Another Level
Encyclopedia
Another Level were an English soul
and R&B influenced boy band
, active in the late 1990s.
born 29 November 1979, Bobak Kianoush born 1 November 1978 and Wayne Williams born 19 January 1978. Bowers and Williams were both students of the BRIT School
of Performing Arts & Technology in the London Borough of Croydon
, when they were discovered. Williams enrolled at the school in 1995, while Bowers was in the year below, but started in 1994.
Another Level were originally conceived by Nick Raphael
and Christian Tattersfield for their new record label project Northwestside Records, a BMG
sub-label in the United Kingdom that had also signed Jay-Z
's Roc-A-Fella Records
unit in 1998. They felt there was a gap in the market for an interracial boyband. Raphael and Tattersfield asked future Epic A&R Jo Charrington to put the group together and then manage them. Charrington recruited the members by auditioning singers from the BRIT School and modelling agencies.
Due to Northwestside's position as an urban marketed record label
, a number of R&B and hip-hop
stars guested on Another Level's records. These included Ghostface Killah
and TQ
amongst others.
Another Level had seven Top Ten single
s in two years, including 1998's UK Number One
"Freak Me" (a cover of the 1993 hit by US group Silk), and a platinum selling, eponymous debut album. 1999's gold selling Nexus followed, along with BRIT Awards
nominations, and the opening slot on Janet Jackson
's European tour.
The group split up in 2000 after the release of their second album Nexus, with member Dane Bowers
going on to have success with Jonny L
and Victoria Beckham
as part of the Truesteppers
' record "Out of Your Mind
", as well as two, number nine, solo hit
single releases. Wayne Williams went on to start up his own record label with his brother Jason. His debut album Fame and Fortune failed to make an impact on the UK chart.
In 2006, Bowers appeared in the follow-up TV
show to Totally Scott-Lee
, called Totally Boyband
, in which five boyband members from past groups were to be modelled into a new singing act. The group featured him alongside Lee Latchford Evans of Steps, Jimmy Constable of 911
, New Kids on the Block
's Danny Wood
and S Club's Bradley McIntosh
. The series commenced on MTV in the UK in September 2006 yet their first single was a commercial disaster and charted at #35 with the group name Upper Street. They disbanded after the end of the series.
(as Upper Street)
Singles
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
and R&B influenced boy band
Boy band
A boy band is loosely defined as a popular music act consisting of only male singers. The members are expected to dance as well as sing, usually giving highly choreographed performances. More often than not, boy band members do not play musical instruments, either in recording sessions or on...
, active in the late 1990s.
History
The members were Mark Baron born 17 August 1974, Dane BowersDane Bowers
Dane Bowers is an English R&B singer, songwriter, DJ and record producer. He was a part of R&B boyband Another Level between 1997 and 2000 when he performed on seven Top 10 singles...
born 29 November 1979, Bobak Kianoush born 1 November 1978 and Wayne Williams born 19 January 1978. Bowers and Williams were both students of the BRIT School
BRIT School
The London School for Performing Arts & Technology is a British school located in Selhurst, Croydon, in London, England, with a mandate to provide education and vocational training for the performing arts, media, art and design and the technologies that make performance possible...
of Performing Arts & Technology in the London Borough of Croydon
London Borough of Croydon
The London Borough of Croydon is a London borough in South London, England and is part of Outer London. It covers an area of and is the largest London borough by population. It is the southernmost borough of London. At its centre is the historic town of Croydon from which the borough takes its name...
, when they were discovered. Williams enrolled at the school in 1995, while Bowers was in the year below, but started in 1994.
Another Level were originally conceived by Nick Raphael
Nick Raphael
Nick Raphael was born October 4, 1971 in London, United Kingdom. Raphael is a Music Industry Executive. He is currently President of London Records...
and Christian Tattersfield for their new record label project Northwestside Records, a BMG
BMG
Bertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
sub-label in the United Kingdom that had also signed Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
's Roc-A-Fella Records
Roc-A-Fella Records
Roc-A-Fella Records is a record label founded by Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, Damon "Dame" Dash, and Kareem "Biggs" Burke. Today it operates as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and is distributed by Island Def Jam Motown Music Group.-Formation and Early Years:...
unit in 1998. They felt there was a gap in the market for an interracial boyband. Raphael and Tattersfield asked future Epic A&R Jo Charrington to put the group together and then manage them. Charrington recruited the members by auditioning singers from the BRIT School and modelling agencies.
