[6] In 2008 Vickers auditioned for the fifth series of The X Factor, singing "The Blower's Daughter" by Damien Rice, after which Louis Walsh commented that she resembled a "little hippie".

[1] Vickers was selected for the live shows and was mentored by Cheryl Cole in the girls' category alongside Alexandra Burke and Laura White.

[9] She had wanted to perform the Mariah Carey song "Always Be My Baby", but her doctor advised her not to, saying Vickers could do permanent damage to her vocal cords.

She worked with Cathy Dennis, Eg White, Nerina Pallot, Ellie Goulding, Guy Sigsworth, Chris Braide, Savan Kotecha, Starsmith, Patrick Wolf, and Dev Hynes.

The track was released in the United Kingdom in April 2010[17] and playlisted on Radio 1,[18][19] where Vickers performed an acoustic version of "Once" and a cover of Snow Patrol's "Just Say Yes" for the Live Lounge.

[20] "The Boy Who Murdered Love", written and produced by Chris Braide (with lyric contribution from Vickers),[21] was released as the second single and charted at number 36 in the UK.

The single was released in October 2010 and reached number 13 in the UK; the same month, it was reported that Red Hot Chili Peppers was considering legal action over similarities between the chorus of the band's well-known song "Under the Bridge" and "My Wicked Heart".

Vickers said in an interview that she had been listening to "Under the Bridge" shortly before working on "My Wicked Heart" and had noticed but decided to ignore the similarities.

[25] In an interview to promote the single, Vickers announced the possibility of Songs from the Tainted Cherry Tree getting a solely digital download re-release, and also stated, "I've been writing so much and got so many tracks under my belt.

"[26] The fourth leg of the Songs from the Tainted Cherry Tree Tour began in November 2010 and included dates in Ireland as well as the UK.

[29] In January 2011, Vickers travelled to Los Angeles, United States, to co-write material with John Shanks and Diane Warren, and played her debut USA gig at Cherry Pop in West Hollywood (promoted via Perez Hilton).

[31] In June 2011, Vickers revealed on her official Tumblr account that she had parted company with RCA Records due to creative differences.

[33] Vickers released two new tracks, "Music to Make Boys Cry" and "Kiss of a Bullet", for free download online in December 2011.

[43] In 2013, Vickers appeared as the lead in a music video for the single "Derail" by Leeds rock band Dinosaur Pile-Up.

[44] The same year, Vickers was featured singing on the One Direction television advertisement for the launch of their debut fragrance, Our Moment.

[45] Lately dedicated in her career in acting, Vickers' launched in August 2015 the song "Chains", which was used to promote the film Awaiting.

Vickers appeared alongside Laura Main, Lucy Speed, Caroline Harker and Elizabeth Ayodele.

[52] Vickers' musical style includes simple folk-tinged, keyboard and guitar based ballads to more up-tempo indie rock and synth-based songs with full band backing.

[63] Later she described the album as "Kylie-esque" and inspired by 1980s acts including Blondie, Cyndi Lauper, and Madonna,[64] saying she had "got to the core of who I am as an artist [...] [my music is] more mature and sophisticated and feels like there’s more of a structure and consistent vibe to it".

She is Little Voice.Vickers made her professional acting debut in the title role of a newly revived West End production of Jim Cartwright's The Rise and Fall of Little Voice in October 2009 at the Vaudeville Theatre, on The Strand, London.

[71] Her performance received a positive review in The Guardian in which they said that "[Vickers'] singing is impressive, we were surprised at her vocal abilities.

[91] Vickers has encouraged fashion blogs documenting her latest attire and has been labelled a fashionista in the making by Grazia.

[100] For anti-bullying week 2010 in the UK, Vickers uploaded a video to her official website encouraging young people to stand up to bullies.

[101] In September 2010, Vickers played an intimate gig as part of the month-long Oxjam Festival, which raised money in support of charity Oxfam.