Pop Music Scene

MTV’s Top Pop Group Contestants

by DEXIE on September 11th, 2008

The search for MTV’s Top Pop Group premieres tonight at 10PM ET/PT. Hosted by Mario Lopez with backstage correspondent Marianela Pereyra. Get to know the 9 Pop Groups that will be vying for the MTV’s Top Pop Group title and $100,000 prize.

Concrete Rose (Tatiana “Tati,” Maressa “MJ” and Keiatta “Raine”)

Having grown up on the streets of Atlanta, these very independent women give new meaning to the phrase “girl power” - and they are determined to prove that the street can certainly be sweet.  Their name comes from the metaphor “a rose grew from the concrete” and they consider their union a phenomenon that occurs once in a lifetime.  Raine and MJ bonded during a short stint in a another group, but after the group split up, the duo teamed up with Tati to become Concrete Rose.  The girls describe their sound as “bridging Hip-Hop, Rock, Garage, Funk, R&B and Alternative music” to create an “eccentric style, rambunctious sound and a yin-and-yang chemistry.” 

MJ attributes her love of singing to her earlier years spent at karaoke.

Tati is a receptionist at a talent agency who has always wanted to be one taking a meeting. 

Raine is determined to become a successful artist.  After watching her mom deal drugs and struggle with addition, she hopes that Concrete Rose can become positive role models for young women everywhere.

3 Daze (Corina “Corina Noelle,” Chelsea and Ingrid “Amaris Dupree”)

To make music history, these three young ladies connected on MySpace three days prior to their audition.  Corina sent out dozens of emails to singers on the social networking site and interviewed dozens more on the phone.  After hitting it off on the phone with Chelsea and Amaris, the connection the three felt was even stronger when they met in person.  They spent the next two days in rigorous dance and vocal rehearsals, fine-tuning their moves and sound - and their natural ease with one another gives them the appearance of being a group for years versus days.  

Corina (”The girl next door”) grew up on a farm in Connecticut.  When she wasn’t tending to the chickens, Corina was dreaming of a life in the spotlight.

 
Chelsea, (”The sultry Filipino”), moved from the Philippines to the United States at age 10.  After attending a performing arts high school, Chelsea chose to pursue a singing and acting career in Los Angeles.

Amaris, (”The sassy Puerto Rican”), inherited her sexy moves from her mom, a former professional ballet dancer.  She still wishes her dad, who died when she was 13, could have seen her dance on stage.

The rest of the contestants after the fold….

Jazmin (Nadia, Felicia, Celia and Daria)

Daughters of a Christian-Protestant preacher and a piano teacher, the sisters grew up in an Asian-American household where TV was banned.  When they didn’t have their noses glued to their school books, Jazmin would unleash their energy through music, singing, dancing and art.  Their parents were huge supporters of their talents and even encouraged the girls to draw all over the walls of their home.  Their group name, Jazmin, comes from a popular Asian flower - and describes their jazz-like sound. 

Nadia, the eldest, majored in Studio Art because she loves fashion and serves as the group’s stylist.

Felicia, the bossy one, studied Art History and designs everything from their album covers to website.

 

Celia, the goofball who’s always on the lookout for fun and games.

Daria, the baby ine the family has a huge voice and is the lead singer.

Ju-Taun (Jamie, Jake, Pete and Samoeun)

Hailing from New Jersey, this inseparable group has been singing together for more than ten years.  Brothers Jamie and Jake formed Ju-Taun with their best friends Pete and Samoeun in high school.  One of their favorite things to do together as a group is cooking - and they are known for their mean mac & cheese.  The hardships they have endured throughout their lives have given them an insatiable hunger for success.  They hope to bring their unique fusion of vintage soul and contemporary harmonies to the very top.  

Jamie and Jake’s parents divorced when the boys were young, causing both financial and emotional difficulties for the family. However, their dad’s colorful career as a club musician was a major influence and inspired them to follow a career in music.

Battling his own demons, Pete is determined to never wallow in the past and stop him from attaining his dream of being a successful musician. 

Born in a refugee camp in Thailand, Samoeun had to endure unspeakable poverty at a very young age before his family escaped to the U.S.  Samoeun found a love of music in Camden - and his three best friends.

LAS CAPRICE (Zulema “Zuley,” Daniela, Talita and Kimary)

After an intense international search, Las Caprice was assembled in 2007 and immediately became a sensation on the Miami music scene, recording and performing at countless venues.  This vibrant quartet of Latin flavor is a mix of influences that combine Zuley’s Cuban and Peruvian essences, Daniela’s Italian and Argentinean roots, Talita’s Brazilian groove and Kimary’s Puerto Rican spice.  What makes Las Caprice stand out is their cutting-edge bilingual composition and sexy cultural dance.  

