyard separating the Engine Shed and University Library. I leave the glorious summers day to slink backstage and meet the group.

How did you guys get involved with Lincoln Pride?

Sean: We’re doing gigs up and down the country and our management said there’s this great gig going. When we found out it was a Pride event we couldn’t wait!

Have you had a chance to escape the backstage area and explore the city?

Sarah: We haven’t had a chance to look around yet but we will do afterwards. It’s our first time here in Lincoln but we’ve heard it’s a really beautiful city.

Sean: What we’ve seen so far has been very, very good.

The X Factor is due on our screens once again. Looking back on your time with the show do you still feel it was a good experience?

Sean: Definitely, 100%. It took us from performing in pubs and clubs to the 02, Wembley and amazing events like this. We used to sing in front of people in the pubs and clubs just sitting there with their drinks.

Sarah: It’s definitely nice to have a big crowd.

Same Difference

Have you got any advice for the contestants this year?

Sean: All I can say is be yourself. I think people can see if you’re putting on an act. As long as you stay true to yourself and fight for the songs that you really want to sing then it’ll work out.

Sarah: I think you have to be really strong minded as well. You can’t sit back if the people at X Factor tell you to do something that you don’t want to. You need to speak up. If they sing a song they’re not comfortable with and go home they’ll forever blame themselves.

You were known for your elaborate stage routines involving dancers, glitter and pyrotechnics. What can we expect tonight?

Sarah: We’re not having the full on glitter and glam but we will be having the dance routines.

Sean: The routines will be out in force! It’ll be all the classic songs, some from the X Factor and some from our album with some crowd pleasers as well.

Since you appeared on the show you’ve released a Gold selling album, (2007’s Pop) a top 20 single with ‘We R One’ and toured constantly. What’s next?

Sean: The next big thing for us is taking our album to Japan. They love pop music over there! Over here you’ve got a certain amount of people who love it, some who aren’t sure and those that don’t like it at all. We’re taking some of the album out there with some new tracks as well. It’s all very exciting!

So the lucky Japanese market will be hearing some new material?

Sarah: I’m sure we’ll be releasing it over here as well!

Are there plans for another record?

Sarah: Hopefully we’re going to conquer Japan first. If all goes well there then we’ll bring some of the newer stuff back. It’s going to be a lot more mature I think, a little bit funkier. It’ll be Same Difference two years on, not two years back.

In our brief time together I can only conclude that any misconceptions you might have of Same Difference’s happy go lucky attitude being false are simply not true. They’re genuinely the nicest practitioners of pop.

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