Due to Northwestside's position as an urban marketed record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, a number of R&B and hip-hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
stars guested on Another Level's records. These included Ghostface Killah
Ghostface Killah
Dennis Coles , better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and prominent member of the Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of Enter the Wu-Tang , the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success...
and TQ
TQ
TQ or tq may stand for:* the IATA code for Tandem Aero airline* TQ Digital Entertainment, a Chinese computer game developer* Techniquest, a collection of science and discovery centres in Wales* TQ , Terrance Quaites, an American R&B singer...
amongst others.
Another Level had seven Top Ten single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
s in two years, including 1998's UK Number One
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
"Freak Me" (a cover of the 1993 hit by US group Silk), and a platinum selling, eponymous debut album. 1999's gold selling Nexus followed, along with BRIT Awards
Brit Awards
The Brit Awards are the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. The name was originally a shortened form of "British", "Britain" or "Britannia", but subsequently became a backronym for British Record Industry Trust...
nominations, and the opening slot on Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
's European tour.
The group split up in 2000 after the release of their second album Nexus, with member Dane Bowers
Dane Bowers
Dane Bowers is an English R&B singer, songwriter, DJ and record producer. He was a part of R&B boyband Another Level between 1997 and 2000 when he performed on seven Top 10 singles...
going on to have success with Jonny L
Jonny L
Jonny L, real name John Lisners, is a British drum and bass producer. He has also released music under the alias of Mr. L.-Biography:...
and Victoria Beckham
Victoria Beckham
Victoria Caroline Beckham is an English singer-songwriter, dancer, model, actress, fashion designer and businesswoman. In the late 1990s, Beckham rose to fame with the all-female pop group Spice Girls and was dubbed Posh Spice by the July 1996 issue of the British pop music magazine Top of the Pops...
as part of the Truesteppers
Truesteppers
True Steppers were a British UK garage production duo, consisting of Jonny Lisners and Andy Lysandrou.They had success with Dane Bowers on "Buggin'", which reached #6 in the UK Singles Chart in April 2000....
' record "Out of Your Mind
Out of Your Mind
"Out of Your Mind" is a song by True Steppers & Dane Bowers featuring Victoria Beckham. It was Victoria Beckham's first solo outing. This single was released on August 14, 2000. The single was tipped to be #1 after a military promotional campaign and a series of record signings...
", as well as two, number nine, solo hit
Hit parade
A hit parade is a ranked list of the most popular recordings at a given point in time, usually determined by sales and/or airplay. The term originated in the 1930s; Billboard magazine published its first music hit parade on January 4, 1936...
single releases. Wayne Williams went on to start up his own record label with his brother Jason. His debut album Fame and Fortune failed to make an impact on the UK chart.
In 2006, Bowers appeared in the follow-up TV
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
show to Totally Scott-Lee
Totally Scott-Lee
Totally Scott-Lee is a reality TV show from MTV Networks Europe featuring the following:* Lisa Scott-Lee * Andy Scott-Lee * Michelle Heaton...
, called Totally Boyband
Totally Boyband
Totally Boyband was a television programme that aired in the United Kingdom on MTV. The programme debuted on 18 September 2006 and aired on Sunday nights at 21:30 . The premise centred around the former members of boy bands and pop music bands attempting to regain their former fame by regrouping...
, in which five boyband members from past groups were to be modelled into a new singing act. The group featured him alongside Lee Latchford Evans of Steps, Jimmy Constable of 911
911 (band)
911 is a British boyband that consists of Lee Brennan, Jimmy Constable Spike Dawbarn and for a short period Lee Womack who left the band to study at Huddersfield University. The band were formed in 1995 and released their debut single in May 1996...
