In June 2012, Burke parted company with her management company. In September 2012, it was revealed that Burke would take part in "Les Misérables" for Children in Need. Burke later announced that she was working on an album for a US release. Again in October 2012, Burke revealed that she was working on a follow-up album to "Heartbreak on Hold", which would be released in 2013. On 3 November, she performed "All The Lights" at MAMA Awards with Zico, leader of the k-pop group Block B, as part of a special stage from H-Artistry in Malaysia . Burke said she wanted to go back to her original sound which was featured on her debut album, "Overcome". She told fans to expect "R&B bangers" on her third album. Simon Cowell asked Burke to record a version of "Live and Let Die" in order to use throughout the live shows of "The X Factor USA", when the judges are announced and walk out. In December 2012, Burke released her first holiday extended play, "Christmas Gift", which consisted a cover of "Silent Night" and a new track titled "Christmas Time". On 10 February 2013, it was revealed that Burke was recording two new songs a night for her third album and aimed to have around 60 in total to choose from. She also revealed that she was recording the album in the United States and at her home studio; "I've actually built a studio in my house, downstairs, I'm literally in it every day, recording, I'm flying to the states a lot, I've been in Los Angeles and New York a lot, and if the producers can't fly to me, I fly to them." On 13 February, she explained that her third album would focus on live instruments and would channel Soul music. On the same day, she revealed that she was taking acting classes and had hopes to pursue a career in films, musicals, theater. On 25 March 2013, it was announced that Burke would perform a concert version of "Lady Sings the Blues" at the Royal Albert Hall between 4 and 8 June in the venue's Elgar Room but the shows were postponed. The concerts sold out in under a week. In May 2013, it was reported that Burke signed a deal with a US management company after impressing former Def Jam president Kevin Liles during a meeting with him in New York. In June 2013, Burke parted ways with her record label, RCA, over "differing views" between herself and the label regarding her third studio album.