Now Alexandra Buggs, Karis Anderson and Courtney Rumbold are back with a fresh sound… and this time they’re in control.

Closer’s Jack and Jessica caught up with them at their #Stooshe4Sennheiser party to talk new music, inspirations and why it’s so important for the girls to always be themselves.

What was the reason behind the break after the first album?

Karis: “We had an amazing first album and that wouldn’t have happened without the team and everybody we were working with. We had three top 10s, a MOBO performance, a BRIT nomination… we were really, really blessed.

“But we just thought it was time to expand and grow and come into ourselves, and we’ve found the most amazing team now – so everything happens for a reason!”

Courtney: “It took a little while, but we’re here now! There’s not one main reason [for the break], but we couldn’t be happier.”

What’s different this time around?

C: We’re in control! We’ve grown up as women, and I think that shows through our music and our style, and even how we carry ourselves. It’s nice to be able to make music, and an album with a team of people who are on the same page as you.”

What did you guys get up during the break?

K: “We managed ourselves for a year. So we arranged gigs, we were our own tour manager – we made all the decisions. It doesn’t sound like much, but when you do it and you’re the artist, trying to get ready for the show, but you also have to take care of the business side of things, it’s really difficult.

“But you learn everything about the industry because you’re seeing things from both sides.”

C: “But we trust our team now. We know a lot more about both the business side and the artists’ side – we’re like three little businesswomen!”

On the subject of being in control now: after busting onto the scene with your own music and sound, was the ‘Waterfalls’ stage where you decided, ‘This isn’t us anymore’?

Alex: “I wouldn’t say ‘not us’ because it was always us. We love singing together, we love Waterfalls, we love singing that as a cover and definitely as an acoustic – we just had creative differences of where our future was.

“People can see through if it’s not authentic to you, and we always want our music to be authentic to us.”

Tell us about your new single, Lock Down.

C: “For a little while we weren’t around and it’s kind of about having freedom. We’re three independent women! We’ve grown up, it’s showing us breaking free.”

K: “Lock Down couldn’t be any more personal to us, and although it’s about us professionally, people can relate to it in so many different ways.”

Can you tell us any stories behind any of the tracks from the new album?

A: “Just Hold On – it’s a very slow ballad about what’s going on outside of your world, like all of the suffering people are going through. You can see it but sometimes you can’t do anything about it, so it’s just taking notice of these people.”

K: “It was amazing writing that song – writing about soldiers and war… it’s like a different side to us.

“Give It To You, which is the song you hear at the end of the Lock Down video – that’s our second single from the album. We’re just looking for a rapper to collaborate with.”

Who would your dream collaboration be?

C: “Hmm… If we could have anybody…”

All: “DRIZZY!”

K: “But UK rappers – we love Skepta, Giggs, Krept and Konan – we grew up with them – there’s so many up and coming UK artists at the moment, as well as fully established.”

You spend all your time together and, like all sisters, you must argue. How do you nip that in the bud before it escalates?

K: “Exactly that: we nip it in the bud.”

A: “We don’t argue.”

C: “One minute we’ll be like, ‘Why are you doing that?” And then two minutes later we’ll be laughing about something.

K: “We’re very lucky that it never goes that far.”

A: “It’s having respect for each other and knowing that, it’s not even an argument, you’re all going to have a different opinion.”

C: “We know each other so well. So if someone’s having a bit of a down day, you either leave them be or you’re like, ‘Are you ok, what’s wrong?’ There’s a balance.”

K: “It’s definitely us three against the world.”

You’ve had massive success now, but before the record deal do you think you would have considered a reality show like The X Factor?

A: “Never say never.”

C: “We always say, whatever way you want to get into this industry, we take our hats off to you – because it’s a hard industry to be in and it’s a hard one to crack.

“We were quite lucky how we got into it so that thought that never crossed out minds. But, anybody else, good luck to you! It’s hard work. With The X Factor, for example, you’re going into it and straight away everyone knows who you are, and that can be tough. It’s a lot of pressure.”

A: “You have to respect everybody who gets into this industry because it’s hard work.”

Have you been watching this year’s show? Have you got any favourites?

All: “We love Che Chesterman!”

What about the judging panel?

K: “Simon, we love him.”

He wanted to sign you guys, didn’t he?

A: “Yeah, at the beginning.”

K: “But we couldn’t come to an agreement of contracts. But we love him, and obviously we love Rita, and Nick is sick.”

C: “And Cheryl!”

Do you think it’s harder for girl bands than it is boy bands?

A: “I wouldn’t say it’s harder… I don’t know what it is.”

K: “Obviously girls would much rather scream over a guy than another girl. I feel like girls can more intense fans than guys.”

C: “Guys think they’re too cool to scream over girls!”

A: “We love our Squad!”

K: “We just want people to understand that guys, girls, whatever – you’re always going to be different. We’re never going to conform to the idea of a typical girl band. We just accept who we are, and we want others to as well.”

On the subject of being yourself, a lot of younger fans look up to you – what advice would you give to anybody maybe struggling to come out?

C: “You should always surround yourself with people who are supportive and people who understand you. You’ve just got to be open and comfortable in yourself.

“If it’s something you’re confident in, and something you genuinely believe in yourself, then, honestly, just run with it.”

A: “You need to talk to people. I’ve never gone through it myself, but I always feel like the weight of getting it off of your heart and chest is probably worth the risk of either people taking it in a good way or not.”

Courtney, you did an interview about how you came out in a song, didn't you?

C: “In one of our early songs I did mention something and, now I look it, I think I’ve grown up and, while I don’t regret it, I think I could’ve looked at things differently.

“From that, there was a lot of fans who said that they –

**K: **“They were seeking help to come out, our inboxes were full!”

**C: **“Yeah. And if you can help even one person then that’s amazing. So that’s the positive and the best thing I can take from that situation.”

K: “And you have to accept that you’re a role model, whether you like it or not. If you’re in the public eye, young people are going to look up to you and you have to give the best advice you can.”

Another type of role model – who are your style inspirations?

A: “We love Kylie Jenner – it’s so weird that you’re looking at an 18-year-old for inspiration, but she’s just so amazing!”

K: “In terms of inspiration of girl band style, we always say we’d love to put Beyonce, Rihanna and Taylor Swift in a band. Rather than a girl band trying to morph into one, we’re three strong women and we like it to come across that we know what we’re talking about.”

C: “And we do!”

*Check out a snippet of the video for Stooshe's new single Lock Down below! *