Oritsé Williams: Young Carer to JLS Founder | The X Factor Story They Never Told!

Oritsé Williams sits down for one of his most honest interviews ever. From becoming a young carer for his mother at just 12 years old to founding one of the UK’s biggest boy bands, this is the full untold story. Chapters: 0:00 Intro / Title Sequence 1:52 Local Geeza Out Now! Shizzio X Mc Creed X Big Narstie 2:25 Welcome Oritsé Williams 4:03 Born & Bred 6:14 Avoiding the Streetlife / Fighting Stereotypes 7:54 Family / Older Brother Responsibility 8:35 I Became a Carer at 12yrs Old / Mum’s Health 11:59 Being a Carer for Mum Made Me Defensive 16:08 What Do Young Carers Need? 18:54 I Always Dreamed of Being a Music Star 23:26 Taking Singing Seriously in School / Songwriting 24:57 Lauryn Hill Is My Idol / Best Female Rapper? 26:43 Best Female UK Rappers 27:25 Grades / Leaving School 28:22 Moving to Nigeria / Expelled From School 31:48 Being Invited Back to School as a Celebrity 39:44 Beatings in School 41:22 Absorbing Musical Culture in Africa 43:49 I Got the Idea to Start a Band in Africa 44:50 BGR / Father Bond Broken 45:35 Return to London / Family Health Worsens 46:30 Singing Battles / Open Mics / Changing Opinions 51:29 Joining Vocal Academy / Perfecting the Craft 54:30 Joining & Leaving a Boyband 57:27 Starting JLS 58:18 Finding the JLS Band Members 1:02:08 Vibe Importance / HWBT / Pressure 1:02:44 Band Name / Developing Songs & Band 1:04:51 Black Boy Band Would Never Work 1:05:28 I Forged the X-Factor Application 1:06:30 X-Factor Auditions for Producers 1:08:43 Belief to Win X Factor 1:09:41 Louis Walsh Was Our X Factor Mentor 1:10:43 Live X Factor Shows / Live vs Stage 1:12:51 JLS Band Name / Colours 1:14:27 X Factor Final / Winning Belief 1:14:57 Beyoncé Alexandra Burke Performance 1:19:08 Not Winning X Factor / Mum’s Health 1:20:29 Storming Into Simon Cowell’s Office 1:24:16 ‘Beat Again’ Goes to No 1 / Trevor Nelson 1:28:50 Dealing With Fame 1:29:39 Chart Topping Debut Album / Fav Songs 1:30:20 ‘Everybody in Love’ / Learning Pop 1:31:03 Live Shows / Dealing With Screaming Fans 1:32:49 Brand Deals / Money Handling / Pressure 1:35:28 Signing Girl Group VIDA / Trying to Break Them 1:38:08 Che3kz Was in VIDA / Learning From Failure 1:39:48 I Witnessed You Try Your Best for VIDA 1:42:45 Jammer Dissing JLS / Grime vs Pop 1:45:21 JLS Breaks Up! WHY? / Life After Split 1:46:40 Mental Affect of JLS Split 1:47:16 Winning Brit Award & MOBO 1:49:57 Solo Track With Pusha T Is a Banger 1:51:52 Changing Name to OWS / Darcus 1:52:28 Island Records vs Kanye West’s GOOD Music 1:56:00 Waterline Pusha T Music Video 1:56:43 Pusha T Collab Release / Lack of Promo 1:58:22 Waterline Video Removed From YouTube 2:00:39 Unapologetically Myself / New Music 2:04:17 TikTok Social Media World 2:05:11 Thoughts on AI Music 2:05:50 JLS Reforms / New Tour / Album? 2:09:41 Marvin Humes Masked Singer / JB 2:10:10 2026 Solo Project Is Coming 2:13:27 AI Q’s / JLS Price / JLS Founder 2:13:53 X Factor / Artist or Product? / Money 2:14:38 Mental Health Struggles in Music 2:16:03 Cost of a Successful Music Artist 2:17:13 Music Makes Me Cry / Meeting Lauryn Hill 2:19:00 Outspoken Artists 2:20:39 Do You Trust the Music Industry? / Timing 2:22:10 JLS Reunion / Wife & Child 2:24:21 Advice to Younger Self 2:24:46 Quick Fire Q’s 2:29:55 Muay Thai Fight Training 2:31:55 Misfits Boxing? 2:33:48 Idris Elba Documentary / Part 2 2:34:43 I’ll Fight KSI 2:35:20 Robbie Williams Boyband Fights 2:36:39 Thank You Oritsé / Flowers