Pop goes The Ones!
There may be nothing new under the sun, but there’s something to be said about the wonderment of nostalgia... when you search your memories and go back in time you can’t help but explore those good feelings; that certain euphoria. And perhaps that’s the inspiration and motivation behind the return of the powerhouse dance trio The Ones. Their latest studio album is entitled Blast From the Past and what they’re promising with their electro-driving, dance beats is to take you back -- to the club that is! If the band isn’t currently charting on your iPod’s most played list, the will be, especially after the first single starts hitting the DJ turntables across the circuit. If there’s any band that’s been genetically engineered to dominate on the dance floor The Ones would be it!
The stylishly handsome trio is made of the intertwined DNA of JoJo Americo, Paul Alexander and Nashom Wooden. They unleashed their brand of radio-active "ultramodern" disco to a hungry audience of club revelers even before they had their first official hit single! They continued to mark their territory across the dance music scene by inviting a couple of their close friends to appear in the video for their track "When We Get Together" -- the most provocative demonstration of music video solidarity ever produced featured appearances from Blondie’s Debbie Harry, 80s music icon Jody Watley, the sickly talented Scissor Sisters, and then pop neophyte Ari Gold among others.
"Our hay day was the 90s and it became our signature sound, but we’re influenced by what’s going on now," The Ones enthuse.
"Let’s Celebrate"
Paul Alexander describes the genesis of the band which has always been connected to the glam-fashion and pop art-movement synonymous with the feel of New York City’s Village. "We’ve always been friends and each one of us had our shining moment in the club scene," but during a party at the underground haunt Squeezebox the band came together. "We would perform and constantly back each other up. It wasn’t long before we realized that we sounded good together, really good. So we decided to do it for real." That organic coming together blended successfully into some of the group’s first hits, and none more profoundly than on their über-dance friendly "Flawless". The electronic hipness of the track was so infectious it even drew the attention of pop icon George Michael, who went on to record his own version along with the group. Nashom Wooden said about that experience: "When a legend like that asks you [mind you, asks you] if it’s OK to record your song... you have to say yes! I cried!" And for JoJo Americo who appeared in the video for George Michael’s "KIller/Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone ," "It was like coming full circle!"
Historically the group has found themselves a little rattled about in the marketplace, which could be disarming for independent artists especially producing in the dance genre. Their first album, the debut self-titled The Ones was actually released twice. To match the demand of the remix culture under their first label they released a double CD package that featured remixes. Already having established themselves as dance artists, the second time around they went for something more straight forward. "We wanted to make something that was more listener friendly," Nashom admits, "short and sweet... to the point." Which brings us to the here and now!
The debut single from Blast From the Past being released on August 24th is the tantalizing "Let’s Celebrate!" (featuring Nomi Ruiz) which is a pulse-racing, big-room thumper and the perfect opportunity to introduce The Ones to the small minority of the uninitiated yet to fall under their hypnotic spell. The lyrics exemplify the group’s dedication to their late night, deep house after hours party roots: "Let’s celebrate/and have a good time...we don’t want to hurt no body/we just wanna party!" With it’s heart-stopping base rhythm, you can’t help but feel the track pounding through to your core.
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Watch this video teaser for The Ones’ upcoming single "Let’s Celebrate":
Watch this video of The Ones performing "When We Get Together."
Watch this video of The Ones performing "Flawless."
