Wonderland (band)
Encyclopedia
Wonderland were an Irish
/British
girlband, formed by Louis Walsh
and Westlife
band-member Kian Egan
. The band were put together after auditions were held for five females in July 2008. Its five members were Jodi Albert
, Sharon Condon, Corrina Durran, Leigh Learmont and Kasey Smith. Wonderland's debut single "Not a Love Song
" was released on 25 February 2011 in Ireland
and on 6 March 2011 in the United Kingdom
. Their eponymous debut album
was released on 6 June 2011, the same day as their second single, "Starlight". Wonderland released their third single, "Nothing Moves Me Anymore", in August 2011. The following month, it was announced the band had been dropped by their record label. The group later decided to split up.
were picked to form the new band. Albert told Hello Magazine in February 2011 that around three thousand girls turned up to the auditions. She said that over three months, there were eight rounds where the numbers got smaller and eventually the girls were whittled down to the five who formed the band. Albert added that the girls had "gravitated towards each other" and become friends during the process.
The girls decided to name the band Wonderland and Learmont revealed that it took the band a year and a half to come up with the name. Condon told Maria Duffy of Hello Magazine that the band thought of names such as "Daisy Chains and Wildflowers but nothing seemed right." Egan eventually came up with the name Wonderland after he noticed a poster for the 2010 adaptation of Alice in Wonderland
on the side of a bus. Condon explained, "It just clicked with him straight away and when he put it to us and to the record company, we just all knew it was right. Now I couldn't imagine any other name."
. The band made their first live television appearance on The Late Late Show
in December 2008. In May 2010, it was announced that Wonderland were to support Westlife on their Where We Are Tour
tour. The band were also invited to play at the 2010 Isle of Wight Festival
. Walsh announced that he would launch Wonderland with a reality television programme, entitled Louis Walsh & Kian Egan's Next Big Thing (previously The Management) in October 2010. The programme followed the band for two years as they prepared to release their debut single and album. It began airing on ITV2
on 30 October 2010 in the UK and was later broadcast on TV3
in Ireland. Wonderland were given a mention on the popular gossip blog written by Perez Hilton
, after fans sent him a link to one of their performances.
Wonderland's debut single was confirmed to be "Not a Love Song" and it was released in Ireland on 25 February 2011 and in the UK on 6 March. Albert described the song as "fun and cheeky". She added that it has a "rocky edge", but with a bit of country in it too. During an interview with Digital Spy
, Durran said they had received a positive reception to the song when they sang it on the Westlife tour. On 4 March 2011, Wonderland released an EP entitled Introduction to Wonderland
. The EP contains "Not a Love Song", one music video and three live acoustic tracks. The band recorded their self-titled debut album in 2010. In a November 2010 interview, Durran said that nine tracks had been recorded, with a few more to finish. Wonderland worked with Andy Hill
, Shep Solomon and Bob Clearmountain
on the tracks. "In Your Arms" written with Mark Owen
and a cover of Lady Antebellum
's "Need You Now" were confirmed for the album.
In February and March 2011, Wonderland toured with both Boyzone
and Westlife around the UK and Ireland. The band also performed at several schools around the country. Durran said that the experience was "one of the best things we've ever done" and that the band had had a "brilliant reaction and have been bombarded with positive comments on facebook from the students." Wonderland toured with Olly Murs
during April and May 2011 and will support American rapper 50 Cent
on his UK tour later in the year. Wonderland was released on 6 June 2011, the same day as the band's second single "Starlight". "Nothing Moves Me Anymore" was released as the third single from the album. In September 2011, Melanie Finn of the Evening Herald
reported Wonderland had been dropped by Mercury Records. Of the news, Walsh told Finn "They had some great songs, they could all sing and they worked really hard. They tried to do something different and it's just a shame it didn't work out. But people haven't heard the last of them." Egan also confirmed the news and added "It's been an amazing journey for us all. Incredible memories were made." Caitriona Giblin of the Irish Daily Star
reported Wonderland's future remained uncertain as no one had confirmed any plans for them to continue.
