A FORMER X-Factor contestant has signed an international management deal, must months after failing to make it through to the final stages of the TV talent contest.

Bre Musiq, from Stockton, has signed a deal with Dubai-based RU Listening Ltd, which also has an office in Stockton, where he joins fellow Teessider and former X Factor hopeful Kerrianne Covell and Ingleby Barwick musician Samantha Durnan.

Stockton singer Kim Blair also announced this week that she has signed up with the same management company.

Nando’s worker Bre was on the ITV show along with Kerrianne.

Bre, who describes his style as R‘n’B and soul, said: “Since then, I’ve been doing a lot of gigging and studio time. I’ve been working on my EP,

which I hope to release soon.

“I had nothing to lose signing with RU Listening. They know what they’re doing. They’ve got everything I need to take my career to the next level.

“We haven’t got as far as planning the exact next steps for me, but I’m looking forward to finding out.

“I started off singing in the church choir actually, so there’s a gospel influence there as well."

As part of her new management deal, Kim, 27, of Ingleby Barwick, is heading to Houston, Texas, next month to perform a number of gigs, something she’s “incredibly excited” about.

Kim, who is married with a young daughter, three-year-old Ella, was with her most recent band for around four years, during which time they secured

a record deal, played to audiences of 10,000 people and alongside some of well-known bands including Paramore, You Me At Six and Feeder. Kim then took a break from music, but said she quickly missed it.

Kim spent most of her childhood in Yarm, attending Conyers School and then Middlesbrough College, where she studied film and video, before going on to the University of Glamorgan.

She has already released one single, Too Into You, the video for which showed people across Teesside and beyond holding up messages to loved ones.