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We Talk Tears And Tunes With Blonde And Alex Newell

Coming together on dance smash 'All Cried Out', we catch up with producers Blonde and 'Glee' star Newell...

Adam Englefield and Jacob Manson are better known as dance act Blonde, who've attacked the charts over the last six months with their infectious, uplifting house anthems.

Recently, theyteamed up with'Glee''s Alex Newell (What. A. Voice)and continued their Top 10 dominationpeaking at No.4 on the Official UK Singles Chart with 'All Cried Out'.

With an album on the horizon and their address book filling up with festivaldates (you catch themsupporting Years & Years at this year's Ibiza Rocks opening party next month), we chat to both the duo and Alex about what's coming up, new music and what makes them totes emosh...

MTV UK:What was the last thing you cried about?

Adam: "I recently watched a documentary where a woman had been separated from her family against her will during a civil war. During the program they reunited the whole family for the first time in like 25 years. I’m not ashamed to say I did let a tear go! But it was a happy one."

Jacob: "I honestly don't cry, I don't know why not but I just really haven't since I was tiny."

Alex: "I honestly cry far too much so I honestly don’t remember what the reason was. I’m too emotional!"

MTV UK: What made you pick Alex to feature on 'All Cried Out'?

Blonde: "We had been shown some of Alex’s stuff by the label and we were blown away by his voice, and it was at that point that we thought he could be the perfect match for All Cried Out. When we finally did hear Alex’s take on the track everything just clicked and we knew that it just had to be him!"

MTV UK: Alex,how did you end up working with the Blonde guys? Are you a dance music fan?

Alex:"I got an email from my manager asking what I thought of the track and I liked it a lot. The more I sang it and got notes back from them, the more I fell in love with the song! I honestly am not the biggest dance music fan but the more I sing it and hear it, it’s becoming an obsession!"

MTV UK: Is an album on it's way guys?

Blonde: "The album in currently in the works! It's something that we are constantly working on and have been for the past few years. In the album we have really branched out and explored many different influences, from RnB to garage. We just can’t wait to share it with everyone."

MTV UK:Alex, can we expect any solo material coming our way soon? Is this collab a good reflection of the sound you want to go down?

Alex:"Yes! I’m working on my own album and some of the stuff is truly amazing! I get to work with the most amazing producers and songwriters and it’s just the best. The collab is kind of what we’re going for, but honestly we’re trying to create a new and authentic sound!"

MTV UK: Who's next on the collab list?

Blonde: "We have always liked working with other upcoming artists, and so much of the album will feature artists that we have been enjoying recently. We’ve been working a lot with artists like Zak Abel, Mar and Cass Lowe who we are really excited about. There is so much rising talent out there at the moment and we feel especially lucky to have worked with these three."

MTV UK:Alex, can we expect another hook up with Clean Bandit anytime soon? Who else have you been working with recently?

Alex:"I hope so! I love them so much! When I first met them they just welcomed me with open arms and that’s a sure sign of people you want to be around!! I’ve worked with some amazing people, Nile Rogers, DJ Cassidy, Diane Warren, Kuk Harrell, The Knocks etc. I mean this list goes on and on! I just met with MNEK and I’m so excited to work with him!"

MTV UK:Alex,what was the most liberating moment playing Unique in 'Glee'?

Alex:"Truly singing Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman’s song “I Know Where I’ve Been”. The song is such a power song that has such a resounding message that applies to so many communities. It reflects all the pain and all the struggles that we’ve gone through or are going through, which have brought us to where we are today and truly where we’re going. The fact that I got to stand there and sing this song with a 200 person Trans choir on such a giant platform and have people all across the world see that, I don't think it gets more liberating than that!

"I got to play such an amazing character that taught me how to be myself and also taught everyone else that being you is all that you can do and there’s nothing wrong with that! Roles like that come once in a lifetime and I’m so happy I got to do it so early in my career!"

MTV UK:Blonde guys,when was the last time you felt 'liberated'?

Blonde: "When you first leave home and start fending for yourself, thats an extremely liberating time in anyone's life. You begin to figure out what you want to do with your life and how you’re going to achieve it. It was a great feeling! Although that was a few years ago for both of us it was most definitely a big moment in our individual experiences."

MTV UK:What song do you guys have on repeat at the moment and why?

Blonde: "Kendrick Lamar - King Kunta. Its just got a ton of groove and attitude to it. Every line is a hook!"

Alex: "It’s one of my own songs! I'm in love with the vocals hahah!!"

MTV UK:What are your musical guilty pleasures?/What's the most surprising thing we'd find on your iPod/Spotify?

Blonde: "We are both big fans of Mariah Carey and one of our favourite tracks of hers is 'Emotions'. It's the kind of song that you can’t help but sing along to even though it's impossible to slay it like she does!"

Alex: "My musical guilty pleasures are musicals, lol! I grew up doing musical theatre (who would have guessed) so I have so many Original Broadway Cast recordings and movie musical soundtracks. The most surprising thing you’d find on my iPod are my own personal recordings of musical theatre rehearsals from when I was younger! Like breaking down the harmonies and rough ROUGH vocals of me learning my part of shows I did at like 10!! Also MASSIVE amounts of Beyoncé!"

MTV UK:What does the rest of 2015 have in store?

Blonde: "We’re going to be touring our live show across the UK during festival season, which is something we have always wanted to do. So we’re really excited for that! Then at the same time we are working to complete the album. So a lot more music still to come from us."

Alex: "Music and lots of it! Hopefully I can woo the producers and casting of NBC’s The Wiz to cast me in it!! #fingercrossed #AlexforTHEWIZ #Shamelessplug"

''All Cried Out' is out now.'

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