The not-so-typical girl group Stooshe are finally back! After a three year hiatus the group are independent and ready to set the charts on fire once more.
We spoke to member Alexandra Buggs about their break from the spotlight, the success they've seen so far and where they're headed in the future.
Going back you've seen some great success with your album and 'Black Heart' and your other singles - what did that time feel like?
It feels like it went really quickly. It was so amazing and we had so many opportunities and great things, but it went so quickly, I don't think we actually were able to take it all in. It wasn't until about a year ago, we were looking at each other saying: 'Do you remember when we did this?' 'Do you remember that time?' 'Oh my God guys we were nominated for a BRIT!' So I think it's just taken time where we've been working in the studios to reflect on what we've done and we just want it again. We're ready for it again. So yeah, it felt good!
You then split from your label, how and why did that come about?
I think people think it was a negative thing. We came to a place where our creative juices were going one way, their creative vision were going another. Obviously they secured us three top 10s, London With The Lights On, great opportunities, but I think it got to a point where we felt like we wanted to go in another direction. It's amicable, it's pleasant, it's just what we wanna do now, and we're completely happy and satisfied with our choices. So it's all good.
That's the best way to go about it really if your heart's not in it...
I think that is the main thing, I think people can see through it if you're not in your own creative head space, people perceive it as not genuine, and I think we were starting to feel like it was going another way which wasn't true to us three. All three of us are on the same wavelength, we agree with everything, so we were like: "I think it's better for us to keep sane, for us to do what we wanna do and stick to it', and hopefully it works out. It will work out.
You're back this November with a brand new single, what should fans expect from that?
They should expect to get a bit more insight into Stooshe. Obviously the first album we were talking about those experiences three years ago. And now it's obviously about our journey from splitting with management and the label, from us growing as three individuals, from us growing closer, and it's just an insight. All of the things we may not be able to say in interviews, you'll be able to hear it in our song!
How would you say Stooshe have evolved as a group since the label split?
Well we're three years older now, we've been through a journey where we've been able to - when we got thrown into the limelight so quickly, we didn't get the time to grind, to build up, we went straight from being signed to having a single in the top five, it was so quick that we didn't realise how we can grind and sit there for months, working on our passion and knowing the industry in and out. Knowing every aspect of the job, recording, everything, so that's how we're involved in every aspect. We wanna get everything right and put our little Stooshe stamp on it.
You're recording the music video in Los Angeles, what should we expect from that?
Yeah, I can't wait! So we've basically said it's like a mini movie. Obviously we don't wanna give away too much but, it's in LA, it's a lot of high fashion and it's like a little movie of... basically we're telling you about our journey this past year and how we've broken free and we're independent now, and we've put that through our video. I really wanna drop some little hints but I know I'm gonna get told off! But... there might be a desert! That's all I'm saying, so it's really nice! (laughs) Doesn't really help!
Should we then expect an album to follow on from the single?
Yes, early next year, definitely an album. I think we've been away for 18 months, then we did half an album but scrapped it because it wasn't right for us. So we've got the majority of the songs done now, we've only got a few more to do, so the album will be out early next year.
How does that creative process work when you're putting together an album?
It's all different. Sometimes someone can send you three or four tracks. We can be like: 'OK, what do we wanna write about today?' 'Oh remember when this happened? Let's talk about that journey with us three.' And then it could be angry, or it could be a happy journey and then we just write about it and everyone puts in their ideas, how they're feeling at that moment and then you put the lines together. It's not like we all go in separate corners and write, us three feed off us eeach other. It can turn into a mess! But obviously us three will jump off each other's energy, that's how we write songs. Even when it comes to creating, writing dance routines, we all have to be there together, and bounce off each other's ideas. We can't do it by ourselves. We're lost by ourselves!
Should we expect the three of you to tour?
Touring's the best thing to do. I think that's where we're the happiest, on-stage. When the album does well we will hopefully be able to go on tour and see all our fans again. It's been way too long since we've seen them. I think it was two years ago we did our London With The Lights On Tour, and I can't wait to get back on the road.
You will see us with the single, hopefully the single takes off and does well and you'll see us about. Tour, gigs, when we know we'll let everyone know when we can see them, and hopefully it's really busy and packed!
Stooshe are back with a brand new single this November, with a music video on the way.