G.R.L. is the hot new girl group to spring up in a domino effect of girl group revivals in the music scene. They first entered the scene with a debut song that most pop artists would kill for. “Vacation” was first featured in Smurfs 2 and was followed by a music video released in late 2013. They have also been featured in Pitbull’s single “Wild Wild Love” and have recently released a smash new hit, “Ugly Heart,” which has already reached the top ten in the Aussie charts.
GC MAG had a chat with the girl group to learn a little bit more about their new hit. “Ugly Heart is about a person who’s beautiful on the outside but doesn’t have the heart to match. If a guy doesn’t treat us with the love and respect we deserve, he’s gotta go!” the girls told us.
This group of talented singers is not your average pop group. They are a mix of American, British, and Canadian singers: Emmalyn Estrada, Simone Battle, Paula Van Oppen, Lauren Bennett, and Natasha Slayton. None of these girls are new to the music industry—one is an “X Factor” alum, another has danced with Lady Gaga onstage, and the original G.R.L., Lauren Bennett, has received an artist credit on one of the biggest songs of 2011, “Party Rock Anthem.”
The high-profile launch and pedigree of “Ugly Heart” have primed G.R.L. to join Little Mix, Fifth Harmony, and The Saturdays as one of the more high-profile pop groups set to dominate the music scene. “We all were absolutely obsessed with girl groups. All of us are huge fans of TLC, Destiny’s Child, Pussycat Dolls, and En Vogue, just to name a few. To be in a girl group today and to have the ability to express ourselves in new ways is much like we are living out our childhood dreams. We couldn’t be happier!”
G.R.L. was created by choreographer and director Robin Antin as a reincarnation of the Pussycat Dolls, which disbanded in 2010. The group has been in the works since 2010, and Lauren Bennett, who was featured in LMFAO’s smash hit, confirmed in late 2011 that she was the first member of the new group. More members were added gradually over the next year and a half. “This is not something that happened overnight. This group is what really bonded us and has given us the opportunity we had all been looking for,” the girls told GC MAG.
The girls have been focusing on their album for the past year and have devoted a lot of time to getting to know their fans—and having their fans get to know them. In March, the girls performed at the iTunes Festival at SXSW, opening for Zedd and Pitbull.
They are set to visit Australia this month and will be hitting Melbourne and Sydney. The girls are thrilled about the trip, saying, “This is our first visit altogether. Hopefully we’ll have some time for fun at the beach!”
G.R.L. is also expected to perform on X Factor, so be sure to tune in and catch a glimpse of their performance.
