Nearly a decade after winning The X Factor, Rak-Su have reflected on their remarkable rise to fame and revealed what it was really like working with mentor Simon Cowell. The R&B group, who won the 2017 series, was originally made up of childhood pals Ashley Fongho, Jamaal Shurland, Myles Stephenson and Mustafa Rahimtulla from Watford in Hertfordshire.
Their winning track 'Dimelo', featuring Naughty Boy and Wyclef Jean, entered the charts at Number Two behind Ed Sheeran's Perfect. It marked the first time a winner's single was actually written by the winner. Since then, the band have released two albums and a string of singles, while also pursuing other opportunities. Fans might remember Myles popping up on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in 2019.
Simon Cowell's Mentorship Style
Now signed to a new label, Champions Music and Entertainment, and about to release another album, Rak-Su is no longer a four-piece but a trio after beatboxer Mustafa left the group in November 2020 to focus on his mental health. As the boys, now in their early 30s, prepare to embark on the band's next chapter with a tour thought to be planned in 2027, Rak-Su have offered a rare insight into The X Factor and whether Simon is really as scary as he looks.
Ashley shared: "Personally, I don't have a bad word to say about him. He appreciated that we wrote our own material and knew who we were as artists. He facilitated that rather than trying to change it." According to Ashley, Simon was involved selectively, offering ideas on performances while allowing the band to maintain its creative identity. He said: "There were times when he would come in and say a performance needed to be bigger or suggest a tweak to a song, but generally he let us get on with it. He seemed to trust what we were doing."
The X Factor's Lasting Impact
Describing his time on the ITV talent show as one of the defining moments of his life, Ashley added: "The X Factor changed our lives... I remember coming out at Jingle Bell Ball and hearing the reaction from the crowd. It all felt absolutely surreal. The further away I get from it, the more surreal it feels. Whatever happened afterwards, nobody can take away what we experienced together."
Though The X Factor finished a year after Rak-Su won, with Dalton Harris being crowned the final winner in the 2018 series, the group still believe talent shows offer a valuable platform for emerging artists. Band member Jamaal said: "It's a great vehicle and always will be. People enjoy that format and that journey. But it's easy to get swept up in the lights, cameras and excitement if you don't know who you are as an artist. The music industry is still a business at the end of the day. Talent shows can open doors, but people need to understand what they want from the experience before they go on."
Learning the Business
Myles, who completes the new Rak-Su line-up, said the experience ultimately shaped the group's journey. He shared: "I completely understand that the music industry involves difficult commercial decisions. When you're a young artist, those moments can feel very significant because they affect the direction of your career. Looking back, I can appreciate the realities of the business, but it was still a learning experience for us as young artists trying to navigate everything."
Joe Burton, senior agent at Champions Music who are now representing Rak-Su, said: "We're delighted to have Rak-Su sign exclusively to the Champions family. We're very excited to see how their journey progresses and for what the future holds for this extremely talented trio."
