Lucy Spraggan

Lucy Honour Ruby Spraggan (born 21 July 1991) is an English singer-songwriter. She auditioned for The X Factor in 2012, performing her own composition, "Last Night". On 3 November 2012, it was announced she would be quitting her run on The X Factor due to illness, so she subsequently finished in ninth place, and second in her category. Following the show Spraggan was signed to Columbia Records.

Spraggan was the first contestant in the show's history to score a Top 40 single and album before the live shows aired, with her independently released album Top Room at the Zoo. Her debut major label album, Join the Club, was released on 7 October 2013, reaching number seven in the UK Albums Chart. She has since released four more studio albums; the latest, Choices, was released on 26 February 2021 and debuted at number 5 on the UK Albums Chart. The album was preceded by the singles "Flowers", "Roots" and "Sober".

2011–2012: Live and Unsigned, Open Mic UK and Top Room at the Zoo
In July 2011, Spraggan was announced as the runner up of the Urban, Pop & Acoustic Category of Live and Unsigned, placing third place overall in the competition. Spraggan's prizes awarded by Live and Unsigned for her progress in the competition consisted of a festival slot at Osfest, and a slot at Australia's 'Go Connect' Festival. When the festival was later cancelled, Live and Unsigned provided Spraggan with a series of replacement prizes, including: a string of guest act spots at Live and Unsigned and Open Mic UK shows across the country, a new website, and a music video shoot for her single Last Night, which received over 455,000 views.

On 20 October 2011 Spraggan independently released her album Top Room at the Zoo. In an interview she said that the majority of her album's lyrics were inspired by a short-lived romance with an older woman of 27 that occurred when Spraggan visited America at the age of 18.

Spraggan performed as a guest act at a large volume of Live and Unsigned and Open Mic UK shows across the country during this time, on Open Mic UK, Spraggan said in an interview: "Open Mic UK is a great way to build your fan base to thousands of new fans whether you are a guest act or a competitor in the show." As a result of performing at these shows, Spraggan was scouted by several festival organisers to perform at their festivals, amongst which included London Summer Jam, Osfest, Strawberry Fields Festival Whaley Bridge Water Weekend and Cockermouth Rock Festival.

2012: The X Factor
On 13 July 2012, she released the single "Tea and Toast". Spraggan auditioned for the ninth series of The X Factor, which was shown on 25 August 2012, singing her own song "Last Night" from Top Room at the Zoo. She won herself a place at bootcamp after performing the song, which left the audience at the Manchester auditions chanting for more. Her second song, which was a rendition of "Halo" by Beyoncé, was shown on The Xtra Factor. Shortly after the audition was screened, the song climbed to Number 70 in the UK Singles Chart, and reached Number 2 on iTunes. However, it was soon removed from iTunes by request of The X Factor producers. On 29 August 2012, Greg James announced that "Last Night" was at number 5 on the Official Chart Update despite the song being removed from iTunes, her album Top Room at the Zoo was at number 7 on the Official Chart Update as well. On 2 September 2012 "Last Night" entered the UK Singles Chart at number 11 and Top Room at the Zoo entered the UK Albums Chart at number 22.

Spraggan sang "Moves like Jagger" by Maroon 5 at bootcamp but the performance was described as "awkward" and "messy". She returned to the stage with a mix-up of songs that she really liked and meant a lot to her. Tulisa then said that she wanted to hear one of her tracks so Spraggan decided to sing "Tea and Toast", stating that the song was about a real couple. After she performed the song she burst into tears when she received a standing ovation from the audience and the judging panel.

She made it through to the live shows as one of the three female singers selected by mentor Tulisa. In week 4, Spraggan was ill so she automatically got through to week 5. On 3 November, she decided to leave the competition because she felt that it wouldn't be fair to get another free pass to the next round, as she was still too ill to compete.

2012–2013: Join the Club
Lucy Spraggan announced her signing to Record Label Columbia Records in March 2013. Her debut studio album Join the Club was released on 7 October.

About the album Spraggan said "I wanted to put my own take on events that happen to everyone by telling these stories. I have been writing this album for as long as I can remember and I hope people will be able to relate." The lead single "Lighthouse" was released 14 July. About the single Spraggan explains 'Whenever I'd run out of money or get on the wrong bus, I'd see a lighthouse and things would start to getting better'. Spraggan confirmed the second single lifted from the album would be "Last Night (Beer Fear)" was released on 30 September.

Spraggan announced a headline UK and Ireland tour in support of the album which started at Margate Winter Gardens on 21 October and concluded at The Academy in Dublin on 16 November.

2014–2016: We Are, Home EP and I Hope You Don't Mind Me Writing
November 2014 Spraggan showcased new music she'd been working on since The X Factor. On 17 January via Facebook she announced the title of her second album entitled We Are, which was released on 4 May 2015, and the first single "Unsinkable" released on 12 March 2015. Following the album's release Spraggan embarked on "The Unsinkable Tour". In 2015, Spraggan wrote and sang the "catchy" lyrics for the TV advert for online fashion store Simplybeyou. Later in 2015 Spraggan was signed to CTRL Records. On 3 February 2016 Lucy Spraggan announced, via social media, that her new EP would be called Home and due to be released on 9 February. The EP contained 3 new songs called "Home", "Yes, This One's For You" and "Skylights". It also included a new version of "Tea and Toast" which explained the story behind the song. On 9 November 2016, Spraggan announced her fourth album I Hope You Don't Mind Me Writing, which was released on 27 January 2017. On 8 December 2016 the video for the first single from the album "Modern Day Frankenstein" became available to view online with the preorder for the album following 10 December 2016.

2017–2019: Dear You Tour, summer festivals and new record label
Spraggan announced a headline European tour to promote her album I Hope You Don't Mind Me Writing, starting at The Waterfront, Norwich on 1 March and concluding at the Gruner Salon, Berlin on 28 March 2017. The tour consisted of 18 dates in total. Summer festival highlights for Spraggan included performances at Hope & Glory (Wonders of the Age Stage), Isle of Wight (Big Top Stage), Glastonbury (Acoustic) and Tramlines (Sheffield).

On 19 May 2017 Spraggan announced via her social media pages that she was going to embark on a 31 date UK tour throughout September and October of that year. Following a number of showcase performances at SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas in March 2018, Lucy signed to Cooking Vinyl Records & Publishing. Soon after this, she was added to the roster on ATC Live for UK & European live bookings and APA for Northern America. Lucy is set to tour the US & Canada throughout September 2018, followed by a substantial UK tour and European dates through October and into November. She is currently writing new material for a new album due out in Spring 2019 to be released through Cooking Vinyl and will be performing at festivals including Kendal Calling, Y Not and Belladrum over the Summer.

At the beginning of 2019, she toured with Melissa Etheridge for three weeks in Europe on Etheridge's "Yes I Am" 25th Anniversary Tour.Released in May 2019, Today Was a Good Day contained 14 song including "Stick the Kettle On", a song about being there for people who are suffering in their mental health, "Lucky Stars", "Thanks for Choosing Me", "End of the World", and "Don’t Play This on the Radio". A deluxe edition was released with extra tracks from her live concerts: "Fight for it", "Loaded Gun Blues", "Unsinkable" and "Lucky Stars".

2021: Choices
Spraggan's sixth album, Choices, was released on 26 February 2021 and debuted at number 5 on the UK Albums Chart. The album was preceded by the singles "Flowers", "Roots" and "Sober". On 19 March 2021, Spraggan released "Animal (Skank Butcher Remix)" as a promotional single.

On 21 May 2021, Spraggan released a cover of the 1999 S Club 7 single, "Bring It All Back". On 28 May 2021, Spraggan announced her UK tour, due to commence 25 October 2021.

Personal life
Spraggan was born in Canterbury, but at a young age, moved with her family to Buxton in Derbyshire. She attended Buxton Community School and the University of Derby, and currently resides near Chester, Cheshire. She stated in her X Factor appearance, when she was asked about her job by judge Tulisa, she said "I am the person with a clipboard in the street that you try to avoid. I sell baby photos for 99p". Prior to her musical success on X-Factor she worked as a saleswoman for a Sheffield-based budget photography firm and worked mainly selling children's portraits in the Fargate area of Sheffield. When asked, "Do you enjoy it?", she replied "No, not very much."

Spraggan came out as gay at 14 years old and married Georgina Gordon on 18 June 2016. The two separated on 12 November 2019 after three years and five months of marriage.

Her mother, Anstey, is a freelance journalist.

Discography

 * Top Room at the Zoo (2011)
 * Join the Club (2013)
 * We Are (2015)
 * I Hope You Don't Mind Me Writing (2017)
 * Today Was a Good Day (2019)
 * Choices (2021)