Inside Janice Robinson's life – X Factor comeback, career change and family tragedy

Janice Robinson was immediately recognisable in the ’90s, and when she appeared on the X Factor stage in 2018, she soon had viewers out of their seats.

As Janice prepares for her ultimate comeback, which will see her new song Dreamer hit the clubs in the UK and inspire a new generation, she got candid about her life since the chart-topping track.

Speaking to Daily Star, Janice opened up about life since lockdown, getting an additional job and the family tragedy that inspired her to go on The X Factor.

Janice, who is also gearing up to release a documentary about her life as she shares the true reason she stepped away from the spotlight, said that she’s just been focusing on herself and her family and their health – both mental and physical.

With both highs and lows taking over the past two years, Janice is gearing up for the ultimate comeback – but music is no longer the sole focus of her life.

From looking after her family to spilling on her day job where she works in a school over in Florida, where she is based, Janice’s life is quite different to the one fans may have assumed from her early days in pop.

As she gears up for another big venture, Daily Star has looked into her life.

Family tragedy

Janice described the challenges faced by herself and her family as “like a pandemic” as the star reflected on the harrowing time after her daughter suffered a severe brain condition.

The star, who went on The X Factor in 2018, confessed it was her daughter Kura who inspired her to go on the show right after her brain surgery.

She had previously told her daughters, Kura and Amaya, about her ’90s fame prior to Kura’s illness. Her daughter was diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri, which caused pressure to rise around the prain.

It led to papilledema, where the optic nerve swelled and shortly after she was declared legally blind after spending a few weeks in the hospital and having surgery.

Janice told The Mirror after that knowing her mum was doing the show gave her “so much joy”. She added: “Even now, without her vision, she’s so happy and proud of her mum. She won’t see my audition but she can see it with her heart.”

Career change

When Janice moved away from music she focused on looking after her parents, and then raising her two daughters.

Eventually, she was asked to teach in a middle school in Florida where she teaches language arts – which would be the equivalent of English Language in the UK.

Speaking to Daily Star, Janice said: “The kids are great. I show them who I am around the world and they’re like, ‘And you’re here with us?’.

“I know my life, and it is inspiring. I handled all this, I just take it in. One minute I’m in Italy and living it up, and then I’m standing in front of 24 students in a classroom and I’m looking them in the eye and teaching them about goals and purpose.

“If I can get one person to understand that they have a purpose, then I am giving something to humanity.”

Launching Dreamer

Janice confessed that writing Dreamer was her doing a favour for somebody else after she was promoting parties in a club.

She said that she was asked to make a track for them and she was wit ha friend gathering inspiration when she just started writing about love, life and laughter.

That’s the moment she wrote her first lyrics – love, life and laughter is all I believe – and she said it has been her mantra ever since then.

X Factor

Going on The X Factor was a mesmerising moment for the audience, because as soon as Janice started to sing, the penny just dropped and viewers immediately recognised her.

Janice said: “I’m going to speak about the beautiful side of that experience, and that was that it created a lot of hope for people. When they found out I was 50, it made them feel like you could just go out and do what you love.

“When you love something it never feels like work. I just believe in myself.”

However, being on The X Factor made Janice feel like she was in “Back to The Future” as she said she was “still in the ’90”.

She said: “Now kids want to be like a TV contestant, it wasn’t like that in my day. You really had to show up with the goods, you didn’t get glam squads or a team to make you a star.

“Being in that house… I enjoyed the facials, I enjoyed the trainers, makeup artists, dinner, for me it was like a spa.”

Janice explained that she educated some of the contestants and reminded them that they need to work hard, and a high following isn’t ultimately what will help them in their careers.

The relaunch

Janice “can’t wait” for the new generation to hear the track as she declared it sounds just like “an Ibiza anthem”.

She added: “The drop is at a different time, it’s really interesting the way it’s been done. I was never thinking of re-recording, but the thing I like most about the rework is how I sound.

“With all the technology, and my voice is older, it sounds like it could be Dua Lipa singing – I probably inspired Dua Lipa and now Dua Lipa is inspiring me!”

Janice continued: “I’m so excited for the people, so excited for this generation. I want to see the kids doing it, I want to see them rapping it.”

Janice will also be releasing a documentary later this year which will follow her decision to step away from music and look after her sick parents.

The brand new version of ‘Dreamer’ Janice Robinson teaming up with DJ Lodato will be released on 25th February to stream and download.

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk