|
|
Updates:
-News updated with new tourdates...
Some things are simply meant to be. Call it fate, kismet, destiny, karma or just good luck. Such is the story of RCA Records recording act Innosense, five young girls who have come together to conquer the world of pop, to follow in the footsteps of the acts that have sprung up around them ?*NSYNC, Britney Spears (who was in an early edition of the group), the Backstreet Boys and Christina Aguilera. Nikki DeLoach, Danay Ferrer, Mandy Ashford, Veronica Finn and Jenny Morris have been waiting all their lives for this moment, the release of their debut album. "These girls are not only talented, but cool and fun to work with," gushes hit songwriter Diane Warren, who penned two songs for the album ("100 Oceans," "You Didn't Have To Hurt Me") and served as executive producer. "And I think we made a great record." Some of the hottest producers around, such as hitmakers Guy Roche and Full Force, also lent their hand to the group's eclectic sound–which ranges from sassy Go-Go's/new wave-styled rock, thumping Europop, funky hip-hop and propulsive dance, R&B and house tracks to soaring ballads. "We all like different kinds of music," says 20-year-old Nikki DeLoach, who started the group in Orlando with fellow "New Mickey Mouse Club" member Britney Spears over two years ago. "When you listen to an album, you don't want to hear the same song over and over again." South Georgia native DeLoach was part of an incredible cast of Mousketeers that included not only Spears but future stars Christina Aguilera as well as *NSYNC's J.C. Chasez and Justin Timberlake. It would be Timberlake's mom, Lynn Harless, who was instrumental in putting Innosense together. DeLoach had been dancing, modeling and singing most of her life. She moved to LA for a while, performing in films like "Traveler" with Bill Paxton and Mark Wahlberg and TV shows such as "Walker Texas Ranger" before she and Harless started the group. Twenty-five-year-old Cuban-born Danay Ferrer, the oldest Innosense member, grew up in Miami, but moved to Orlando where she went to high school with *NSYNC's Joey Fatone, who recommended her for the opening in another Trans Continental group, Solid Harmonie. Danay speaks both Spanish and English and comes from a prominent Miami Cuban Catholic family. She grew up singing in the church choir with her brother and performing in musicals, where she was Anita to Joey Fatone's Chino in an early production of "West Side Story." "Ever since I was little, I felt like I was born to be on-stage," says Danay. "I want to reach the whole world because I feel I have so much to give." Twenty-year-old Clinton, Mississippi native Mandy Ashford was a classmate of *NSYNC's Lance Bass, with whom she performed in their school theater group, Attach? Her leading roles in high school included Sandy in Grease and Adelaide in Guys & Dolls. She shared a vocal coach, Bob Westbrook, with both Lance and Justin, so when an opening came up in Solid Harmonie, Mandy tried out. It was at this time that she met Lynn, who later contacted her when starting Innosense. "Considering we were five individuals with very strong personalities, when we came together, it was a quick connection," says Mandy. "There was a lot of positive energy. We all love each other like sisters. We support each other the whole way." Just as the girls were moving to Lynn Harless' Memphis home for some intensive rehearsing, Britney Spears decided to launch her solo career, and 18-year-old, Memphis-born Veronica Finn, whose grandfather went to high school with Elvis Presley, was recruited to take her place. "I knew I wanted to be on TV, but I had no idea how I was going to get there," says Veronica, who was finally asked to join the group. "It was a little awkward at first because I wasn't sure of my place. But now, we're really close. I was an only child, so this is great for me." The fledgling group, like *NSYNC and Backstreet Boys before them, began to establish a following in Germany and throughout Europe. The final piece in the puzzle came with the addition of 19-year-old Jenny Morris in January '99. The Pickerington, Ohio native originally met Nikki back when both of them were acting in Los Angeles. Jenny eventually moved to Nashville, where she recorded a country album for Del-Fi Records. She was called in to audition as the fifth member, and immediately fit in. "Within a couple of days, it was as if we'd known each other our whole lives," says Jenny. And now Innosense are poised on the edge of world domination. They are more than ready to accept their responsibility as role models for their teenage audience, a challenge they look forward to eagerly. "I want to touch people my age," says Nikki. "We want to be a positive influence. We want to show that, if you work hard enough, you can achieve your dreams." "My goal is to encourage kids to have fun and be themselves," adds Veronica. "We're not preaching that this is how you should be. I just want people to appreciate how special each and every one of them are. Innosense is all about having a sense of self. There's no reason for anybody to be insecure. Everyone is beautiful in their own way."
Innosense's story offers concrete proof of that age-old adage. Some things are simply meant to be.
|
||||||||||||||||||