On 19 September, Condon told the Evening Herald that she planned to launch a solo career, despite Walsh and Egan's attempts to keep Wonderland together. The singer opined the group cannot continue as they do not have the dancers or the production to succeed. She also explained Albert's pregnancy would have made things more difficult for the band, saying "If you look at Una Healy now from The Saturdays, she's fine because they are an established band, but we weren't. At the end of the day, I don't really know the reason we were dropped, maybe our music just wasn't good enough, but I think there was more to it than that." Condon thought Wonderland were not what people were looking for as they tried to be something different with their sound and style. She revealed to the paper that there are talks about redesigning the band. On 28 September 2011, it was confirmed Wonderland had split up. The band posted a message on their Facebook page saying:
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
/British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
girlband, formed by Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh is an Irish music manager and judge on the British television talent show The X Factor.-Band manager:...
and Westlife
Westlife
Westlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one...
band-member Kian Egan
Kian Egan
Kian John Francis Kelly Egan was a member of the Irish boyband, Westlife and coach on The Voice of Ireland.-Music career:*Main article: Westlife...
. The band were put together after auditions were held for five females in July 2008. Its five members were Jodi Albert
Jodi Albert
Jodi Mary Albert is an English actress and singer, best known for playing Debbie Dean in the British soap opera Hollyoaks on Channel 4 from 2002 to 2004, returning for guest appearances in 2005 & 2006, and her inclusion as one fifth of Irish girl group Wonderland.-Biography:Albert attended the...
, Sharon Condon, Corrina Durran, Leigh Learmont and Kasey Smith. Wonderland's debut single "Not a Love Song
Not a Love Song
"Not a Love Song" is the debut single by Irish girlband Wonderland, from their debut album Wonderland. It is also on the EP Introduction To Wonderland. It was released on 4th March 2011. The song debuted at number 22 on the Irish Singles Chart.-Background:...
" was released on 25 February 2011 in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
and on 6 March 2011 in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Their eponymous debut album
Wonderland (Wonderland album)
Wonderland is the self-titled debut studio album by Irish/British girlband Wonderland.- Background, composition, concept, and development:...
was released on 6 June 2011, the same day as their second single, "Starlight". Wonderland released their third single, "Nothing Moves Me Anymore", in August 2011. The following month, it was announced the band had been dropped by their record label. The group later decided to split up.
Formation
In July 2008, it was announced that Louis Walsh and Westlife singer Kian Egan were to hold open auditions for a new girl group that they would co-manage. Auditions for five females between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five were held in Dublin that month. On 26 July 2008, seven hundred girls auditioned for the girl group in front of Walsh, Egan and A&R scout, Sheila Burgess. Walsh said "We're looking for talent. Undiscovered talent, young with a good attitude and who will look good. We don't want good -- we want great." Over three thousand hopefuls auditioned. In December 2008, it was revealed that the band had been put together, but had not been named. Sharon Condon, Corrina Durran, Leigh Learmont, Kasey Smith, and Jodi AlbertJodi Albert
Jodi Mary Albert is an English actress and singer, best known for playing Debbie Dean in the British soap opera Hollyoaks on Channel 4 from 2002 to 2004, returning for guest appearances in 2005 & 2006, and her inclusion as one fifth of Irish girl group Wonderland.-Biography:Albert attended the...
were picked to form the new band. Albert told Hello Magazine in February 2011 that around three thousand girls turned up to the auditions. She said that over three months, there were eight rounds where the numbers got smaller and eventually the girls were whittled down to the five who formed the band. Albert added that the girls had "gravitated towards each other" and become friends during the process.
The girls decided to name the band Wonderland and Learmont revealed that it took the band a year and a half to come up with the name. Condon told Maria Duffy of Hello Magazine that the band thought of names such as "Daisy Chains and Wildflowers but nothing seemed right." Egan eventually came up with the name Wonderland after he noticed a poster for the 2010 adaptation of Alice in Wonderland
Alice in Wonderland (2010 film)
Alice in Wonderland is a 2010 American computer-animated/live action fantasy adventure film directed by Tim Burton, written by Linda Woolverton, and released by Walt Disney Pictures...
on the side of a bus. Condon explained, "It just clicked with him straight away and when he put it to us and to the record company, we just all knew it was right. Now I couldn't imagine any other name."
