AhmedBakhsh.com: Girlicious first made a splash on the scene in 2008 with their debut single, “Like Me”, which hit #4 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart. The group featured Chrystina Sayers, Natalie Meija, Nichole Cordova and Tiffanie Anderson, whom were chosen for the group via a reality show by Robin Antin, creator of the Pussycat Dolls and the Paradiso Girls. With their undeniable charm, catchy choruses, and energetic live performances and videos, Girlicious proved to be quite successful, especially in Canada where their self-titled debut album hitting #2 on the charts. They also went on tour with the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears. Fast forward to 2010. Even though they’re now one member short (Tiffanie is no longer part of the group), they’re better than ever. Their infectious new single, “2 in the Morning,” hit iTunes today, so go buy it! Their sophomore album, Rebuilt, is due in stores this November. I had the pleasure of interviewing member, Chrystina Sayers, about her favorite songs off the new album and meeting Britney Spears, so click “Read More” for the interview!

Ahmed Bakhsh: Who, or what, inspires you?
Chrystina Sayers: Everything inspires me from famous people to everyday people.

AB: What do you think of the media’s constant scrutiny towards Lindsay Lohan and other similar names?
CS: I think its a good and bad thing for Lindsay and people like her. I say its a good thing because it shows everyone what not to do when you reach a level of success but its a bad thing because for Lindsay, and people like her who have a public “drug addiction”, it only feeds fuel to their fire. While the media is trying to expose these celebrities for their bad behavior, I believe it does the celeb no good. Especially the celebs who are super super famous. I honestly think it would be best if the media focused on nothing but the positive things celebs did. If this happened, I believe there would be less celebs trying to “act out” in a negative way and they would be more focused on their career then fame.

AB: The debut album was more urban. You girls are going for a poppier/electro-ish sound this time around. Why?
CS: I think the girls and I went for a more popish/electro/mainstream sound this time around for a few reasons. One, we wanted to try something new! Also, we have wrote a quite a bit on this album so it truly comes from our heart and we have all be inspired by pop mainstream music so we decided to take a crack at it! I think the girls and I have a pretty solid album and can’t wait for everyone to here it!

AB: When will Rebuilt [the new album] come out?
CS: Our album will be releasing around November.

AB: Are there any concrete plans for promotion across Europe?
CS: We are slowly prepping and planning our debut for all the Europeans! I can’t give any dates but definitely soon because it’s about time!

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Filed under: Chrystina, Interviews

J-14.com: Girlicious singers Nichole Cordova, Natalie Mejia, and Chrystina Sayers found each other on the CW TV show Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious, and now the girls are show the world what they can do outside of reality TV. Their second album, Rebuilt, drops August 24, and we caught up with the girls at the Jersey Shore Soundtrack release party to find out all about their new tunes and what it’s like being in an all-girl group.

J-14: What is your favorite song off Rebuilt?
Chrystina Sayers: I love the song “Tell Me Lies” — it is a really good club song and everybody is going to love it.
Natalie Mejia: I am actually a really big fan of “Maniac.” It is a really great song and our first single.

J-14: What is “Maniac” about?
Natalie: It is just about a love that kind of drives you crazy. You know how love can be. It is a universal law.
Nichole Cordova: We’ve all been through that crazy love, so that’s what the song is about.

J-14: Who is your favorite Jersey Shore character?
Natalie: Snooki! Our song is on her CD, so we kind of represent her in a way. She likes to have fun and get down with us!
Nichole: That is why we’re here — for Snooki!

J-14: Is there ever drama being in a group of all girls?
Natalie: We all respect each other and know each other’s space. There’s never drama between us.
Chrystina: We did come from a reality show, so we know what drama is like, but we are sisters now and we respect each other. We support and love each other with anything. There was an element of competition in the beginning, but we learned from each other’s strengths and embrace that.

Girlicious shared a 14-second (or more!) diary of their day while on the red carpet — check it out here:

Xtra.ca reporter Michael Pihach chats with girl group Girlicious at Epic Weekend’s Splash Bash foam party in Toronto’s Yonge-Dundas Square at Toronto Pride 2010.

fabTV’s Ryan Carter dives into the foam and frolicks in the water with Toronto’s gay men for the first ever Splash Bash in Yonge Dundas Square. Pop starlets, GIrlicious, get in on the action and tell fabTV all about their new album as well as some tips on how to perform the perfect hair flip.

Girlicious is Delicious

Rolyn Chambers chats with the feisty pop starlets making a splash at Pride

Girlicious was conceived on TV. From the beginning, everything about it was already determined: the name, the songs, the clothing. Even the girls themselves were chosen, by Robin Antin, founder of the Pussycat Dolls. Over 10 episodes of the reality show Girlicious, Antin whittled 15 hopefuls down to three young women (plus Tiffanie Anderson, who parted ways with the group in 2009). After three years, however, this buxom threesome — and their catchy pop tunes — is slowly coming into its own. It doesn’t hurt that their name and pop stylings conjure camp silliness, which is perhaps one reason they’re popular not only with prepubescent girls but young gay men as well.

Two of the girls, Nichole Cordova and Chrystina Sayers, call from LA, ready to chat about their upcoming performance at Splash Bash during Toronto Pride.

Like the Spice Girls’ slogan, “Girl power,” the name Girlicious has taken on a different meaning for each of them. “To me it does mean girl power and friendship and amazing times,” Cordova says excitedly. And like the Spice Girls, who were defined by prominent personalities, the members of Girlicious are settling into their own characters. “Even though we are a lot alike, we each bring something different to the table,” Cordova points out. “Natalie raps and Chrystina and I have very different voices.” Their distinct personalities are even more evident when they’re asked what they would be if they were gay men: tops or bottoms?

