Clea (group)
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2007) |
Clea | |
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| Origin | Northampton,[citation needed] England |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2002–2007, 2022–2023[a] |
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Clea are an English girl group whose members met on the television show Popstars: The Rivals in 2002. Chloe Morgan (née Staines), Lynsey Brown, Emma Beard and Aimee Kearsley decided to form a band after they were voted off the series. The name 'Clea' is an acronym of the first letter of each member's name.
History
[edit]They initially had a management contract with Upside Management, a company set up by former BMG/Sony employees Denise Beighton and Simon Jones, and a recording contract with Warner offshoot 1967 Records. Their first single, "Download It", released in 2003, entered the UK Singles Chart at number 21,[1] and the band spent the remainder of the year playing small concerts in the United Kingdom.
In February 2004, the band released their second single, "Stuck in the Middle," which reached number 23 in the UK Singles Chart.[1] They continued playing, including appearances at Soccer 6 in Liverpool and Reading. In May of that year, Chloe Morgan left the group to pursue her solo career.
Clea's debut album, Identity Crisis was released in Russia, Eastern Europe, and certain countries in Asia. In these regions, the band had seen some moderate interest; however, due to being unsuccessful, they were dropped from 1967 Records in late 2004. Clea continued to be managed by Upside Management, and released music independently through a specially-created label.
In September 2005, Clea collaborated with production group Da Playaz to release a single, "We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off" a dance remake of the Narada Michael Walden song originally made famous by Jermaine Stewart. This single reached number 35 on the UK chart.[1] "Lucky Like That", released in June 2006, was the band's fourth single. This single placed at number 55 on the UK chart. Trinity, Clea's second album (but first UK album) was released on 3 July on Upside Records. Lynsey Brown left the band in November 2006. They then released the double a-side single, "Stuck in the Middle"/"I Surrender", in Europe, and toured Asia and Scandinavia in 2007. They also signed to EMI China and toured there on several occasions.
In November 2022, all four Clea members reunited in celebration of their twentieth anniversary, and the group was officially added to the lineup of Mighty Hoopla 2023.[2]
After Clea
[edit]Chloe Morgan is currently living in Vancouver, Canada. Following the release of her debut solo EP, Piano Forté, Morgan began writing and recording in LA where she has been recognized by some of the greats in the industry such as the family of legend Chaka Khan, The McCrarys, Dria and Chris Thornton from The Frontrunnaz. Chloe expanded her skills, where she trained in the UK as a DJ, working the club circuits in Essex and London and was part of DJ's world famous team Hillsong London at the start of her DJ career. After moving back to Vancouver, Chloe has become a very successful and most sought after DJ in the city. Recently Chloe has released multiple singles and an EP entitled "Chloé" releasing on October 20, 2023. She is currently being developed musically by The Frontrunnaz (production team and label) and is writing and recording music in Houston, Texas. Her next project will be releasing at the start of 2024.
Aimee Kearsley, who now resides in London, has continued working in music as a songwriter since leaving the group. In 2011 she joined girlband Fanfair.[3] Performing initially at rugby union games across the UK and performing at Twickenham Stadium, they went on to tour the UK and Ireland on The Wanted sell-out arena tour "The Code". The band was represented by 84 World, Dan Parker (formerly of Syco Entertainment). The band became brand ambassadors for Collection Makeup, releasing a single called "Mission" as part of a Collection TV commercial campaign in the UK. In 2013 the girls disbanded after failing to secure a record deal. Aimee is currently working as a music producer and songwriter in the UK.
Brown has pursued a different career. Beard appeared as a contestant on Paris Hilton's British Best Friend, she made it to the finale and came third. She recorded a new solo single, "Vanity"; the video to support the release was directed by Lauren Pushkin,[4] and produced by PMA Digital.[5]
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]- Identity Crisis (2004)
- Trinity (2006)
Singles
[edit]| Year | Title | UK Singles Chart | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | "Download It" | 21 | Identity Crisis |
| 2004 | "Stuck in the Middle" | 23 | |
| 2005 | "We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off" (with Da Playaz) | 35 | Trinity |
| 2006 | "Lucky Like That" | 55 | |
| "Stuck in the Middle" / "I Surrender" | — | ||
| Source:[6] | |||
Notes
[edit]- ^ Indefinite hiatus
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 110. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Will Richards (9 November 2022). "Years & Years and Kelly Rowland to headline Mighty Hoopla 2023". NME. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
- ^ "Fanfair Music". YouTube. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
- ^ "Director, producer & editor". Lauren Pushkin. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
- ^ "Video splash". PMA Digital. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
- ^ "CLEA". Official Charts. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
External links
[edit]| International | |
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| Artists | |
