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“Brilliant” - Simon Cowell
“The best band we’ve had on the X Factor by far” – Cheryl Cole
JLS are a boyband for the 21st Century signed to Epic Records, home to such
influential contemporary artists as Scouting for Girls and Lemar. With a
record deal in tow, the band’s vision is to produce a blend of distinctly
British pop with an r’n’b edge.
Last year saw the band enter the UK’s most popular talent show, The X Factor. JLS, featuring vocalists Aston, JB, Marvin and Oritsé, have surpassed the success of all their X-Factor boy-band predecessors by making the final two, have already had a number one single, and have millions of fans across the country.
Since the show, the band has been signed to Modest! Management, the home of Leona Lewis and Lemar, and have recently signed a recording contract with Epic records. Says Nick Raphael, Managing Director of Epic, “JLS are the best boy band to emerge from a TV talent show. The band already have an incredible fan base, and I look forward to launching their recording career”.
The band’s four members all have varied beginnings in the music industry. Oritsé, the bands founder from the age of 14, was entering talent contests, taking part in singing “battles” and busking with a music group. He then went on to do a P Diddy inspired internship at Deal Real Records working for free in order to get his first break in the industry. It was at this time that Trevor Nelson spotted Oritsé’s vocal talent - and asked him to perform his own original song at the end of MTV’s “The Lick’.
After Oritsé finished university, he decided to put a band together, and began advertising throughout London for male vocalists to join a “SUPERGROUP”, and by chance he was introduced to Marvin.
Hailing from south London, Marvin, is no stranger to the spotlight, having appeared in Holby City, Grange Hill and the musical Oliver whilst still at school. He first got the bug for performance whilst attending D&B Theatre School in south London. Years later, Marvin was signed to Innocent Records as part of the band VS, who went on to achieve 3 top 20 singles.
Aston, the youngest of the band, left school at 16 and began presenting “Fun Song Factory” for CITV for 3 years. He moved to London shortly afterwards in the hope of pursuing a career on the stage. Whilst auditioning, he became friends with Marvin and shortly afterwards joined JLS.
JB spent the first 5 years of his life living in Antigua, discovering his musical talent at a very early age. After completing his exams at university, he decided to audition for X Factor in 2007. It was at this point that JB came into contact with the other members of JLS.
JLS are currently in the studio recording their debut album, with their first single scheduled for release in late spring 09. Before that, JLS will be touring the country as part of the X Factor tour, and supporting Lemar as special guests on his UK tour, which will see them play to their fans across the country.
On joining Lemar on tour, Marvin from JLS said “We’re really excited about supporting Lemar on his new tour”. Aston added “We’ve loved his music for years so it will be brilliant to get to tour the UK with him, and we’re really looking forward to seeing all of our fans at the Live Shows”.
2009 looks set to be the year of JLS!