Zuley is best known for her rapping and professional dance experience.  With an urban edge, she also has a calming presence that comes from meditating in her free time.

 
The studious and most trained in the group, Kimary moved from Puerto Rico to Miami to attend college and study music business. 

Daniela may be the baby of the group, but this native Floridian has amazing dancing and singing chops.

Talita, the stylish blonde bombshell, is the wild child of the group.  After singing backup for famous Latin artists around the world, she is ready for her moment in the spotlight.

LS3 (Brian, Bjorn and Gabriel)

This smooth-sounding trio from Minneapolis blends soulful vocals with fluid piano keys.  These guys are all heart as they strive to make it big but also to inspire the underprivileged kids who they teach.  Brian and Bjorn work for the music program Studio 4 which is dedicated to improving the lives of inner-city kids through music production. 

 
Brian is the director of music for Studio 4.

 
Bjorn helps teach the Studio 4 enrollees all aspects of music production from playing instruments and singing to songwriting and engineering.

Gabriel is from a military family and spent his childhood always moving but found a constant in singing. 

MOSAIC (Josh, Sean, Corwyn, Troy, Heath and John)

An acappella sensation, Mosaic promises to take music to a whole new level as they create the sound of a full band with only their bare voices.  Formed three years ago in Orlando, they moved to Las Vegas in 2006.  Since then, they have caught the attention of numerous artists, including Prince for whom they opened.  

Josh wanted to change people’s perception of acappella groups and set out to find five other guys who shared the same passion.  He brings concepts and arrangements to the group.

Sean was born in New York City but grew up in Florida where his education came from the school of hard knocks.  Brutally honest, Sean is a third tenor and vocal percussionist who bring emotion to the group.

One of their most trained musicians, Corwyn’s tenor voice delivers a smooth sound and velvet riffs to Mosaic’s perfectly-blended sound.  When not singing, he loves to bowl and play basketball.

Originally from Laguna, CA, Troy sings bottom half and percussion.  Despite his love of science and math trivia, he most definitely can throw down some mean b-boy beat. 

Hailing from Nashville, TN, Heath is the comedian of the group and calls his vocal style “the kamikaze.” 

John describes his style as “switch-footed bari-floaty-tenor with bass extentions.  Inspired by Prince, Madonna and Stevie Wonder, he injects all sorts of funk into the group’s sound.

NJ5IVE (Gerald “G,” Quashawn “Qua,” Shamir “Sha,” Bernard “Destyn” and Marquise “Kyree”)

For these best friends born and raised in Patterson, music is more than a gift or hobby, it is a release from all of life’s hardships and a way to secure a successful future.  NJFIVE describes writing and performing music as a form of therapy.  They believe the combination of their five distinct talents and personalities make them pop.  

Before each performance, the guys take a moment to pray in memory of loved ones lost and in thanks for what they’ve overcome. After years of trying to make it in the music biz, NJFIVE is ready to show America that they have the smooth moves, tight harmonies, and magnetism it takes to be voted MTV’s Top Pop Group. 

Family is very important to G who sends the money he earns singing back to relatives in Haiti. 

Sha doesn’t want his talent to sing to go to waste and sings in memory of his mother, who died of a heart attack.

A born musician, Destyn began singing opera and playing the piano at an early age. 

“The rock” of the group, Qua found solace in music and writing lyrics growing up while his father drifted in and out prison.

Kyree attributes his success to his biggest influence, his father, a talented musician.

S1 (Keith “Kjae,” Christian “Traxx” and Shaphan “Shay Dot”)

The dynamic trio formed their group five years in their hometown.  To stand out in a crowd, they created a signature style - collared shirts, ties and sweaters.  With their smooth swagger and preppy style, the guys believe their threads compliment their edgy sound, which is a unique blend of R&B, Hip-Hop and Rap.  The path to success for S1 has been long and hard - and this is their last chance to make it big on the music scene. 

From an early age, Traxx had big dreams of superstardom and recorded his first demo with a karaoke machine.

Kjae, a natural athlete, used music as a way to overcome his shyness.

Shay Dot, who discovered his talent for songwriting after writing poetry, considers himself a “rolling stone” since he never stays anywhere more than a few nights. 

Don’t forget, tonight at 10PM ET/PT on MTV, of course. You never know, you could be watching the next N’Sync, Backstreet Boys, Pussycat Dolls, Danity Kane, or NKOTB :).

(Sources/Credits : Chris Polk/MTV)

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