LOCAL music fans fell in with her through her involvement with a Prudhoe rock band, and now the world is going to see a lot more of her talent.

Samantha Lavery, who has sung with local group Bitter Sweet Hearts since 2014, was the subject of a dramatic weekend on ITV show X Factor when she was given a second chance to impress Simon Cowell when invited to the judges’ houses as part of the hit singing competition.

The 16-year-old was originally turned down by Cowell after not being given one of the seats in the show’s ‘Six Chair Challenge’, but fellow judge Louis Walsh was determined not to let her fantastic voice go to waste and brought Samantha back as a ‘gift’ to
Cowell.

Samantha has won fans across the world after being given a lot of air time following her stunning initial audition, and she was hotly tipped to win the competition as she made an instant impression.

Now that she’s been thrown a lifeline, she is again a hot favourite to be crowned the winner of the 2016 series of X Factor .

One person who is backing her all the way, and who is only too well aware of her star quality, is vocal coach Julie Miles, of High Mickley-based Vocal Ovation, who has worked with her for the past four years.

She said: “We went through the devastation of not getting through – because Sam really did think the six chair was a disaster – to feeling proud she got that far in the first place.

“Then it all turned to elation when she was invited back, so now it is all about excitement, and I couldn’t be happier with how well Sam is handling it all.

“She’s buzzing, but isn’t a diva and is so down to earth.

“She definitely could win it, as she is such an interesting character to go with her talent, so let’s see where it goes.

“Sam has been one of my most regular clients, as she has come twice a week for the past four years, and she is so focused.

“She’s never seen it as a hobby but something which she has always wanted to do.

“She has worked so hard for it, and is so creative and trying to look to do covers in a completely different way.”

Samantha has made huge waves in the North-East in recent years, and she is regarded as one of the best things coming out of the region musically.

In 2014, she was named the winner of the Soundwave music competition after impressing the 800-plus crowd at Newcastle’s O2 Academy.

Her triumph led her to joining Bitter Sweet Hearts, who were also performing that night, as Samantha was very impressed with their original songs.

She has gigged with the band ever since, with highlights including a headline show at Newcastle’s
The Cluny and a slot at Consett Festival.

Even more impressively, she performed as a solo artist in her own headliner at Newcastle’s O2.

Even bigger things are now expected of the emerging star, with the decision to put her name forward for the talent show proving to be the right choice.