The Ultra Girls interviewed

Leeds-based female foursome The Ultra Girls are a barely containable ball of nervous energy.

It’s hardly surprising, given they recently found out they’ll be supporting Kylie on her upcoming tour, which starts in March. Not bad for a bunch of X Factor hopefuls who were knocked out of the TV talent show by Jedward.

The band have an air of Next Big Thing about them as we chat over coffee at The Wardrobe, but an 11-date arena tour is an almighty step up from the recent school tour they’ve just embarked on.

Amy, Lauren, Lucy and Laura decided that reality show rejection was not going to stop them, and three years on, it’s starting to look like a smart decision.

“The show definitely opened doors for us,” says Lauren. “It was good preparation for the pressure of being in the industry.”

“I think if you do it for the right reasons, it’s a good thing,” reckons Laura. “We wanted to turn it into something, despite being knocked out. We’d tried everything else. We’d walked into record companies with demos thinking you just get signed on the spot. We’d been trying everything else.

“Boot camp was really hard though,” says Amy. “They do put you under pressure to make for good TV and you know that while you’re there. But getting three hours sleep and then performing is not fun.”

Lucy breaks from eating to interject. Something about the state of a nation that sees fame as getting on TV first, then proving you have a talent later? Maybe an observation of the ficke nature of the music industry and the pressure to keep up an image 24 hours a day.

“Hang on – sorry. I was distracted by a fit bloke at the bar.” Ah, maybe not.

So how about Kylie? The band have already snagged one of her producers, Steve Anderson, as well as the Spice Girls’ stylist Kenny Ho? Have they already met Ms Minogue?

“We’ve been in her presence,” says Lucy. “She wafted past us at a do in the West End last year. But she hasn’t had a support act in seven years. Seven years!”

No pressure then? “I know,” says Lauren. “Her fans are so devoted too...you just want to do well for her, for them. But we’re pop, and so is she. Hopefully, they’ll like us.”

“We’re not nervous yet, but we probably will be as the tour gets closer,” says Amy. “I need a wee most of the time already, so I don’t know how I’ll manage.”

Will they hang out on the tour? “I don’t know about that,” says Amy. “We chest bounce before a show, so maybe she can get involved in that.”

Maybe. And on that note, we’re done. It’s been genuine fun spending time with the Ultra Girls. 2011 looks like it might be a busy year for them, so they’ll need to keep their sense of humour.

“Now if you’ll excuse me,” says Amy, sliding past, “I really need a wee.” Blimey. She wasn’t joking.

You can catch the Ultra Girls on tour with Kylie in Cardiff, Glasgow, Manchester and London from March 25 to April 12. Visit www.theultragirls.com for more details.