History
In October 2008, it was reported that Wonderland had signed a six figure record deal with Mercury RecordsMercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
. The band made their first live television appearance on The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show, sometimes referred to as The Late Late, or in some cases by the acronym LLS, is the world's longest-running chat show by the same broadcaster and the official flagship television programme of Irish broadcasting company RTÉ...
in December 2008. In May 2010, it was announced that Wonderland were to support Westlife on their Where We Are Tour
Where We Are Tour
The Where We Are Tour is a tour by Irish pop band, Westlife in support of their tenth studio album, Where We Are. The band will be touring the United Kingdom and Ireland. Further updates will be announced on a later date for other venues that they will be touring...
tour. The band were also invited to play at the 2010 Isle of Wight Festival
Isle of Wight Festival
The Isle of Wight Festival is a music festival which takes place every year on the Isle of Wight in England. It was originally held from 1968 to 1970. These original events were promoted and organised by the Foulk brothers under the banner of their company Fiery Creations Limited...
. Walsh announced that he would launch Wonderland with a reality television programme, entitled Louis Walsh & Kian Egan's Next Big Thing (previously The Management) in October 2010. The programme followed the band for two years as they prepared to release their debut single and album. It began airing on ITV2
ITV2
ITV2 is a 24 hour, free-to-air entertainment television channel in the United Kingdom owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It was launched on 7 December 1998, and is available on digital television via satellite, cable, IPTV and terrestrial platforms. The channel has the...
on 30 October 2010 in the UK and was later broadcast on TV3
TV3 Ireland
TV3 is a free-to-air commercial television network in the Republic of Ireland. Launched on 20 September 1998 it was Ireland's first commercial broadcaster. The channel is owned by TV3 Group a subsidiary of Doughty Hanson & Co.-The TV3 Group:...
in Ireland. Wonderland were given a mention on the popular gossip blog written by Perez Hilton
Perez Hilton
Mario Armando Lavandeira, Jr. , better known as Perez Hilton , is an American blogger and television personality. His blog, Perezhilton.com , is known for posts covering gossip items about celebrities...
, after fans sent him a link to one of their performances.
Wonderland's debut single was confirmed to be "Not a Love Song" and it was released in Ireland on 25 February 2011 and in the UK on 6 March. Albert described the song as "fun and cheeky". She added that it has a "rocky edge", but with a bit of country in it too. During an interview with Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
, Durran said they had received a positive reception to the song when they sang it on the Westlife tour. On 4 March 2011, Wonderland released an EP entitled Introduction to Wonderland
Introduction to Wonderland
Introduction to Wonderland is the debut EP by Wonderland. It was released 4 March 2011, only on iTunes. It features the band's debut single "Not a Love Song". According to Music Week, the album sold a respectable 25,000 copies in the UK since the release....
. The EP contains "Not a Love Song", one music video and three live acoustic tracks. The band recorded their self-titled debut album in 2010. In a November 2010 interview, Durran said that nine tracks had been recorded, with a few more to finish. Wonderland worked with Andy Hill
Andy Hill (composer)
Andy Hill is a British music producer and songwriter who scored many hits during the 1980s and 90s...
, Shep Solomon and Bob Clearmountain
Bob Clearmountain
Bob Clearmountain is an award-winning American music engineer, mixer and producer. He has worked with many prominent names in music including Bruce Springsteen , The Rolling Stones , Bryan Adams , Robbie Williams Bob Clearmountain is an award-winning American music engineer, mixer and producer. He...
on the tracks. "In Your Arms" written with Mark Owen
Mark Owen
Mark Anthony Patrick Owen , is an English singer-songwriter. He is a member of pop band Take That. The band were hugely successful during the 1990s and have enjoyed even more success since their reunion in 2005...
and a cover of Lady Antebellum
Lady Antebellum
Lady Antebellum is an American country pop music group formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 2006. The trio is composed of Charles Kelley , Dave Haywood and Hillary Scott .The group made its debut in 2007 as guest vocalists on Jim Brickman's single "Never Alone", before signing to Capitol...
's "Need You Now" were confirmed for the album.
