Jesy Nelson is apparently trying to get her solo career back on track with the help of an old Little Mix songwriter.
The Bad Boyz singer, 30, released her first ever solo single last year to a mixed reception and accusations of cultural appropriation.
Jesy's duet with Nicki Minaj peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart when it was released back in October, but the singer's solo venture appears to have halted since.
But it seems the former X Factor contestant is throwing everything at 2022 to make it a successful year - even reportedly hiring the songwriting genius behind one of her former band's biggest hits.
It's been claimed that Jesy is set to team up talented writer Tayla Parx to help get her solo career back on track - the genius behind Little Mix's fifth number one single Sweet Melody.
According to The Sun, Jesy paid Tayla a visit when over in Los Angeles earlier this month and the pair have been working together on a new song.
"She has an incredible track record when it comes to writing smash hits, so Jesy is hopeful they will be able to cook up something great together," a source told the publication.
"They knew each other via industry friends, so it seemed like a no-brainer to reach out and get her on board."
The insider added: "It’s been a tough few months for Jesy but it finally feels like things have turned a corner."
The Mirror has contacted representatives for Jesy for comment.
If the reports are true, Tayla certainly has the resume to guarantee Jesy a much-needed hit single.
The American actress and songwriter is credited as a co-writer on smash hits such as Love Lies by Khalid and Normani, Thank U, Next by Ariana Grande and Panic! at the Disco's bop High Hopes.
Tayla, 28, has also worked with artists such as Dua Lipa, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez and of course, Little Mix.
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The songwriter's lyrics for Sweet Melody may have helped Jesy and her former bandmate's get a number one, but ex Little Mixer Jesy may not have the fondest memories of the catchy bop.
The singer admitted after her shock departure from the band in December 2020 that filming the music video for the smash song was the catalyst for her quitting the group.
"The last music video we did [Sweet Melody] was the breaking point. We’d been in lockdown, and [that had been] the first time I could have a break and be at home around people that I love," Jesy told Cosmopolitan in May last year.
"It was the happiest I’d ever felt, and I didn’t realise that until I went back to work."
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She went on to explain how she found it hard to enjoy the music videos as much as her former bandmates Perrie Edwards, Jade Thirlwall and Leigh-Anne Pinnock
"I’d been in lockdown, and I’d put on a bit of weight but I didn’t care. And [then] they said, ’You’ve got a music video in a couple of weeks,’ and I just panicked. I went on this extreme diet, with bloody shakes, and tried to eat as little as possible," Jesy confessed.
"On the day of the Sweet Melody video I had a panic attack on set because I didn’t look how I wanted to look and I found it so hard to just be happy and enjoy myself. I looked at the other three and they were having the time of their life."
On December 14, 2020 it was revealed that Jesy had left Little Mix and the group would move forward as a trio.
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