After finishing as the runner-up of the 11th series of
The X Factor, East signed a recording contract with
Syco Music in January 2015. She began working on her debut studio album after participating in the
X Factor tour, splitting her time between London and Los Angeles to record it. During recording, she was inspired by "
Uptown Funk" by
Mark Ronson featuring
Bruno Mars, and described the songs on the album as "very uptempo and very energetic with lots of attitude. [The album has] got loads of influences from the old school. Lots of funk, hip-hop, soul; loads of different sounds fused together. Everything about that song - the uptempo vibe, the high energy, the brass, the old school funk sound - was just right up my street. I've definitely taken a few influences from that." In July 2015, Syco's head
Simon Cowell told
The Sun: "I've heard it and it's world class. She has discovered who she wanted to be. Sometimes you just spot someone who's not obvious and Fleur's a good example of that". "Sax" was originally slated for release on 23 October 2015, then on 30 October, before being finally released on 6 November 2015 to coincide with her performance of the song on
X Factor. ==Critical reception==