In February and March 2011, Wonderland toured with both Boyzone
Boyzone
Boyzone are an Irish boy band comprising Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating,Shane Lynch, and formerly Stephen Gately. Boyzone have 19 singles in the top 40 UK charts and 21 singles in the Ire charts. The group currently have 6 UK number one singles and 9 number one singles in Ireland with 12...
and Westlife around the UK and Ireland. The band also performed at several schools around the country. Durran said that the experience was "one of the best things we've ever done" and that the band had had a "brilliant reaction and have been bombarded with positive comments on facebook from the students." Wonderland toured with Olly Murs
Olly Murs
Oliver Stanley "Olly" Murs is an English singer-songwriter and TV presenter. Murs rose to fame after being the runner-up on the sixth series of The X Factor...
during April and May 2011 and will support American rapper 50 Cent
50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
on his UK tour later in the year. Wonderland was released on 6 June 2011, the same day as the band's second single "Starlight". "Nothing Moves Me Anymore" was released as the third single from the album. In September 2011, Melanie Finn of the Evening Herald
Evening Herald
The Evening Herald is a mid-market tabloid evening newspaper published in Dublin, Ireland by Independent News & Media. It is published Monday-Saturday, and has three editions — City Edition, City Final Edition and National Edition...
reported Wonderland had been dropped by Mercury Records. Of the news, Walsh told Finn "They had some great songs, they could all sing and they worked really hard. They tried to do something different and it's just a shame it didn't work out. But people haven't heard the last of them." Egan also confirmed the news and added "It's been an amazing journey for us all. Incredible memories were made." Caitriona Giblin of the Irish Daily Star
Irish Daily Star
The Irish Daily Star is a tabloid newspaper published in Ireland by the Independent Star Limited. Independent Star Limited is a joint venture between Richard Desmond's UK based Express Newspapers Limited, which owns the British Daily Star, and Irish news magnate Denis O'Brien's Independent News &...
reported Wonderland's future remained uncertain as no one had confirmed any plans for them to continue.
On 19 September, Condon told the Evening Herald that she planned to launch a solo career, despite Walsh and Egan's attempts to keep Wonderland together. The singer opined the group cannot continue as they do not have the dancers or the production to succeed. She also explained Albert's pregnancy would have made things more difficult for the band, saying "If you look at Una Healy now from The Saturdays, she's fine because they are an established band, but we weren't. At the end of the day, I don't really know the reason we were dropped, maybe our music just wasn't good enough, but I think there was more to it than that." Condon thought Wonderland were not what people were looking for as they tried to be something different with their sound and style. She revealed to the paper that there are talks about redesigning the band. On 28 September 2011, it was confirmed Wonderland had split up. The band posted a message on their Facebook page saying:
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IRE Irish Albums Chart The Irish Albums Chart is the Irish music industry standard albums popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on its behalf by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured electronically... |
UK 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... |
SCO |
||
| Wonderland Wonderland (Wonderland album) Wonderland is the self-titled debut studio album by Irish/British girlband Wonderland.- Background, composition, concept, and development:... |
|
6 | 8 | 7 |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | ||||
Extended plays
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Introduction To Wonderland Introduction to Wonderland Introduction to Wonderland is the debut EP by Wonderland. It was released 4 March 2011, only on iTunes. It features the band's debut single "Not a Love Song". According to Music Week, the album sold a respectable 25,000 copies in the UK since the release.... |
|
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IRE Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
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 ... |
|||
| 2011 | "Not a Love Song Not a Love Song "Not a Love Song" is the debut single by Irish girlband Wonderland, from their debut album Wonderland. It is also on the EP Introduction To Wonderland. It was released on 4th March 2011. The song debuted at number 22 on the Irish Singles Chart.-Background:... " |
22 | 144 | Wonderland Wonderland (Wonderland album) Wonderland is the self-titled debut studio album by Irish/British girlband Wonderland.- Background, composition, concept, and development:... |
| "Starlight" | — | 57 | ||
| "Nothing Moves Me Anymore" | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released. | ||||
Awards and nominations
| Year | Nominee | Award | Category | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Wonderland | Glamour Women of the Year Awards | Best Band | ||
| Wonderland | BT Digital Music Awards BT Digital Music Awards The BT Digital Music Awards were created in the UK in 2001 and are held annually. Music industry professionals can nominate artists, venues and hardware into the Judge's Choice award categories... |
Breakthrough Artist of the Year | |||