Tuesday 24th October 2006
365's debut single 'The One' released on 13th November 2006
*Click here to watch the video*
365 are on a mission to put the ‘cool’ back into pop. With a love of artists as diverse as Michael Jackson, Usher, LL Cool J and Justin Timberlake to George Michael, Oasis and Aerosmith, 365 bring something special to the mix when it comes to writing and delivering pop songs that are both credible and funky.
365 - AKA Brad, Kye, Brett, Andrè and Danny – are five, London-based lads who all have a passion for music. Having each paid their dues in music-related projects for some years (songwriting and performing in bands) it was clear when they met that their shared love of music, talent and ambition made for a winning combination. Kye explains how 365 got together, “Brad and me were living in the same neighbourhood and he’d met Brett through a band they’d both auditioned for. The three of us started writing songs together and recording them on a four-track that I had in my bedroom”. Meanwhile, Andrè and Danny had met through a producer they had been working with in a London-based studio. The final connection came through a vocal coach who Kye knew, who had also met Danny and Andrè. Introductions were made and 365 was born.
All five band members bring something unique to the mix in terms of talent and charisma and it’s no surprise that they’ve already had a taste of the limelight.
In 2002, Kye Sones (23) decided to enter the 2002 Pepsi Urban Talent Search. He won the contest, impressing the judges with his outstanding vocals and performance. Inspired by his success, in 2004 Kye entered the BBC’s Usher Masterclass competition held in association with Radio One. Once again, Kye stole the show, winning himself the opportunity to duet with Usher.
Andrè Carroll (19) used his talent to secure himself a place at the prestigious BRIT School in 2003 where he studied Music Technology and Production. Andrè is renowned for his encyclopaedic mind especially when it comes to his real passion: classic R ‘n’ B, pop and soul and he frequently catches out producers when it comes to musical references.
Brad Songhurst-Jones (20) won a place at the Academy of Contemporary Music, Guildford, and relocated there from his home town of Coventry in 2003. During his time at the Academy he collaborated in various bands, including Phase 3 with one of the Artful Dodger crew.
Brett Warren (21) auditioned for his first film part at the age of nine and starred alongside Oscar award-winning Ben Kingsley. The experience whetted his appetite for performing and he’d joined his first band by his mid-teens. “I’ve always wanted this”, says Brett, remembering his first taste of band life. “I was in this group when I was 16 called Black Ice playing all these dodgy clubs around East London and rehearsing in a dingy basement; I loved it!”
Danny Kelly (23), who’s originally from Manchester, knew early on he might be cut out for a career in music when he won a national newspaper music talent competition at 17 years old. He signed to Boss Models in 2000, and has appeared in campaigns for high-profile brands including Paul Smith, Diesel and Issey Miyake. In 2004 Danny was approached via his modelling agency to be one of the contestants on Channel 4’s Playing It Straight. “I only did it because the prize money was £100,000 and I really wanted to win so that I could use the cash to record some demos. I didn’t win, but it was still a brilliant experience!”
Coincidentally, Brad, Brett and Danny have all spent time living in the States, where Brad and Danny first got turned onto hip-hop and rap, Danny learning to beat box and Brad to Rap. Brad remembers, “I used to drive everyone mad rapping in the bus on the way to school!”
In Autumn 2005, Innocent Records - a label renowned for delivering chart-topping pop – signed 365. Andrè talks about the deal, “Signing to Innocent last year was just amazing, They’re a label that really understands pop music and what we want to achieve”. Explaining why the band have named themselves 365, he explains, “It’s been a year - 365 days - from the time the band got together to us signing our deal, and we really wanted to mark that!”
The band has since been penning and their debut album, due for release later this year, with some of pop’s most established writers: ‘Biff’ Stannard & Matt Rowe (Pussycat Dolls/Sugababes/Kylie Minogue), Johnny Douglas (Jamelia/All Saints/George Michael), Stargate (Ne Yo/Rhianna), Cutfather & Joe (Brandy/Lemar) and Jarrad Rogers (Lauren Hill/The Brand New Heavies).
Recorded in London, Norway and Denmark over the course of last year, the record features 12 big unadulterated pop songs with dancefloor friendly bumping beats and obvious influences of R’n’B, old school hip-hop, funk and disco. All the tracks on the album have been co-written by members of the band, “Unless we love them as they are”, says Kye, referring to Justin Timberlake’s ‘We Should Be Dancing’. He explains how the band got hold of the track: “Our manager found this song that was written by JT. We loved it and thought it summed up our sound to a T, so we recorded it. It goes down great in the clubs”. One of the band’s favourite tracks on the record is ‘Heist’. “We’re all really into Michael Jackson and this song is really influenced by him. We like to think it’s got a bit of an ‘Off The Wall Feel to it!”, claims Brad. The album’s other standout songs include ‘That Thing’ (365’s first release, available via download from 26th June), written by Danny and Matt Rowe and described by Danny as: “A cool, funky, track with bongos that you can’t help moving to”; and ‘Dumb’, a heartfelt break-up record with a real kick to it that showcases the band’s musical versatility.
On the live front, 365 hit the road for their first under-18 club tour at the start of 2006 and loved the crowds’ reactions to their funky pop, and free-styling moves. Their schools tour kicks off at the end of June, followed by regional festival dates at Party In The Park, Milton Keynes, Thamesmead, Alton Towers and Thorpe Park (a full list due to be released soon). “If you come and see us live, like all our favourite performers, we want to be total entertainers, says Danny. “We’re not taking ourselves too seriously. We’re just doing some cool pop music that we can have a laugh and dance to. We always love putting on a good show”.
Until then, and in-between the partying, 365 hang out in their London pad planning their onslaught on the British charts. Brad sums up their mission: “We’re five ‘real’ guys and we all bring something unique to the mix. There are no fillers. We like to think we break the mould of current UK boy bands out there and we’re championing a new phase of sheer, unapologetic pop”.
Together, 365 are determined to make pop music cool again. The odds are they’ll pull it off: listen to the music, watch the show, between them they’ve got exactly what it takes.
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Click here to purchase '365 - The One'
David Jensen Photography:
https://www.davidjensen.co.uk/
