Few executives are more qualified to mine talent than Simon Cowell.
The X-Factor creator and former American Idol judge has had a staggering track record of discoveries that includes One Direction, Fifth Harmony and Little Mix— some of the most popular musical acts of the past decade.
Now, Cowell appears to be returning back to well a forth time with Pretty Much, an energetic group of teenagers from Los Angeles, California. Catch up on Pretty Much, their lineup, and Cowell’s plan for success with these five fast facts.
1. They Are Based Out of Los Angeles
According to Amp 103.7, Pretty Much is based out of Los Angeles, California. In fact, they’ve spent the last eight months in the City of Angels rehearsing and singing. Their Instagram account is chock full of videos of the group showing off their abilities, which also includes a head-spinning display of dance moves from all five members.
Neither Fifth Harmony, One Direction, nor Little Mix showed such a predisposition towards dance, and it appears as though Cowell is making sure they perfect their chemistry before they are presented to the greater music world. There is also a diversity amongst the members of Pretty Much, given their Los Angeles background, which further differentiates them from their predecessors.
2. There Are Five Members
In the tradition of Cowell’s past groups, Pretty Much is comprised of five members: Brandon Arreaga, Zion Kuwonu, Austin Porter, Edwin Honoret, and Nick Mara. Individually, they have a large following on social media, but it’s obvious that this young posse is strongest as a whole, as their Pretty Much Instagram account already has 87.4 thousand followers. The group is constantly posting photos of themselves and engaging with fans, whether through silly videos or clips of them listening to their favorite musicians.
It’s too early to determine the role that each will play in the group, but based on the footage that we’ve seen so far, it appears that Brandon Arreaga (the one with the glasses) could take the reins in terms of being the group frontman. Check out his personal Instagram account here.
3. Cowell Has Been Grooming Them For Stardom
According to TMZ, Cowell’s record label filed for a trademark application to secure the rights to the name “Pretty Much” this past January. The application states that the name would be used in connection with musical recordings, videos, merchandise, and even ringtones for the foreseeable future. With this in mind, it’s obvious that Cowell has big plans for Pretty Much to get huge very soon.
This past Friday, the group members were photographed outside of Cowell’s mansion in Beverly Hills. TMZ reports that Cowell even let them take his vintage Bronco for a spin around the neighborhood– with him in the passenger seat, of course.
4. They Post Cover Songs On Instagram
Pretty Much have amassed much of their fanbase through their covers. Regularly uploaded on their official Instagram page, these video clips show the group singing classic tunes like “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough” by Michael Jackson and “If I Ever Fall In Love” by Shai to more contemporary hits like “Fade” by Kanye West, “Passionfruit” by Drake, and “Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran.
Not only have these videos showcased the group’s vocal chops, but also established their eclectic tastes– from R&B and pop to hip-hop and dance music.
5. They Haven’t Released Original Music Yet
Despite this recent escalation in popularity, Pretty Much has still never released an original song. They’ve stuck exclusively to covers and dance videos, so it is still very much up in the air as to what they will actually sound like. Cowell’s previous groups like Fifth Harmony and One Direction were notable for melding a commercially viable pop aesthetic with elements of other genres, so one can only assume that he will instill a similar crossover appeal in Pretty Much.
According to TMZ, there is still no announced date for when Pretty Much will make their proper debut. In the meantime, check out their cover of “Are You That Somebody?” by Aaliyah above.
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