Untangling the truth behind Girls Aloud
If the tabloids are to be believed, Girls Aloud are an intimidating bunch; bitchy, loud and not afraid of voicing their often controversial views.
They like a drink too, as the papers like to point out on a daily basis when they print pictures of the girls falling out of taxis and nightclubs in the wee small hours.
Entering a hotel room to meet all five of them, then, might seem like walking into a viper's den of candid opinion and lairy behaviour, but the truth is much more civilised than that. It almost always is.
Lounging around on sofas having just finished their lunch, the girls are the picture of normality. Dressed casually and chatting enthusiastically among themselves, they could be any quintet of close friends at a sleepover or similar girly gathering. They're all gorgeous too, somehow even prettier in the flesh than the countless airbrushed images of them that have adorned many a glossy magazine since they formed five years ago.
Surprisingly, as Kimberley explains, they're feeling nervous ahead of the release of their fourth studio album.
"It's not a new thing, we get nervous about everything," the Bradford-born lass says. "We just still really care. Everything has gone great so far, but we still worry. Because things have gone so well for us, we want to keep that level up and improve if anything. That's quite a high expectation, so we end up putting a lot of pressure on ourselves."
It's immediately clear after meeting the girls that each member brings something very different to the band.
Kimberley is the wisest and most mature, offering reasoned and articulate answers to whatever question thrown her way, while Nadine – wearing small shorts and voluminous hair while the others are tracksuited and ponytailed – adds glamour. She's also famous in the States, thanks to her high-profile relationship with Desperate Housewives star Jesse Metcalfe. She owns a chain of restaurants there, and property in LA.
Cheryl, married to Chelsea defender Ashley Cole, is blessed with a steely attitude and a quick wit – not to mention a diamond ring as big as a house – and 'Scouser' Nicola (she's actually from Runcorn in Cheshire) has a bone-dry humour, sometimes mistaken for her being moody or sullen.
Sarah, meanwhile, is asleep under a pile of coats for most of our interview and is lost behind her outlandishly sized shades. Maybe she's ill, maybe she's hungover – either way, she certainly adds the rock'n'roll element missing from most girl bands.
This new album then, Tangled Up...
Nadine, in her thick, sometimes indecipherable Northern Irish brogue, is the first to chip in with an answer. "The songs are all in the same vein, whereas the others have been quite random. On the last record, for example, we had a song called Swinging London Town, which was dancey, like trance almost, so not like our usual material."
"It's more mature, definitely. Less tongue-in-cheek," adds Sarah, briefly lifting her head from her slumber.
So how does a Girls Aloud album take shape? If the nay sayers are to be believed, the ladies are nothing more than pretty pop puppets; told what to sing by their producers, what to wear by stylists, and how to behave by their manager. In that case, recording an album must be an easy process, right? Not quite.
It starts with a chat with songwriter Brian Higgins, mainman of the Xenomania production group. He and his small team are responsible for all Girls Aloud songs, making him one of the most successful British songwriters of all time.
One by one, the girls go to Higgins' house-cum-studio and tell him all about what's been happening since their last album. They talk relationships, feelings, you name it.
"It's not like an interview or anything," says Kimberley. "We know him so well that we can talk to him about anything. He's like a sixth member I guess!"
"Brian takes inspiration from all that, so it's important he's up to date with where we are. Our songs have to reflect us so that's why we do it," says Nicola.
After that, songs are written, demos are recorded and ideas are swapped. Normally, a Girls Aloud album will be recorded in a matter of weeks, but Tangled Up took much longer.
"It took six months this time, which is a long time for us," explains Kimberley.
"We normally do it in more concentrated periods, but we spread it out a bit, plus the single Sexy! No No No came out in the middle of recording, so we had to take time out to promote that."
All five members are united in praise for current single Call The Shots, while Can't Speak French, rumoured to be the next release, is a particular favourite of Cheryl's.
"It gives me goosebumps that song, I love it," she beams. "I can't speak French although I did go out with a French boy for a little while, so I got some CDs to learn the language.
"I picked up a bit, but I've forgotten apart from a few bad words."
The album also features a number of songwriting credits for the girls, building on the handful of B-sides and album tracks they've contributed to in the past.
"We never got into this industry to be brilliant lyricists," says Cheryl, "but recently we've felt more comfortable with writing bits and pieces. Sometimes you just have to let people do what they're talented at, and stick to what you know best.
"We are singers and performers, and I could never imagine Brian Higgins standing on a stage singing Love Machine, but don't you think it'd be a shame if no one could bring that song to life?"
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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