Photo: WENN.com
Conor Maynard has hit out at suggestions that he is 'the British Justin Bieber', claiming he wants to forge his own identity in the music industry.
The Brighton star, who scored a huge hit earlier this year with his debut single 'Can't Say No', says he wants to be seen as his own person - and not a British alternative to the Canadian superstar.
"A lot of people had it in their minds that I was the next Justin Bieber. But I didn't want to follow anyone," says Maynard in an interview with the Daily Telegraph. "I had to find out what kind of an artist I was, because I had never been in a studio, I hadn't even written a song. I had this motto: 'It's better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation'."
He also spoke of his beginnings as a YouTube star, and says his early videos helped him stamp his own identity on his music.
"I wanted to put my own unique stamp on everything because that was how I was successful on YouTube. I took covers and switched them up and did it my own way, and people became a fan of me rather than a fan of the songs," he added.
Conor Maynard's debut album 'Contrast' is released 30 July, 2012.
