Here to stay!

THE music scene's graveyard is littered with the dashed hopes of one-hit wonders who made it big after a TV talent show before fading into oblivion.

But Liberty X are determined not to be among their number.

Having survived a media mauling after their failure to win ITV's Popstars and then being plunged into a courtroom battle over their name, Liberty X feel they have earned the right to stay the course at the top of the pop scene.

Their first album, the R'nB-inspired Thinking It Over, won a Brit award and spawned hits like Just A Little and Got To Have Your Love. Now Chorley band member Kevin Simm, 23, is hoping their recently-released second album Being Somebody will be just as successful.

"Because it's our second album, it means so much to us." he said. "We're really proud of it, although we're a bit nervous.

"The last album did so well. We're obviously hoping this one does even better, but it's scary to think you've got to go out there and do it all again."

Hopefully the challenges facing Liberty X won't be quite as strenuous as those they faced 18 months ago.

After being branded Flopstars by the national media when they lost out to Hear'Say in the finals of the ITV talent show Popstars, the band -- then known as Liberty -- faced a legal challenge from a little known '80s group with the same name.

Despite setbacks like having to add an X to their name following the court ruling, Tony, Jessica, Michelle, Kelli and Kevin managed to chart a succession of top five hits -- and they're hoping their second album will surpass even that.

Already it's won the backing of Kevin's most loyal fans -- his family who live in Leyland -- and one of his most outspoken supporters, his younger sister Racheal.

"I played the album to my family a few weeks ago," he said. "They really like it, but they were always going to like it -- even if it was terrible! My little sister Racheal, who's 14, can always be relied on to tell it like it is though. She sings herself and she knows where it's at. She always tells me what her friends think about certain songs. So I was really pleased she liked it."

For Kevin himself, the album sounds even stronger than the group's last effort.

"We've all improved as singers and we're more together as a band," he explained. "We started writing for it six months ago. We took loads of time out and dedicated it all to writing.

"We don't always write together as a band, but between us we have a lot of input."

And, as in many Liberty X tracks, the focus shifts in each track from one band member to another.

"Everyone will have a bit of a crack at doing their thing," said Kevin. "On some tracks a few people do it really well while, on others, we find ways of bringing everyone to the forefront.

"There are loads of really good moments on the new album and there's a really different feel to each of the songs.

"Jumpin' is the first single from it and I think it's the one people will really like.

"It gets quite hectic towards the end -- we all go a bit mad! It's got a different feel to the other stuff we've done -- it's more energetic and it's got a bit of a dance feel to it."

One of the first performances of Jumpin' took place at Blackburn's Corporation Park as part of the Arts in the Park event in July.

For both Kevin and fellow band member Jessica Taylor, from Preston, the gig represented a welcome return to Lancashire.

"It was great," said Kevin. "I had all my family there. It was a really good gig. Jessica and I loved it -- it was right on the doorstep of our home towns."

Kevin still travels back to East Lancashire from his Bedfordshire home as often as possible to see his family.

"We always have a wicked time. I see them as being really important for my sanity," he said. "I haven't lived with them for three years now, so it's good to see them as much as possible.

"At Christmas time we've got my family and girlfriend's family coming to our house in Bedfordshire for dinner. There'll be 12 of us in total. I'm definitely not going to be the one doing the cooking!"

Liberty X's new album Being Somebody is on sale now.