N-Dubz – wasting no time
Friday, 19 Oct 2007 10:10
N-Dubz hail from north-west London
As their new single You Better Not Waste My Time hits the streets, London urban trio N-Dubz have made Radio 1's A playlist, marking a year of triumph and tragedy for the group.
This is just the latest achievement for the up-and-coming outfit who won the best newcomer award at this year's Mobos, and who found inspiration listening to the music of Genesis, Phil Collins and The Police among others.
It was during the group's gestation period, calling themselves the Likkle Rinsers Crew as they worked on perfecting their material, that the trio listened to hours of Magic FM.
Rapper Dappy said: "All these people inspire us because of the vocal arrangements, the middle eights, the crescendos, the bridges. You go back to your laboratory and come back with dynamite."
The outfit from north-west London have built up a loyal fanbase through previous releases including the infectious I Swear, which sold thousands of copies without any press or promotion, as well as maintaining the number one position on the Channel U chart for more than 25 weeks.
Consisting of rappers Dappy and Fazer, both aged 20, and 19-year-old vocalist Tulisa, N-Dubz have the support of Radio 1's Tim Westwood and Trevor Nelson, Kiss, MTV Base, Kano and Sway.
The band were the subject of an intense bidding war between a number of record labels eager to sign them. It was Polydor Records who emerged victorious with N-Dubz on their books.
In the process of signing to Polydor tragedy struck when Dappy's father Byron, the band's manager, died suddenly.
Dappy said: "It was so sudden, we didn't expect it and to be honest it really messed up my head."
The group emerged from mourning even more determined than before, as Dappy said: "We sat and talked about how my dad, Byron, would have wanted to us to carry on, so eventually that's what we've done.
"This whole thing means even more to me now. We're doing it for ourselves, but we're doing it for my dad too."
Their new single, out on Monday October 22nd, is set to build on the growing N-Dubz phenomenon.
N-Dubz have been performing at venues all over the UK recently, with the M25, M1 and M6 motorways becoming familiar territory for the trio. As vocalist Tulisa said: "We've played from cities to villages; in schools, clubs and arenas, from Scotland to Cornwall."
The group write, record and produce their own material, and are currently working on their debut album which is lined up for an early 2008 release.
N-Dubz formed when old friends Fazer and Dappy decided to start a group, and realised they needed a female singer. The boys enlisted Tulisa, Dappy’s cousin.
During this time, the group were listening to artists like Sting, Duran Duran and Roachford on Magic FM, and drawing inspiration from this broad musical spectrum.
Through hard work and formidable talent, the trio, practically unknown a couple of years ago, are now one of the fastest-rising outfits on the UK urban scene.
Their new single You Better Waste My Time reflects N-Dubz's excellent credentials; a hook-driven gem with a conscious edge.
Determined and ambitious, N-Dubz are aiming high as vocalist Tulisa said: "We're taking over the world," however Dappy adds: "Forget that. We're going to the moon and back."
You Better Not Waste My Time is out on October 22nd on Polydor Records.
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