Jessie J owes debt of gratitude to Amy Winehouse

Jessie J believes she would never have landed a recording contract if Amy Winehouse hadn’t already started flying the flag for British women.

The Price Tag singer said the star – who was found dead at her London home last month – helped create a market for more unique and diverse acts.

Speaking before Sunday night’s MTV Video Music Awards, she told The Mirror: “Amy definitely paved the way for people like me and Adele. She broke boundaries, she set the standard. She wrote music that went worldwide. Until that point British female artists hadn’t really done anything since Annie Lennox. That was a long time ago. I kind of feel like Amy brought it back and I don’t think she even realised that she did it. She was kind of so humble and everyone was like, ‘Yeah, she’s amazing'. That was how it was. I feel like – especially for me and I definitely think that Adele feels the same – I will not let her down and I will carry on from where she set the standard. It’s an honour to be here and I will be thinking of her.”

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