, New Kids on the Block
New Kids on the Block
New Kids on the Block are an American boy band from Boston, Massachusetts, assembled in 1984 by producer Maurice Starr. The band currently consists of brothers Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood.New Kids on the Block enjoyed success in the late 1980s and...
's Danny Wood
Danny Wood
Daniel William "Danny" Wood is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and occasional actor. He is also a member of the American boy band New Kids on the Block and also serves as one of the key choreographers.-Life and career:...
and S Club's Bradley McIntosh
Bradley McIntosh
Bradley John McIntosh is a British singer, best known for being part of the band S Club, who had several hits.-1998–2003: S Club and Breakthrough:...
. The series commenced on MTV in the UK in September 2006 yet their first single was a commercial disaster and charted at #35 with the group name Upper Street. They disbanded after the end of the series.
Albums
| Date | Title | Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
||||
| November 1998 | Another Level Another Level (1998 album) Another Level is the self-titled debut album by English boy band Another Level, released on December 14, 1998 in the United Kingdom by Northwestside Records... |
13 | ||
| March 1999 | Another Level Remixed | – | ||
| September 1999 | Nexus | 7 | ||
| September, 2002 | From the Heart | – | ||
| December 2002 | Love Songs | – | ||
Singles
| Date | Single | Chart position | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
SE Sweden Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund.... |
|||
| February 1998 | "Be Alone No More Be Alone No More "Be Alone No More" is song by British R&B vocal quartet Another Level. Written by Steven Dubin, Andrea Martin and Ivan Matias it was released as Another Level's debut single from their eponymous debut album on 16 February 1998. A remix version of the song was released in 1999 featuring American... " |
6 | — | Another Level |
| July 1998 | "Freak Me" | 1 | 11 | |
| October 1998 | "I Guess I Was a Fool" | 5 | 31 | |
| January 1999 | "I Want You for Myself" (featuring Ghostface Killah Ghostface Killah Dennis Coles , better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and prominent member of the Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of Enter the Wu-Tang , the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success... ) |
2 | 50 | |
| March 1999 | "Be Alone No More (Remix)" (featuring Jay-Z Jay-Z Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010... ) |
11 | — | Another Level Remixed |
| May, 1999 | "From The Heart From the Heart (Another Level song) From the Heart is a 1999 single by Another Level recorded for the soundtrack to the 1999 film Notting Hill and was later used on their second album, Nexus. The song was written by Diane Warren.... " |
6 | 25 | Nexus |
| August 1999 | "Summertime" (featuring TQ) | 7 | — | |
| November 1999 | "Bomb Diggy" | 6 | — | |
Dane Bowers
Singles| Date | Single | Chart position |
|---|---|---|
| UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
||
| April 2000 | "Buggin'"(with Truesteppers Truesteppers True Steppers were a British UK garage production duo, consisting of Jonny Lisners and Andy Lysandrou.They had success with Dane Bowers on "Buggin'", which reached #6 in the UK Singles Chart in April 2000.... ) |
6 |
| August 2000 | "Out of Your Mind"(featuring Victoria Beckham Victoria Beckham Victoria Caroline Beckham is an English singer-songwriter, dancer, model, actress, fashion designer and businesswoman. In the late 1990s, Beckham rose to fame with the all-female pop group Spice Girls and was dubbed Posh Spice by the July 1996 issue of the British pop music magazine Top of the Pops... ) |
2 |
| February 2001 | "Shut Up And Forget About It" | 9 |
| June 2001 | "Another Lover" | 9 |
| July 2010 | "All She Needs" | |
(as Upper Street)
| Date | Single | Chart position |
|---|---|---|
| UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
||
| October 2006 | "The One" | 35 |
Wayne Williams
Albums| Date | Title | Chart position | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | ||||
| May 2004 | Fame & Fortune | — | ||
Singles
| Date | Single | Chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2001 | "He Can't Love You" | 134 | Non-Album Single |
| May 2003 | "Anything is Possible" | 84 | Fame & Fortune |
| October 2003 | "All About the Sex" | — | |