Music
How did each of you come to be part of Parade?
Bianca: "Just over a year ago, our record label and our management decided that they wanted to put a girlband together, so they advertised everywhere and held auditions all over the country. We all went through quite a long and gruelling audition process, but it was all worth it because they picked us five!"
Emily: "Well, I was in a band [Hope] before and it came to a natural end because everyone was going off to do their own projects and stuff... then this new girl group was being put together and that's it really!"
Lauren: "It was callback after callback after callback - and that went on for about two months. Then they decided on the five of us, we signed in October 2009 and it's been mad ever since."
Sian: "I got into the industry when I was in university - over the summer I was a bit bored and had something ridiculous like four months off and was itching to get into music. I eventually got the audition and then got into the group!"
Jessica: "I'd been involved in other bands and was signed to another label at one point, but then we got dropped. I was working and writing on my own when I got a call about this audition - I was a little reluctant at first but I went along and it seemed perfect."
Did you all gel straight away?
Jessica: "Yes, which isn't very usual for five girls from all over the UK who are flung in a house together. If we were the same I don't think it would work."
Bianca: "As soon as we were signed, we moved into a house together, and we've been so lucky that we all get on so well. It's because we're all so different and so unique. If we were all the same we'd clash instantly."
What are Parade all about?
Lauren: "Fun! It’s all about fun, energy and colour and bringing something different to the table. We don't really take ourselves seriously and we like to have a laugh. Our slogan is 'Join the Parade!' and we want everyone to have fun with us!"
Emily: "I'd say we're very loud, very proud and full of energy and life. We're there for the girls. I think young girls need some new role models so we're going to try our best."
Sian: "We're bringing fun to the industry. People take themselves a bit seriously and they're a bit afraid of having a laugh. We're bringing a bit of girl power back - it's for the ladies!"
How are you all feeling as the release date for 'Louder' approaches?
Bianca: "It's weird but really exciting. As we've been doing the tour, people have started to get to know the song and sing along. It's still so surreal and we can’t really believe that it's happening."
Emily: "We signed back in 2009 and it's all been working hard, developing, rehearsing in the studio and recording. You never think it's going to come to the day of release. I still don’t really believe it when I go on YouTube and see how many hits the video has had. We were only rehearsing in Pineapple Dance Studios a few months ago!"
Lauren: "In a way we're kind of glad that we've waited so long and we've had this amount of time rehearsing, working together and gelling. Initially the plan was to make everything a lot quicker than it was. It's worked to our advantage that we've had a longer time to get our act together and create an identity for ourselves. We're all really ready for it now."
Sian: "We kind of feel prepared but at the same time it's overwhelming. We've had a bit of pap recently and that's like, 'Wow! What’s going on?'. We still feel normal. It's crazy but so exciting."
Jessica: "I feel a lot of adrenaline at the minute. All of the last 15 months have been building up to this point. There's a lot of excitement in me but I do worry. I think 'Louder' is an amazing single but I don't want to do get my hopes up too hard because that's the type of person I am."
What's the song all about?
Lauren: "It's not too deep - it's just straight to the point about wanting to have fun. Initially it was written as a love song, but I think we've interpreted as 'let's just turn this music up and have a party', so it's somewhere in the middle now."
What are your chart hopes for 'Louder'?
Emily: "I don't want to jinx it but a top ten would be absolutely fab."
Lauren: "We'd be thrilled with top ten but it's hard to put your hopes up like that. As long as we know we've done all we can and done our best, we'll be so happy with wherever it charts."
Jessica: "I would love, hand on heart, a top ten. I really would. That would make my day, my week, my year. It would put a smile on all five of our faces."
We're going to be hearing 'Louder' on the Rimmel as - how exciting for you is this deal?
Sian: "It's so, so exciting. That's one of the best pieces of news we've had. That's massive at this stage. I can't believe we've got it."
Lauren: "It's insane. We couldn't believe it when we found out. It's a huge, huge deal for us. We're thrilled to be part of this huge brand that so many of our fans will know and love. It couldn't be more suited to us and come at such an exciting time."
Bianca: "It's so surreal for a new group to get a deal like that. We've not seen the advert yet so we're really excited to see it. It's just mad!"
Bianca: "Oh, good question! 'Louder' is the real starting point for our group sound. There's a few songs on there, particularly 'Perfume', that have the same kind of sound. We went out to record in LA, so a lot of the stuff on the album has an international sound to it, but it all still has that energy and fun that 'Louder' seems to capture. We hope all the other songs kind of branch off from that."
Sian: "That is our sound. It was written specifically for us and fitted straight away. Everything else has come off the back of it. There's lot of different styles on the album but there's a similar energy throughout them all."
What can you tell us about the album, which is due in the next few months?
Bianca: "Yes! The album should be coming in the late spring."
Emily: "We've worked with loads of upcoming people but Fairground have done the majority of our songs - they bring something really fresh to the music scene."
Jessica: "We've also worked with Naughty Boy, who does all the UK urban acts like Tinchy Stryder. We've been really lucky!"
Do you have a title for the album yet?
Bianca: "We don't. We've been discussing that today and emails have been flying around. There are a few in the pipeline that are quite catchy!"
Sian: "Well, we like the idea of something playing on our name like Join The Parade or Don't Rain On..., which our taxi driver came up with. We'll have a big think about it. We want something a bit different and interesting."
Jessica: "I really like Join The Parade because it's a slogan and I want loads of people to join us and have fun. I think at the minute we can't call it anything too deep because that’s not where we're going. We're fun and loud, you know?"
So will there be another single before it's released - and if so, what might it be?
Bianca: "There certainly will be, but we're chuffed to bits with so many of the songs that we really don't know what we should release. We really, really love 'Perfume' though."
Lauren: "It was one of the first songs we choreographed, so it was probably the song that created our choreographic style as well. Performing it's really special for us. I think we're all kind of in agreement that 'Perfume' is one of our favourites."
What has it been like supporting Alexandra Burke on her tour?
Emily: "Incredible. She's so, so inspirational. We've watched the show about four or five times and she gets better and better. She gives you goosebumps. It's so nice to meet someone who's had so much success and stayed down-to-earth. She has such a good head on her shoulders."
Bianca: "She is just brilliant. Her performances and vocals are flawless. Backstage she came up to us and said, 'Make yourself at home and anytime you want a chat, feel free'. She was telling us it doesn't get any easier. She's such a role model and so down-to-earth."
There are several girl groups such as Wonderland and The Ultra Girls launching this year - what are your views on the competition?
Bianca: "I have such respect for all of them because they all do their own thing and bring something fresh to the table. For us, our main thing is the dancing - we pride ourselves on doing the singing and all the dance moves at the same time. I think we're all so different and there's room for all of us in the market. Hopefully 2011 is going to be the year of the girlband."
Emily: "The more, the better! When you've got all these boybands like The Wanted, JLS, Boyzone, Take That and Westlife, it shows you that people like to have variations on a theme."
Sian: "I don't think there are enough! There are The Saturdays too of course, but I'm a bit upset that the Sugababes have gone quiet. I remember growing up I absolutely loved girl groups. It’s a shame that they've all gone quiet recently. We're going to bring that back."
Jessica: "Girl Power for 2011!"
Parade release their debut single 'Louder' on March 13.
