Wonderland (band)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Wonderland
Wonderland in 2011.
Wonderland in 2011.
Background information
OriginDublin, Ireland
Genres
Years active2008–2011
LabelsMercury
Past members

Wonderland were an Irish girl group 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.

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.

Hello Magazine in February 2011 that around three thousand girls turned up to the auditions.[6] 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.[6] Albert added that the girls had "gravitated towards each other" and become friends during the process.[6]

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.[5][7] Condon told Maria Duffy of Hello Magazine that the band thought of names such as "Daisy Chains and Wildflowers but nothing seemed right."[6] 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.[6] 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."[6]

History

In October 2008, it was reported that Wonderland had signed a six figure record deal with

TV3 in Ireland.[7] 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.[7]

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.

Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now" were confirmed for the album.[7]

In February and March 2011, Wonderland toured with both

Evening Herald reported Wonderland had been dropped by Mercury Records.[21] 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."[21] Egan also confirmed the news and added "It's been an amazing journey for us all. Incredible memories were made."[22] Caitriona Giblin of the Irish Daily Star reported Wonderland's future remained uncertain as no one had confirmed any plans for them to continue.[22]

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.[23] The singer opined the group cannot continue as they do not have the dancers or the production to succeed.[23] 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."[23] 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.[23] On 28 September 2011, it was confirmed Wonderland had split up.[24] The band posted a message on their Facebook page saying:

"As some of you may know already we have parted ways with Mercury Records. We have taken the past few weeks to consider our future as a band. After a lot of thinking and talking we have decided that we will no longer continue as Wonderland. We feel we have given it all we have and we could not take it any further. We want to say a massive thank you to all our fans for the love and support they have shown us over the three years we have been together. We really feel we had an amazing time and it will be something we remember for the rest of our lives."[24]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
IRE UK
[25]
SCO
[26]
Wonderland 6 8 7
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Extended plays

Title Album details
Introduction to Wonderland

Singles

Year Single Chart positions Album
IRE
[27]
UK
[28]
2011 "Not a Love Song" 22 144 Wonderland
"Starlight" — 57
"Nothing Moves Me Anymore" — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released.

Filmography

  • 2010: Louis Walsh and Kian Egan's Next Big Thing

Awards and nominations

Year Nominee Award Category Result Ref
2011 Wonderland
Glamour Women of the Year Awards
 Best Band Nominated [29]
Wonderland BT Digital Music Awards Breakthrough Artist of the Year Nominated [30]

References

  1. ^ a b Hilton, Beth (17 July 2008). "Louis Walsh looks for new girl group". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi (UK) Ltd. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  2. ^
    Independent News & Media Group
    . 26 July 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  3. ^ Bargiela, Sarah (2 November 2010). "Introducing: Wonderland". Entertainment Focus. Archived from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2018 – via Wayback Machine.
  4. ^ a b Balls, David (26 December 2008). "Louis Walsh unveils his new girl band". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi (UK) Ltd. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  5. ^ a b "Introducing Louis Walsh's girl band Wonderland". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. 1 November 2010. Archived from the original on 5 November 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  6. ^
    Hello Magazine
    . Hello Ltd. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  7. ^
    Hachette Filipacchi UK
    . Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  8. Trinity Mirror. Archived
    from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  9. ^ "Louis Walsh & Kian Egan's Next Big Thing – Wonderland". Press Centre. Itv.com. 26 October 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  10. ^ "Westlife Announce UK Tour Support from Wonderland & WOW". Stereoboard. Eyedigit Limited. 6 May 2010. Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  11. ^ "Isle of Wight Festival Line-up 2010". Itv.com. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  12. Thomas Crosbie Media
    . 10 May 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  13. ^ Love, Ryan (9 September 2010). "Walsh's new girlband 'lands ITV2 show'". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi (UK) Ltd. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  14. This Morning. Itv.com
    . Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  15. ^ "Wonderland: 'Not A Love Song'". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi (UK) Ltd. 3 March 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  16. ^ Mike (1 March 2011). "Event: Wonderland – Introduction To Wonderland EP". Teen Today. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  17. STV Group plc
    . 10 December 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  18. ^ Palmer, Jim (4 February 2011). "Wonderland plays to packed school halls". Kent and Sussex Courier. Northcliffe Media. Archived from the original on 14 January 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
  19. ^ a b "Wonderland To Support Olly Murs On Tour". OMG Music!. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  20. STV
    . 17 June 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  21. ^
    Independent News & Media
    . Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  22. ^ a b Giblin, Caitriona (12 September 2011). "Kian speaks about Wonderland's 'amazing journey'". Irish Daily Star. Independent Star Limited. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  23. ^
    Independent News & Media
    . 19 September 2011. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  24. ^
    Independent News & Media
    . 28 September 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  25. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  26. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  27. ^ "Wonderland - Irish Charts". irish-charts.com/ Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  28. ^ "Wonderland". acharts. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  29. Condé Nast Publications
    . Retrieved 1 March 2011.
  30. ^ "BT Digital Music Awards 2011". BT Group. Archived from the original on 2 September 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2011.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wonderland_(band)&oldid=1184787327"