Introducing Powerhouse Group unperfect
The four-piece girl band unperfect are carving their own road in the pop world. Consisting of members Chloe, Siobhan, Soipan and, Tiah unperfect uniquely blends the soulful genre of R&B with some funky pop synths.
Partnering up with the songwriting, production and label team Xenomania – responsible for all of Girls Aloud top 10 hits and Sugababes ‘Round Round’– the ladies of unperfect are prepared to show the music world they’re not your typical girl band.
We got a chance to chat with the girls about everything from the formation of the group, their sound, and so much more…
What 3 words that best describe unperfect?
Tiah: Inclusive, funny, unanticipated
Soipan: Determined, genuine and unapologetic
How did you girls all meet initially, and how did the introduction to Xenomania happen?
Siobhan: I attended an audition for singers to work with Xenomania, never did I think I would be here today in a band!
Soipan: I went to the same audition.
Tiah: I’ve grown up around the Xenomania studio, so I was already there demo-ing songs and working on stuff.
Chloe: It’s long but the short version is I wrote a song and it ended up making its way to Brian.
Soipan: I met everyone individually just from being down at the studio at the same time but these three didn’t meet each other until Brian’s Christmas party.
Siobhan: Yeah Soipan was the person we all had in common, so we ended up chatting together and realising that we’d all been singing on the same songs separately and it just clicked that we could try some stuff out together. We put it to Brian and he was down for it as well, and the band was born!
Did you feel any pressure working with a pop-powerhouse such as Xenomania, who are behind some of the biggest pop hits of the last few decades?
Siobhan: There’s a little bit of pressure – I actually had a lecture at uni which was all about Xenomania so it’s weird to be signed to them now. I have a lot of respect for Brian, he’s been doing this for so long, it’s flattering that he has so much faith in us.
Soipan: Yeah, the fact Xenomania have maintained this reputation over decades puts a bit of pressure on, I know I have to hold myself to the same quality and standard.
Chloe: I feel pressure because I want the team and the public to like what we produce, but it’s relaxed and encouraging in the house so that balances out.
Tiah: I don’t know if “pressure” is the right word, but for me I think we’re so different to the artists that have been before us that it doesn’t really make sense for us to be compared.
If you could claim any other song written and produced by team Xenomania, which one would you love to be yours?
Tiah: Cher – Believe
Siobhan: Yeah, same – everyone knows it, it’s a banger.
Chloe: Girls Aloud – Something Kinda Ooooh was my jam from way back.
You have an incredibly distinct sound to your music – was the ‘unperfect sound’ born quite organically or did you have an idea of where you wanted to venture to musically?
Soipan: It started from the ground up! We got together based on attraction to each other’s musicality so when we were working on our own sound it was very much a case of merging our individual tastes in music and style of singing.
Tiah: It was a bit of an unexpected sound, it definitely evolved out of all our ideas and recommendations.
Siobhan: We didn’t want to conform to what you hear on the charts – we obviously want to be on the charts, but we want to set our own trends.
What are your individual tastes in music? Do they differ or do you all have similar tastes when it comes to genre?
Soipan: We have similar tastes, but definitely different favourites.
Chloe: I have a soft spot for 90s/early 2000s R&B
Siobhan: I will listen to anything to be honest, but I do sit there with a blank face when the other girls play grime because I’ve usually never heard the songs before. But I like them!
Your sound is like nothing else we’ve heard before – how long did it take to achieve the overall aesthetic of the band and were the final results of your debut single and EP exactly how you imaged it would sound?
Tiah: Again it evolved with time, we all just needed to realise what we individually preferred and then make it work as a whole. It took months.
Chloe: We just tried to be ourselves but tied it together for a more consistent look. Aesthetic-wise, my personal style is more Essex than Shoreditch, but I keep it casual with the girls. It’s probably not what I expected but I don’t think any of us knew where any of this would lead.
Siobhan: I think the overall results for the single and EP were better than I expected. It’s always a risk bringing out something that sounds so different and I’m so grateful that people love our sound and our music, I feel very blessed to be given this opportunity and blessed that people enjoy it.
Your new single ‘I’m A Dreamer’ is an absolute bop and very different from your EP – was it a conscious decision to take a more pop and commercial sounding route with this track?
Chloe: We wrote the song specifically for Fruit Shoot, so that was definitely a motive.
Siobhan: I guess we wanted to appeal to a younger generation, and you need something catchy and upbeat to do that, we wanted it to be bright and happy.
Tiah: But there’s still a strong element of our weird sound in there.
The release is also part of your first brand collaboration with Robinsons Fruit Shoot – why did you want to be involved with this campaign?
Tiah: I personally love Fruit Shoots, they are the cutest little drinks. And the message behind the campaign is inspiring, as it is always good to make sure children know they have the capacity to be/achieve anything they so wish and that all it takes to spark that is sone motivation!
Siobhan: Yeah, everyone loves Fruit Shoots, you’re lying if you say you haven’t enjoyed one once!
Soipan: The message of the campaign really resonated with me, as I’m a firm believer in anybody achieving their dream. After all, I’m a young, single mum living mine! That’s the kind of thing I want my son to be seeing and hearing.
Chloe: I like the fact that it was something new and fun to challenge us with as well.
What message were you hoping to communicate with your younger fans within the lyrical content of the release? It has such an uplifting and inspiring theme.
Chloe: Just to follow their dreams! Growing up can be tough but never lose sight of the end goal. No matter what people say, believe in yourself and don’t give up.
Siobhan: Everyone has dreams but it’s the people who pick themselves up and keep chasing them that achieve greatness.
What was the last dream you all had?
Soipan: I had a dream I was riding my bike looking at a view I’d never seen before.
Chloe: Mine was X-rated. You don’t wanna know.
You’ve achieved so much already in such a short space of time – what would you love to accomplish before the end of 2019?
Tiah: I want our fanbase to grow and more people to listen and enjoy our music.
Chloe: Yeah, more people to be bopping to us. I’d also like to write more.
Soipan: Performing live to our amazing fans would be an incredible way to end the year.
And what’s your end goal?
Chloe: To be a well-known, popular girl band with multiple albums and sold out concerts.
Soipan: Yeah, to be part of some amazing projects with incredible minds.
Siobhan: I want to be able to write and perform and be remembered when I’m old and wrinkly for doing something that I love.
Tiah: I only ever want to be successful and make my family proud.
Aside from the new single, what else can we expect from you this year? Will there be a live show we can come down too?
Soipan: We have so many exciting things planned, but you never can tell really. Things just take on a life of their own. We never expected Robinsons to come knocking on our door, and here we are!
Tiah: There will be live shows though. All good things come to those who wait!
Collectively, you all have such an individual flare and style – who are your fashion inspirations and where do you love to shop?
Chloe: I get ideas from Instagram and random people I meet out and about. I like shopping all over, ASOS, Pretty Little Thing… you can even find some good steals on eBay if you look properly.
Tiah: I love high-waisted mom jeans and small tops. TopShop have the best jeans.
Soipan: My mum was my first style icon! I exclusively shop at charity shops – I live for a good find. The video for ‘I’m A Dreamer’ is actually the first one we’ve done where we had a stylist, we pulled pretty much all of our early looks from charity shops.
If unperfect could soundtrack any fashion week runaway, which design house would you want to choose?
Chloe: Prada. Free bags, please.
Soipan: I’m a streetwear girl. Something like HMN ALNS.
Favourite social media platform and why?
Tiah: Instagram! There’s just so much to see, it’s so visual and expressive.
Chloe: Yeah, I don’t use anything other than Instagram.
Siobhan: I want to say Instagram but I’m so bad at it! I’m still learning how to use it. I think its great though, I’m very nosy so love watching people’s stories.
How do you feel artists and bands that form in 2019 would fare without social media? Do you find it a help or a hindrance?
Soipan: Like all tools, it depends on how it’s used.
Chloe: I think helpful – it’s a way to connect and interact with potential fans.
Tiah: It’s definitely helpful, many people, not necessarily just in music, would not get quite where they are without social media. I think despite its downsides it is quite crucial in widespread coverage of yourself and business.
Make sure to check out their new video for I’m a Dreamer below!
