Velvet Empire
Encyclopedia
Velvet Empire was a Canadian pop music group that was formed through the second edition of the Global TV show Popstars
, entitled "Boy Meets Girl." The group was formed in the spring of 2002. The winners of the 10-month competition, intended to form a pop group comprising both male and female members, were Alex Price, Justin Humes, Janelle Belgrave, Lacey Block and Ryan Hamilton. The new group called itself Velvet Empire and released its self-titled debut album and debut single, "Frontin' On Me," in 2002. Despite the single receiving much radio and video play, the album's sales were not up to expectations. As a result, the group disbanded by 2003.
. Alex has always been interested in the arts, and has been dancing since she was five years old. Alex Price discovered her singing ability when she was 11 years old. She joined the school choir and began to learn the basics of singing. In 1993, she moved with her mom to Oregon where she attended The Delphian School
. She became involved in musical theatre and realized that she was truly meant to sing.
Alex was influenced by Lauryn Hill
, Sarah McLachlan
, Jack Johnson
, Ella Fitzgerald
, K-OS
, John Mayer
, Fiona Apple
, Pearl Jam
, and India Arie
and Velvet Empire. Justin attended McGill University
from 1999 to 2001, majoring in Environmental studies.
Justin also plays drums and guitar.
. Her major was Musical Theater and has participated in school musicals. Janelle also loves sports and was the captain of the basketball and volleyball teams. The biggest love in Janelle’s life right now is performing.
Janelle is currently recording for her solo career.
as both a vocalist and pianist, before leaving to join Velvet Empire.
Lacey also does karate
, draw
, write poetry
, and shop.
Ryan moved to Calgary in 2000 to attend school when his father’s job caused the family to relocate to the United States.
Track Listing
Popstars
Popstars is an international reality television franchise and a precursor to the Idol series. The series first began in New Zealand in 1999 when producer Jonathan Dowling formed the five member all-girl group TrueBliss...
, entitled "Boy Meets Girl." The group was formed in the spring of 2002. The winners of the 10-month competition, intended to form a pop group comprising both male and female members, were Alex Price, Justin Humes, Janelle Belgrave, Lacey Block and Ryan Hamilton. The new group called itself Velvet Empire and released its self-titled debut album and debut single, "Frontin' On Me," in 2002. Despite the single receiving much radio and video play, the album's sales were not up to expectations. As a result, the group disbanded by 2003.
Alex Price
Alex Price was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, on February 14, 1980. She is a citizen of both Canada and Australia since both of her parents are from AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Alex has always been interested in the arts, and has been dancing since she was five years old. Alex Price discovered her singing ability when she was 11 years old. She joined the school choir and began to learn the basics of singing. In 1993, she moved with her mom to Oregon where she attended The Delphian School
The Delphian School
The Delphian School is a K-12 private school in unincorporated Yamhill County, Oregon, near Sheridan. It is operated by Delphi Schools, using ideas from L. Ron Hubbard from Heron Books. The Study Technology is licensed through the Scientology related group Applied Scholastics. The school building...
. She became involved in musical theatre and realized that she was truly meant to sing.
Alex was influenced by Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Noelle Hill is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress.Early in her career, she established her reputation as a member of the Fugees. In 1998, she launched her solo career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album, The Miseducation of...
, Sarah McLachlan
Sarah McLachlan
Sarah Ann McLachlan, OC, OBC is a Canadian musician, singer and songwriter. Known for her emotional ballads and mezzo-soprano vocal range, as of 2006, she has sold over 40 million albums worldwide. McLachlan's best-selling album to date is Surfacing, for which she won two Grammy Awards and four...
, Jack Johnson
Jack Johnson (musician)
Jack Johnson was born May 18, 1975 is an American folk rock singer-songwriter, surfer and musician known for his work in the soft rock and acoustic genres. In 2001, he achieved commercial success after the release of his debut album, Brushfire Fairytales. He has since released four more albums, a...
, Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
, K-OS
K-os
Kevin Brereton , better known by his stage name k-os , is a Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer...
