PRETTYMUCH
the pop star we were waiting for
Forget that Justin Timberlake or Robbie Williams made it solo, or that the One Direction boys are on a hiatus, because boybands seem to be the new trend these days. With The Tide, New Hope Club and the newcomers PRETTYMUCH, the next wave of boybands is here. Is the world ready for another big phenomenon ? One Direction fans, you might want to sit down for a while. If their hiatus has left a hole in your chest, and in your life, meet PRETTYMUCH, Simon’s Cowell new secret weapon. If solo male artists like Justin Bieber, Ed Sheeran and Shawn Mendes are topping the charts with their hits, there’s no doubt that the boyband image and group mentality will work in PRETTYMUCH’s favor. Because what’s better than one guy singing and dancing? Five guys singing and dancing! Back in the 90’s, N’Sync and the Backstreet Boys made the vocals-plus-choreography popular, and if you thought it was over because the 1D boys refused to dive into the dance routine mania, PRETTYMUCH are here to bring back those retro vibes and vintage aesthetic. Before joining the band, Austin Porter, Nick Mara, Brandon Arreaga, Edwin Honoret and Zion Kuwonu were all pursuing solo careers until Simon Cowell recognized their individual strengths and melded them into a group. Since then, the five young guys, aged from 17 to 19, have been living together in Los Angeles while recording their debut album and perfecting their dance moves. «The coolest thing was that when were really together for the first time is that you could see the potential of each member.» One thing is sure, with their debut single «Would You Mind», PRETTYMUCH made a huge step forward and towards success. The track showcased some pretty nice harmonies (who would’ve thought?) and rolls back 30 years to the swingbeat era while putting upfront some timeless pop vibes and addictive hook. Add to this a tiny bit of RnB and you’ll get the perfect bop to carry you through winter.
So yeah, this might as well be the next new wave of boyband s: bringing back the old-school vibes and dance routine on top of pop music with vintage rock mixed with modern RnB. If it sounds a bit weird to you, don’t worry, the five teens are actually rocking and nailing this particular style! As to know if an actual debut album is coming, we’ll have to wait and see! According to Arreaga, yes, the band is working on an album and new music, but they just don’t feel like dropping one at the moment. «The biggest thing is we just wanna drop single after single after single, and be performing as much as we can, and turn it up whenever.» While we will eagerly be waiting for new music, you can always catch up on the band’s cover and practice on Instagram. For now, we might place our bet on them, but still, let’s see what they’re capable of first before jumping on the bandwagon.
Listen if you are a fan ofOne Direction, The Vamps, or even Boyz II Men. Well, basically any boyband out there, whether you like a rock vibe or a modern vintage sound. Could PRETTYMUCH be the next big thing? Why not, but only time will tell!
One song to listen to«Would You Mind» as it’s their only song out at the moment. Written by Savan Kotecha, who previously worked with One Direction and Ariana Grande, this couldn’t be a bad song, and with the harmonies of the five guys on top of that : it’s a yes for us!
WordS by LENAELLE FONTAINE PHOTO : Eric Michael Roy FOR BILLBOARD
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