Keisha Buchanan
Encyclopedia
Keisha Kerreece Fayeanne Buchanan (born 30 September 1984) is an English singer-songwriter
and was a founding member of the BRIT Award
-winning girl group
the Sugababes
. With the Sugababes, Buchanan had six number one singles and two number one studio albums, making the Sugababes one of the most successful British
pop
acts of the 21st century. Buchanan was asked to leave the band in September 2009 and was replaced by Jade Ewen
.
while at primary school in Kingsbury
. At the age of thirteen the pair met Siobhán Donaghy
at a music studio. The three formed a girl group
called the Sugababies but then changed to the Sugababes
. In 1998, the Sugababes were offered their first record deal with London Records
and had their first break-through hit in 2000 with "Overload" from their debut album One Touch. After Donaghy left the group in August 2001 to be replaced by Heidi Range
the group were dropped from London but were signed up by Island Records
. Buena departed in December 2005, replaced by Amelle Berrabah
, leaving Buchanan as the only founding member still in the Sugababes between 2005 to 2009. The Sugababes had six number-one singles, "Freak Like Me
", "Round Round
", "Hole in the Head
", "Push the Button", "Walk This Way" and "About You Now
". They have also had several top-three hits including "Ugly
", "Girls" and Buchanan's final release with the group, "Get Sexy
". The group has also had six top-ten albums, two of which, Taller in More Ways
and Change
, went to number one in the UK and were certified triple platinum. In terms of record sales, the Sugababes are the most successful female act of the century, and have had #1 singles in fifteen other countries in Europe and Asia — "Hole in the Head" also went to #1 on the U.S. Billboard dance chart.
On 21 September 2009, it was officially announced that Buchanan had exited the group, resulting in Sugababes retaining none of its original members. Buchanan, who will pursue a solo career with Island Records
, was replaced by former-Eurovision entrant Jade Ewen
. Buchanan revealed on Twitter
that it was not her decision to leave, resulting in some journalists describing her as having been "sacked".
Critics and fans reacted very negatively to the news, and British broadsheet
The Guardian
ran an article named "Why the Sugababes' show can't go on without Keisha". Digital Spy ran an article called "Keisha Buchanan, We Salute You" in which they thanked her for her contribution to "incredible pop songs". However, it has been claimed by Berrabah and Range that they played no role in the ousting of Buchanan. Both women have claimed to quit the Sugababes themselves only to find that their group's management decided that they would follow them, rather than find two new members for Buchanan.
. Buchanan is currently recording her debut solo album. According to Buchanan, the album will mostly be produced by Future Cut and will feature production by Dallas Austin
.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and was a founding member of the BRIT Award
Brit Awards
The Brit Awards are the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. The name was originally a shortened form of "British", "Britain" or "Britannia", but subsequently became a backronym for British Record Industry Trust...
-winning girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
the Sugababes
Sugababes
The Sugababes are an English pop girl group based in London, consisting of members Heidi Range, Amelle Berrabah and Jade Ewen. The Sugababes were formed in 1998 with founding members Siobhán Donaghy, Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan. Their debut album, One Touch, was released in 2000 under London...
. With the Sugababes, Buchanan had six number one singles and two number one studio albums, making the Sugababes one of the most successful British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
acts of the 21st century. Buchanan was asked to leave the band in September 2009 and was replaced by Jade Ewen
Jade Ewen
Jade Almarie Louise Ewen is an English singer, songwriter, actress and member of the Sugababes. Ewen began her singing career in a girl group named Trinity Stone signed to Sony BMG in 2005, but they disbanded in 2007 with no album released...
.
1998–2009: Early life and Sugababes
Buchanan met Mutya BuenaMutya Buena
Rosa Isabel Mutya Buena is an English recording artist who rose to fame as a member of girl group the Sugababes. With the Sugababes, Buena had four UK number one singles, an additional six top-ten hits and three multi-platinum albums. After leaving the group in December 2005, she released her...
while at primary school in Kingsbury
Kingsbury
Kingsbury is an area in the London Borough of Brent, northwest London. The name Kingsbury means "The King's Manor".-History:Kingsbury was historically a small parish in the Hundred of Gore and county of Middlesex. Until the nineteenth century it was largely rural with only scattered settlements....
. At the age of thirteen the pair met Siobhán Donaghy
Siobhán Donaghy
Siobhán Emma Donaghy is an English singer-songwriter of Irish descent. She was a founding member of girl group the Sugababes, although she left in August 2001 and was replaced by Heidi Range. Donaghy left the group after one album...
at a music studio. The three formed a girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
called the Sugababies but then changed to the Sugababes
Sugababes
The Sugababes are an English pop girl group based in London, consisting of members Heidi Range, Amelle Berrabah and Jade Ewen. The Sugababes were formed in 1998 with founding members Siobhán Donaghy, Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan. Their debut album, One Touch, was released in 2000 under London...
. In 1998, the Sugababes were offered their first record deal with London Records
London Records
London Records, referred to as London Recordings in logo, is a record label headquartered in the United Kingdom, originally marketing records in the United States, Canada and Latin America from 1947 to 1979, then becoming a semi-independent label....
and had their first break-through hit in 2000 with "Overload" from their debut album One Touch. After Donaghy left the group in August 2001 to be replaced by Heidi Range
Heidi Range
Heidi India Range is an English singer, songwriter and member of the Sugababes. Range was an original member of girl group Atomic Kitten, although she left the group after two years of its formation with no album released...
the group were dropped from London but were signed up by Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
. Buena departed in December 2005, replaced by Amelle Berrabah
Amelle Berrabah
Amelle Berrabah is a British singer, songwriter and member of pop girl group the Sugababes. Since replacing founding member Mutya Buena in the group in December 2005, Berrabah has attained two UK number one singles, "About You Now" and "Walk This Way", as well as a number one album, Change...
, leaving Buchanan as the only founding member still in the Sugababes between 2005 to 2009. The Sugababes had six number-one singles, "Freak Like Me
Freak Like Me
"Freak like Me" is the first single from Adina Howard's 1995 R&B debut album Do You Wanna Ride?. Like Howard's image, the song can be best described as hypersexual. It reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified platinum by the RIAA....
", "Round Round
Round Round
"Round Round" is a song performed by British girl group Sugababes, released on 12 August 2002 through Island Records. It was written by band members Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan and Heidi Range, as well as Miranda Cooper, Niara Scarlett, Brian Higgins, Tim Powell, Nick Coler, Shawn Lee, and Lisa...
", "Hole in the Head
Hole in the Head
"Hole in the Head" is a dance-pop song performed by Sugababes, released in October 2003 as the lead single from their third studio album Three...
", "Push the Button", "Walk This Way" and "About You Now
About You Now
"About You Now" is a 2007 single by English girl group Sugababes, written by Cathy Dennis and producer Dr. Luke for the group's fifth studio album, Change...
". They have also had several top-three hits including "Ugly
Ugly (Sugababes song)
"Ugly" is a pop song by British girl group Sugababes. It was written and produced by Dallas Austin for the group's fourth studio album, Taller In More Ways. It is the last single to feature founding member Mutya Buena...
", "Girls" and Buchanan's final release with the group, "Get Sexy
Get Sexy
"Get Sexy" is an electropop song performed by English girl group Sugababes. It was released on 31 August, 2009 as the lead single for the group's seventh studio album, Sweet 7. It is the last single to feature founding member Keisha Buchanan; during the single release interval between the release...
". The group has also had six top-ten albums, two of which, Taller in More Ways
Taller in More Ways
Taller in More Ways is the fourth studio album by British girl group Sugababes, released by Island Records on 10 October 2005 in the United Kingdom. It was primarily produced by Dallas Austin and Xenomania, with additional production from Cameron McVey and Guy Sigsworth...
and Change
Change (Sugababes album)
Change is the fifth studio album by English girl group Sugababes, released through Island Records during October 2007 in most European territories. The album features production by Dr...
, went to number one in the UK and were certified triple platinum. In terms of record sales, the Sugababes are the most successful female act of the century, and have had #1 singles in fifteen other countries in Europe and Asia — "Hole in the Head" also went to #1 on the U.S. Billboard dance chart.
On 21 September 2009, it was officially announced that Buchanan had exited the group, resulting in Sugababes retaining none of its original members. Buchanan, who will pursue a solo career with Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
, was replaced by former-Eurovision entrant Jade Ewen
Jade Ewen
Jade Almarie Louise Ewen is an English singer, songwriter, actress and member of the Sugababes. Ewen began her singing career in a girl group named Trinity Stone signed to Sony BMG in 2005, but they disbanded in 2007 with no album released...
. Buchanan revealed on Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
that it was not her decision to leave, resulting in some journalists describing her as having been "sacked".
Critics and fans reacted very negatively to the news, and British broadsheet
Broadsheet
Broadsheet is the largest of the various newspaper formats and is characterized by long vertical pages . The term derives from types of popular prints usually just of a single sheet, sold on the streets and containing various types of material, from ballads to political satire. The first broadsheet...
The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
ran an article named "Why the Sugababes' show can't go on without Keisha". Digital Spy ran an article called "Keisha Buchanan, We Salute You" in which they thanked her for her contribution to "incredible pop songs". However, it has been claimed by Berrabah and Range that they played no role in the ousting of Buchanan. Both women have claimed to quit the Sugababes themselves only to find that their group's management decided that they would follow them, rather than find two new members for Buchanan.
2010–present: Solo career
She features on the song "Far Away" from Jay Sean's UK edition of All or NothingAll or Nothing (Jay Sean album)
All or Nothing is the third studio album by British R&B singer Jay Sean, released 23 November 2009 in the United States as the singer's international debut album with Cash Money Records and Universal Republic and a week later on 30 November 2009 with Jayded Records and 2Point9 Records...
. Buchanan is currently recording her debut solo album. According to Buchanan, the album will mostly be produced by Future Cut and will feature production by Dallas Austin
Dallas Austin
Dallas Austin is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician, based in Atlanta, Georgia. Some of his most notable clients include Michael Jackson, TLC, Boyz II Men, Pink, Monica, Madonna, Gwen Stefani, Stacie Orrico, Another Bad Creation, Fishbone, Sugababes, Anastacia, Namie Amuro, Kim...
.