X-Factor semi finalists and Croydon band Rough Copy have been signed up by the record label which has produced records for Michael Jackson.

The band, made up of Croydon trio Kazeem Ajobe, Sterling Ramsey and Joey Thomas finished fourth in 2013 series of the ITV show which was won by Sam Bailey.

And after months touring with X Factor the band have now landed a major record deal with Epic of Sony Music.

The group, who performed to a packed Fairfield Halls earlier this year, have been working hard touring the country since their X Factor exit.

Epic boast artists on their books such as The Script, Outkast, Paloma Faith, Prince and have worked with the legendary Michael Jackson.

Rough Copy’s next single is already being lined up for release on June 29. The song, Street Love, is a take on the 80s classic Sweet Love by Anita Baker.

It is produced by Beatfreakz who has worked with the likes of Jason Derulo and Usher.

On their Facebook page the band said they were really proud to be signed up by the Sony Label Epic and it was a dream come true. They are now working on an album to release later this year.

Kazeem Ajobe told the Croydon Guardian it had been a roller coaster since life on the X Factor.

He said: “The last few months have been an educational rollercoaster for what is to come for us in this music industry.

“Whilst doing the gigs and the X Factor tour we were also working on our new single in the studio, so it has been busy.

“Signing with Epic makes everything worthwhile, all the struggles, the grind we went through to even get noticed all those times we felt like giving up but still pushed because of the passion we had for music and the brotherhood we had kept us going constantly.

“So it has been a dream come true to finally be signed to major label.”

He added: “The public reaction to us has been both humbling and an eye opener to what life as a success group could be like. From our shows to just personal PAs it's been crazy. When we did our homecoming show that was overwhelming and we enjoyed every moment of that.”

Watch the lyric video of Street Love below: