Billboard.com’s Girl Group Week has celebrated the legendary groups, the underrated groups, the must-see music videos and the K-pop collectives worth revisiting. However, there are several contemporary girl groups currently attempting to achieve the international stardom of Destiny’s Child, TLC and the Spice Girls — and one group in that category that pops immediately to mind is the British quartet Little Mix, which has already earned two Top 10 albums in the U.S. since becoming the first group to win the U.K. version of “The X Factor” in 2011.
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Little Mix recently stopped by the Billboard studios in New York for a studio session, which included a performance of their incredibly likable single “Move.” Watch the performance below:
Last year, Little Mix set a chart record previously held by the Spice Girls when their debut album, “DNA,” debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart, marking the highest start ever for a U.K. female group’s first album. Watch the girls discuss the process of transitioning from British superstars to a U.S. pop entity in the Q&A below:
“You never know if the fans are gonna be there for you, if people are gonna know who the heck we are,” says the group’s Perrie Edwards, who, along with Jade Thirlwall, Jesy Nelson and Leigh-Anne Pinnock, supported Demi Lovato on her Neon Lights tour earlier this year. “And then it turns out everyone knows the words and the routines! It’s been amazing, and so much fun.”
PHOTOS: Behind-The-Scenes At Little Mix’s Studio Session
While “DNA” showcased the “X Factor” winners’ snappy charm and pristine pop melodies, but sophomore album “Salute” showcased a rapid redirection toward more rhythmic music; along with hooky treats like lead single “Move” and “Nothing Feels Like You,” the album included thoughtful, empowering messages on songs like “Little Me” and the title track. “Salute” notched another Top 10 debut for the girls, has sold 79,000 copies to date according to Nielsen SoundScan, and nods to where Little Mix is headed next.
| Pop Shop Podcast: Little Mix Interview |
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| In this week’s episode, we speak to Little Mix about “Salute” and their Beyonce appreciation, and discuss Avril Lavigne’s “Hello Kitty” video, Katy Perry’s “Birthday” & more. Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes HERE. |
“For the third album, we know exactly what we’re gonna do,” says Jesy Nelson. “It’s going to be similar to the second [album], but just cooler. [We want to] up it even more, really.”
Watch Little Mix perform “Little Me” below, and if you like what you see, be sure to catch the group on the road this fall, when they kick off a headlining run in North America on Sept. 10. Before that, Little Mix will begin a headlining tour in the U.K. on May 16, and perform on NBC’s “TODAY” on June 17.