Boy bands are back!
Say hi to Us5. They’re the latest pop sensation to hit Britain, and not only can they belt out a tune really well, but they can also show you a few dance moves and look fabulous whilst they're doing it.
The melodic ensemble consists of five members Michael, Izzy, Chris, Jay and Richie and they’re managed by the music mogul Lou Pearlman who’s been responsible for some of the most fabulous international sounds of the last ten years. Pearlman in fact describes the fivesome himself as “the ultimate boy band.”
The band’s debut single over here is being released this week, entitled “Maria.” It’s already been number one in Europe, where the lads have sold out 30,000 seater stadiums in Germany and other urban hot spots. Maria was also in the Top 10 in the Billboard single charts and fans all over the world have snapped up the track, with almost 1 million copies being sold so far.
The boys have currently been touring the length and breadth of the country to promote their brand new material and have sent quite a few ladies swooning at their live performances and personal appearances.
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FemaleFirst were able to have a chat with the gorgeous quintet before they left to prepare for another gig in Wolverhampton
You are presently touring all around the UK. How’s that been for you so far?
Jay- Yeah, it’s been real good. We’ve been touring across England, Scotland and Wales since June, including appearing in under 18 clubs and festivals. We’ve had a good response here.
Your band was formed through a hit reality TV programme, wasn’t it?
Jay -Yeah – it’s called “Big in America.” The first season is on TMF at the moment for everybody in the UK. It’s already been shown in America and Europe. It shows how we got together in the beginning and how far we’ve come. Nobody knew each other and at first there were four firm members of the band with four other people fighting it out to get a place in it!
What do you like to do when you get some time off to chill out?
Michael -We don’t have much time off but when we do get a whole day off or a coupe of hours we do like to split up and do other things like napping and catching up with some sleep, going to see a movie or shopping.
You’ve done a music video for your latest single Maria. How did the filming of that go?
Jay - It was great. We shot it in Florida and it was our first ever video. It was a big production and we all have our own individual “Marias’” appearing in it, which was fantastic.
What advice would you like to give to an aspiring singer?
Izzy - No matter what, pursue your dream. But you have to be dedicated.
What’s the best thing about being in a signed band?
Chris - Being signed (Laughs)
Jay - I’d say being together with each other, and living together, and knowing that when you’re walking on stage, your friends are waiting for you. We are living the dream.
Michael - Getting to see the world as well.
What’s the most interesting thing that you’ve been asked to autograph by a fan?
Richie - Oh, I don’t know if we can tell you that
Jay - A foot
Izzy -A shoe
Chris - A cheek (Everybody Laughs)
What’s been your favourite live performance to date?
Jay – In the UK, when we recently sang on the Sharon Osbourne show. We were so happy to be doing that – It was a real honour.
Richie - She’s a really lovely lady and she looks amazing for her age.
Izzy – Yeah we love her
What’s the first record that you ever bought?
Chris – I used to buy tapes …(Laughs)
Michael – Bad by Michael Jackson
C – Enya, I think
That's pretty wide-ranging stuff from Michael Jackson to Enya…..
Jay – Yeah, but that’s what’s so great about our band. All of us are so different, with different personalities and we bring that to the group – we’re just one big melting point!
Do you have a way of preparing yourself before going on stage? Any rituals, anything you do to psyc yourself up for a live performance?
Jay - Normally we have a group prayer led by Izzy along with the crew to keep our spirits up before we go on stage.
What’s it like working with Lou Pearlman, the man behind such sensational bands as the Backstreet Boys, Nsync, LFO and O-Town?
Jay - It’s a real privilege and an honour to be working with Lou. He’s worked with a lot of boy bands and had a hand in Britney Spears. Some people think we should feel pressurised being in boy band but it’s great. Lou comes out to all the countries with us when we travel. He’s more like a friend than a manager.
Who would you like to collaborate with if the opportunity was given to you?
All the boys shout out – Mr Justin Timberlake, Prince, Linkin Park, Usher
Richie – Kelis. I just love Kelis – I want to do something with her…
Chris - Milli Vanilli (Laughs)
Can you describe your album to me in your own words?
Jay -We’re very proud of it. But especially for the UK there’s going to a mix of our album “Here we go” and other new material. It’s got R & B in it and pop. It’s very fresh sounding and it also has some great ballads on it. We’re known for our ballads.
What’s next for you all?
Chris -World domination (Laughs).
Richie -To keep making music.
Jay -We’re hoping our single does well over here in the UK. We’d love that.
For more information about US5 go to
www.us5com.co.uk The group’s latest smash hit single “Maria” hits the stores here on 25th September, through Trans Continental Records.
Big In America will be broadcasted every Friday evening from 6.30 pm til 7.00 pm on MTV TMF. IT shows a personal diary of the us5’s journey around the globe, especially their adventures through places in Britain, and reveals the busy lives of the five boys, as they get ready for the release of the debut UK single.