, John Mayer
John Mayer
John Clayton Mayer is an American pop rock and blues rock musician, singer-songwriter, recording artist, and music producer. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and raised in Fairfield, Connecticut, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. He moved to Atlanta in 1997, where he refined his...
, Fiona Apple
Fiona Apple
Fiona Apple McAfee Maggart is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. Apple met international acclaim for her 1996 debut album, Tidal, which was a critical and commercial success...
, Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
, and India Arie
Justin Humes
Justin Humes was born in Montreal, Quebec on December 23, 1979. Justin speaks fluent English and French. Music has always been a huge part of Justin’s life. During high school, Justin was a member of the Montreal-based band, Ryde. He left the band to join PopstarsPopstars
Popstars is an international reality television franchise and a precursor to the Idol series. The series first began in New Zealand in 1999 when producer Jonathan Dowling formed the five member all-girl group TrueBliss...
and Velvet Empire. Justin attended McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
from 1999 to 2001, majoring in Environmental studies.
Justin also plays drums and guitar.
Janelle Belgrave
Janelle Belgrave was born in Toronto, Ontario, on May 20, 1983. Janelle comes from a culturally diverse background. Her mother is Filipino and her father is Bajan. Janelle started singing when she was only three years old and she also started dancing when she was four. She has studied ballet, jazz and tap. Janelle attended the Etobicoke School of the ArtsEtobicoke School of the Arts
The Etobicoke School of the Arts is a specialized public arts-academic high school located in Etobicoke area of Toronto, Canada. Founded on September 8, 1981, the Etobicoke School of the Arts has the distinction of being the oldest, free standing arts focused high school in Canada...
. Her major was Musical Theater and has participated in school musicals. Janelle also loves sports and was the captain of the basketball and volleyball teams. The biggest love in Janelle’s life right now is performing.
Janelle is currently recording for her solo career.
Lacey Block
Lacey Block was born in Lethbridge, Alberta, on April 30, 1983. Lacey has a very strong musical background. She plays piano and has been composing songs since she was seven years old. Lacey was enrolled in the jazz program at Humber CollegeHumber College
Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning is a polytechnic college in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Humber offers more than 150 programs including: bachelor’s degree, diploma, certificate, post-graduate certificate and apprenticeship programs, across 40 fields of study. Humber serves...
as both a vocalist and pianist, before leaving to join Velvet Empire.
Lacey also does karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
, draw
Draw
Draw, draws or drawn may refer to:* The act of drawing, or making an image with a writing utensil* A part of many card games* A part of a lottery* Wire drawing...
, write poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
, and shop.
Ryan Hamilton
Ryan Hamilton was born October 3, 1982 in Edmonton, Alberta. Ryan was home schooled when he was in grade five to grade nine, to allow more time to focus on traveling and singing. Ryan went back to high school where he graduated from Percy Page High School in Edmonton in 1999. Singing has always been a huge part of Ryan’s life, which caused for a passion to sing and perform for the world.Ryan moved to Calgary in 2000 to attend school when his father’s job caused the family to relocate to the United States.
Discography
- Velvet EmpireVelvet Empire (album)Velvet Empire is the only full album by Canadian pop band Velvet Empire. The album contains the band's popular single "Frontin' on Me", but was not as commercially successful as hoped and the group disbanded shortly after the release....
(2002) is the only full album by Canadian popPop musicPop 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...
band Velvet Empire. The album contains the band's popular single "Frontin' on Me", but was not as commercially successful as hoped and the group disbanded shortly after the release.
Track Listing
- "Are You Ready?... Then Let's Begin" - 0:21
- "Frontin' on Me" - 3:32
- "I" - 3:40
- "Wha, Wha, What" - 3:02
- "Mad for You" - 3:34
- "Tell Me" - 4:19
- "Now You Don't" - 3:36
- "Ride" - 3:55
- "Good Girls" - 3:49
- "About Last Night" - 3:35
- "2 A.M." - 4:12
- "That's Right" - 3:55
- "Wild Horses" - 5:12
External links
- Alex Price Official MySpace
- Janelle Belgrave Article