Wonderland
On the way to a Wonderland photoshoot, band member Leigh took the time to talk to us about touring, their debut album, The Saturdays and what they have planned this year.
-What've Wonderland been up to since the album release?
Since the album release we've been doing signings around the country, in HMVs in the UK, and then we did some in Ireland too. We've just been doing different gigs.
We did one last week that was a radio gig, and we got to meet Ronnie Wood when we were there, which was pretty exciting. We're all big Stones fans, so that was incredible.
We actually had a week off, so we all got to chill with our families. I went to Canada for a week. We're just getting back into the swing of things, we have our first photoshoot today. We're really excited, we're dying to just get back into it.
-Were you pleased that the album debuted in the Top 10?
Yeah, we were delighted. The week that we released it, the Arctic Monkeys released there first album in four years or something. There was Lady Gaga, Jessie J.
The people in the Top 10 were huge superstars, so the fact that we got to Number 8, we couldn't believe it. We were just so happy. We didn't expect that to be honest, but we were delighted.
-Were you excited to finally release the album?
We couldn't wait. We've been literally making the album for two years. We just wanted to release it! We went on tour with Westlife last year. The album was finished for a good six months or so, we were just dying to get it out there and let people hear the songs really.
As I said, we were just delighted with the results. Hopefully it keeps climbing. We're releasing our new single 'Nothing Moves Me' is coming out on the 15th August. Hopefully it can climb back up a bit again when that comes out.
-How's the reaction been for the video for that single?
It actually only went up and getting played yesterday. So, we started to get some comments from the fans just saying that they love it. Some people have said it's there favourite so far.
It's all about the performance, the emotion, more about the song than anything else. I think it definitely does the song justice, cos it's just really simple and all about the vocals, which come across in the video.
We're really happy with it, so we're dying to hear everyone's views on it.
-With the album, did you have much control over what songs went on it?
Well, like I said, we started recording the album two years ago. We recorded, like, fifty songs.
We just went to loads of different songwriters, and got the chance to write with a lot of people. I think the best songs stand out for themselves.
When it came to the time of choosing the songs for the album, we have an amazing team at Mercury, with Paul Adam. We have so much faith in him.
We let him pick all the songs, but he kept asking us for input. We all had similar views, and luckily enough liked all the same songs as him.
-You all co-wrote a couple of tracks on the album. Is that something you want to do more of?
Yeah, I think that's something that we're all definitely interested in. It's so good to get to put your little stamp into a song. We co-wrote 'Not A Love Song', and 'Time Has Run Out' we pretty much wrote all of.
It is good if you have written something, you can think back to the day. When you hear it on the album or on the radio, you do get really proud listening to it.
Obviously, there are professional songwriters. We don't mind leaving it up to them, but if we do get a chance to put a bit of input, we love doing that too.
-Some of the album has a hint of bands like The Corrs and Atomic Kitten. Are they a big influence?
I think we're definitely influenced by The Corrs. We've been compared to them a few times actually. We take that as a huge compliment, because they're a worldwide band. They're Irish too, which is cool.
We've been compared to the likes of Taylor Swift as well, which we were really flattered by. I think we definitely take them as compliments.
If people think we sound like The Corrs, that's only a good thing, cos they've been so successful.
-Who do you take as influences, then?
We actually love so many different types of music. We all like different styles of music as well. As a band, we never try to be like anyone else, but I think our voices...everyone hears different things.
We're influenced a lot by The Dixie Chicks, we're not as country as them. We're influenced by so many people. I think we just love vocals. Anyone who's a good singer, we look up to.
Like I said, we all like different styles of music, so we bring something a bit different, hopefully, to the band.
-How do you think you compare to other girl bands like The Saturday?
Well, we're obviously five girls! We're all trying to do the best that we can do, to get the best songs we can. I think there's room for everyone.
Fair play to The Saturdays, they're doing so well at the moment. We just want to do be doing the same thing they're doing. To be together as long as possible, keep releasing music and making videos. I think there's definitely room for everyone.
-How have the shows with Olly Murs been?
The Olly Murs tour was brilliant It was, like, 40 dates! It was a crazy schedule, but it was so much fun. Before Olly, we supported Boyzone and Westlife.
They were in big arenas, whereas Olly's tour was in theatres. It was brilliant to do something different. It was more up close and personal.
It was an all-age audience, like a family show that everyone could come along to. Olly's fans really warmed to us. We noticed on Facebook and Twitter all the numbers were raising.
They seemed to really like us, so we were delighted with that. Olly was such a lovely fella, he's so grounded. We always called him a cheeky chappy. It was just a brilliant experience, really. We were so lucky to do it.
-Are you hoping to tour that extensively again?
Well, hopefully. We love being on tour and on the road. That's where you get to share your music and go around the country.
We'd love to, one day, have our own little theatre tour maybe, who knows? We definitely would love that.
-With how much the band's on Twitter, do you make an effort to be accessible to your fans?
For a while, we've done Wonderland Wendesdays where we go on every Wednesday and do a Q&A with them. A lot of the fans have questions and they want to know things.
