‘I just hope people give my music a chance’

On Saturday night, viewers saw the 28-year-old, who now lives in Kent, exit the competition when LA-based judge Sharon Osborne didn’t pick her as one of her three finalists in the Over 25s category.

She failed to impress Sharon and guest judge Robbie Williams after hitting a bum note at the end of her rendition of Radiohead’s High and Dry. However, a disappointed Andrea says that what viewers didn’t get to see was that she performed another song “perfectly” and received great compliments from both judges.

Speaking to the Times on Tuesday (October 8), Andrea said she had been disappointed at the way the programmes had been edited, claiming that her performances didn’t get the same screen time as those of other contestants. But she said she has no regrets about doing the show, seeing it as great exposure for her music.

“Obviously it’s a real positive to get the sort of exposure that a show like the X Factor offers and to be able to let so many people hear my music. But it was very disappointing that the edit focussed on the one bad note at the end and Robbie’s comment.

“I don’t want to come across as a bad loser; it’s just something I have to deal with.

“At the end of the day it’s just a television show and that’s how I have to look at it.

“I’m just going to keep working hard to get my music out there and to get a (record) deal.

“I just hope and pray that people give me a chance and give my music a chance and don’t just judge me on that one note that the X Factor focussed on,” she said.

The former Ballyclare High School pupil has an EP “ready to go” and has written several songs for an album, but admits that it could be difficult to fund the releases herself.

As well as planning a series of gigs, her self-penned audition song ‘Any Minute Now’, which got an amazing response from the public, has just been released on iTunes.

Andrea, who put her career as a teacher on hold to pursue success in the music industry, is even considering the possibility of moving home to further her dreams.

“The support I felt from the people at home (during the X factor) was absolutely unreal. I’d love to come back home. It’s so nice when people are right behind you and so supportive,” she added.

• For more information about Andrea Magee, or to check out her music, log on to www.andreamagee.co.uk or search for Andreamageeofficial on Facebook.