Sian, Emily, Jessica, Lauren and Bianca are the bright and bubbly new girl band on the block. We checked out their showcase at the beginning of the year and now their brilliant debut single Louder is hitting the shops. Say hello to Parade! 

Tell us a bit about Parade.

Lauren: Basically we got together just over a year ago and we’ve been rehearsing and recording together ever since. The music is pop and feel good with a bit of R&B as well. It’s heavily choreographed as we’re all into our street dance.

Bianca: We basically just want to have fun.

Sian: We don’t take ourselves too seriously. It’s just about fun and anyone can join the parade.

What were your first impressions of each other when you met?

Bianca: It was weird actually because we gelled instantly. I think it’s because we were in such a hyper-intense situation. It was good because we were all experiencing it together. We immediately pulled together because it was a boot-camp style audition situation. It was literally a week of being together.

Sian: Then the first time we were left alone we were all like”argh!” at each other. It was good because it meant we’re all equally insane.

Bianca: We are but we’re all completely different, which is why we all get on. It’s the differences that keep us together. If we were five clones we would clash!

What are the differences?

Sian: B is mummy Parade.

Bianca: I make sure everything gets done – phones don’t get left behind at radio stations and various other things. It’s funny really because we all have family roles: I’m the mum, Sian’s the naughty kid…

Sian: Emily’s the naughty kid that gets away with things.

Bianca: Jessica’s like the bright older sister.

Sian: You can’t get anything past her.

Jessica: And Lauren’s the middle sister.

Your debut single is called Louder. Tell us all about it.

Bianca: It was weird, actually, because we’d been recording for quite a while. We went in to the studios with the producers to record a different song and when we’d recorded it they were like: “Yes, it’s good, but it’s not you… we want to write a song for you”. So they literally wrote Louder over night and we went in to the studio the next day and they said: “That’s it!” 

Emily: They wrote certain bits in the song specifically for all of us.

Sian: It reflects both our individual voices and personalities.

Bianca: Yes, we are really in that song. The title speaks for itself.

Who is the loudest?

Bianca: It’s got to be Emily and Sian put together. Emily will start it and then Sian will just get louder and louder and louder.

Emily: You know when you’re singing a song and everyone else stops? Sian will be the one who is just carrying on.

The video looks like lots of fun to make!

Emily: I think that was the best experience so far. To be on the set of your first video is just an amazing experience.

Lauren: It was set up as a party and it just couldn’t have been any more fun. It was a genuine party.

Sian: We had a lot of input into the video. We had such a vision for it and we came up with a big props list with 50 props written on it. We got most of them as well. We didn’t get a goat though. We asked for a goat and they couldn’t get it. We’ll have a goat next time.

You’ve just finished touring with Alexandra Burke. What’s it like being on the road?

Jessica: It was hard at first, leaving home comforts and things. But, I think, now we’re so used to it, it’s probably the other way around. When we’re just sat in the house we feel like we need to be travelling.

Finally, what is the best parade you’ve ever been to?

Sian: Do you know what? I don’t think I’ve ever actually been to a parade!

Emily: I went to Notting Hill Carnival and that was just amazing. Oh, and of course the Disneyland Parade!

Jessica: Amazing! But our parade is the best.

Sian: I can’t believe I’ve never been to one. Can we go
to one?

Emily: Yes, we’ll make up our own one. Everyone can come!

Louder, the debut single from Parade is available from 13 March.