Some of them have really good input about what their favourite songs are. We really do listen to them. We spend so much time travelling that we try to write back to some people.
This year we asked what they're favourite song was from the tour, and then we were trying to decide what new songs to put on. It is brilliant that they can put their input in too. It's brilliant, really.
-When the band started with the auditions, was it hard gelling initially, or did you all get on well from the beginning?
The first day, there were a few thousand girls who auditioned, so we didn't really know each other. It took a few sessions.
There were 8 auditions altogether, and it was after the second or third, when the numbers had narrowed down, that we all started chatting naturally.
One day we all went for a pizza together, we went out one of the nights. This was when there were still a few hundred left! We couldn't believe it when we were picked.
It wasn't hard at all. You're attracted to certain people and personalities, and luckily we were all attracted to each other. We're all laid back, we get on really well. It's so easy.
-What do you have planned for the rest of the year?
Next week we have a gig on Sunday for Magic FM, supporting Elton John. There's a few other people on the line-up too, but we're so excited to be doing that.
We get back into rehearsals for that this week. We can't wait, because we haven't had a band practice for a few months. We're really excited about that.
Then we release 'Nothing Moves Me', and have some summer shows.
We find out what's going on over the rest of the year as the time comes. Hopefully, things will be scheduled in. We seem to be really busy at the moment which is great, exactly what we want.
-What final shout-out or message would you give to the Wonderland Army?
A shout-out to all the Wonderland Army for their support. We love them so much, and we wouldn't be here without them.
Thanks to everyone for buying the album, and coming and seeing us at the HMV signings. Thanks so much.
Female First - Alistair McGeorge
On the way to a Wonderland photoshoot, band member Leigh took the time to talk to us about touring, their debut album, The Saturdays and what they have planned this year.
-What've Wonderland been up to since the album release?
Since the album release we've been doing signings around the country, in HMVs in the UK, and then we did some in Ireland too. We've just been doing different gigs.
We did one last week that was a radio gig, and we got to meet Ronnie Wood when we were there, which was pretty exciting. We're all big Stones fans, so that was incredible.
We actually had a week off, so we all got to chill with our families. I went to Canada for a week. We're just getting back into the swing of things, we have our first photoshoot today. We're really excited, we're dying to just get back into it.
-Were you pleased that the album debuted in the Top 10?
Yeah, we were delighted. The week that we released it, the Arctic Monkeys released there first album in four years or something. There was Lady Gaga, Jessie J.
The people in the Top 10 were huge superstars, so the fact that we got to Number 8, we couldn't believe it. We were just so happy. We didn't expect that to be honest, but we were delighted.
-Were you excited to finally release the album?
We couldn't wait. We've been literally making the album for two years. We just wanted to release it! We went on tour with Westlife last year. The album was finished for a good six months or so, we were just dying to get it out there and let people hear the songs really.
As I said, we were just delighted with the results. Hopefully it keeps climbing. We're releasing our new single 'Nothing Moves Me' is coming out on the 15th August. Hopefully it can climb back up a bit again when that comes out.
-How's the reaction been for the video for that single?
It actually only went up and getting played yesterday. So, we started to get some comments from the fans just saying that they love it. Some people have said it's there favourite so far.
It's all about the performance, the emotion, more about the song than anything else. I think it definitely does the song justice, cos it's just really simple and all about the vocals, which come across in the video.
We're really happy with it, so we're dying to hear everyone's views on it.
-With the album, did you have much control over what songs went on it?
Well, like I said, we started recording the album two years ago. We recorded, like, fifty songs.
We just went to loads of different songwriters, and got the chance to write with a lot of people. I think the best songs stand out for themselves.
When it came to the time of choosing the songs for the album, we have an amazing team at Mercury, with Paul Adam. We have so much faith in him.
We let him pick all the songs, but he kept asking us for input. We all had similar views, and luckily enough liked all the same songs as him.
-You all co-wrote a couple of tracks on the album. Is that something you want to do more of?
Yeah, I think that's something that we're all definitely interested in. It's so good to get to put your little stamp into a song. We co-wrote 'Not A Love Song', and 'Time Has Run Out' we pretty much wrote all of.
It is good if you have written something, you can think back to the day. When you hear it on the album or on the radio, you do get really proud listening to it.
Obviously, there are professional songwriters. We don't mind leaving it up to them, but if we do get a chance to put a bit of input, we love doing that too.
-Some of the album has a hint of bands like The Corrs and Atomic Kitten. Are they a big influence?
I think we're definitely influenced by The Corrs. We've been compared to them a few times actually. We take that as a huge compliment, because they're a worldwide band. They're Irish too, which is cool.
We've been compared to the likes of Taylor Swift as well, which we were really flattered by. I think we definitely take them as compliments.
If people think we sound like The Corrs, that's only a good thing, cos they've been so successful.
-Who do you take as influences, then?
We actually love so many different types of music. We all like different styles of music as well. As a band, we never try to be like anyone else, but I think our voices...everyone hears different things.