“I’m not going to answer that,” replies Sayers quickly before Cordova (the more vocal and perhaps dominant member of the group) blurts out, “Gang bang!” Whispers are heard before they reformat their answer. “Girlicious would not take it that far. We would only hold hands and do group hugs.” Giggling ensues.

The fact that they have been together this long, when many critics did not expect them to survive even a year, says as much about their commitment to each other as it does about the management of their careers. “We have defeated all the odds,” declares Cordova. “I see us taking on more things musically. I see Girlicious becoming even bigger than we are right now.”

“Kids in Canada knew who we were before we even knew that we were big there,” Sayers recalls. “When we got to Canada it was The Twilight Zone. They were meeting us at the airport and everything.”

While flying all over Canada to visit their fans, they have seen the big cities and even some remote places — like Yellowknife, where a cargo plane was needed to get them to their destination. “It was really cold. We were like Girlicious popsicles,” Sayers says with a laugh. ”And that’s a really good flavour. For real,” says Cordova.

Though used to performing in front of screaming young girls in low-rise jeans and horny guys with erections in their skinny pants, it will be a different scene when they headline the gay-marketed Splash Bash in Dundas Square.

“I love the whole gay pride thing so much,” Cordova swoons. “As artists, it’s about expressing yourself in different ways. I feel that we connect with that. The energy of gay crowds is like no other audience.”

“The gays are the best people to perform for,” Sayers adds. “They don’t judge you. They don’t look down on you at all. They’re like, ‘Oh my God, it’s three hot girls on stage shaking their breasts.’ They just love you. The gays will always love you even when we’re 45 years old. They are truly committed to us.”

Gays are a loyal, easy-to-market-to group, but what of the rash of lesbianism and bisexuality in the current crop of music videos? “If it’s natural and the artists are expressing themselves, then go for it,” Cordova says. “People can tell if they are doing it for attention.”

The girls are eager to work with people like Dr Dre, Bow Wow and David Guetta and excited about expressing themselves even more this year. The video for their new single, “Manic,” will be released online soon. In August their new album drops, and they have a song on a motion picture soundtrack that they are keeping mum about.

“And of course we are super excited to do this amazing Pride party!” exclaims Cordova. “It’s going to be super massive, right?” FABMAGAZINE.COM

Girlicious chats with Mark Bergman at Virgin Radio 96.

TheHook.Ca: As a workaholic, the spa experience has really never turned me on. I could never justify $300 for a day of pampering and after having traveled through Ecuador–- basking in volcanic hot springs for a buck–- it is even harder for me to now make an exception. Yes, I know, it’s a completely unfair comparison: South American hot springs vs. Lake Ontario water (sorry), but when you throw in the term “free”, add 3 attractive ladies and crispy bath robe to the offer, it quickly helps to balance out the scales.

When Girlicious came to town this time, we decided to skip the formalities, break out the massage oils and take over the Pantages Spa for an afternoon. How could anyone in their right mind turn that down? Some might say I took it overboard with the goggles and nose clamp, but honestly, I was as green as a botanical garden when it came to spa trips. How was I supposed to know there aren’t pools in spas?

I must admit it was not the most tranquil experience, given the karate chops for massages and the nail polish on my specs, but I will give the girls an “E” for effort (Sway rolls eyes right here).

At times things got out of hand, but I had to do what I always: lay down the law and keep my interviewees in check: seriously.
After this, however, I am going to stay as far away as possible from future spa outings-–at least when they sound this enticing. I should have known anything that sounded this good was bound to end with me in a chiropractic office and a bruised kidney.

In a world where American Idol dictates the taste of pop music and culture itself, the stigma of being a reality show winner is surely a thing of the past. With the advent of the internet and shows like Making the Band, we, the viewing audience, were treated to a peak behind the curtain of the pop machine. What we found was, to muted surprise, that there is no difference between the mechanics of a pop juggernaut like Justin Bieber and the fan-voted wholesomeness of a Kelly Clarkson. In fact, public opinion usually dictates that fan-voted pop stars often seem more justified in their chart success; exploiting the vested interest the voting public has in their champion’s continued prosperity.

In Canada, crossover success has proved harder for some of our own Canadian Idol talents. While past winners like Kalan Porter have faded into the pop abyss, we have, rather tellingly, chosen to embrace a group of American chart cast-offs as our own pop princess.

Formed in 2008 by Pussycat Dolls svengali Robin Antin on the second season of reality TV series Pussycat Dolls Present, Girlicious emerged as a prefab foursome of R&B influenced, scantily clad women that were the natural heirs to the Pussycat Dolls American pop chart dominance.

Originally conceived a trio — the decision to add a fourth member was revelled by Antin on the program’s series finale– Nichole Cordova, Natalie Mejia, Tiffanie Anderson and Chrystina Sayers seemed destined for stardom. Pop tides, however, change and, despite plum opening slots for tours with Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears, Girlicious’ debut album failed to make an impact on a scale similar to their forbearers.

But just as one door shut, a window from up north opened. The group’s eponymous debut album caught on with Canadian audiences. Reaching No. 2 on the Canadian Album Chart and eventually reaching platinum certification.
“Canadians are so ahead in music trends,” Cordova says two years on. “Everytime we’re in Canada, I hear something that hasn’t broke here yet. People there are just a head of the curve.”

Speaking over the phone from her adopted home state of California, Cordova marvels at her band’s unorthodox origins.

“Sometimes I forget I was even on a reality TV show,” she exclaims. “Not that there’s anything wrong with it. I would enjoy doing another reality TV show, just because it’s such an important part of our generation. I watch all of them.”

Despite the group’s surprise success north of the border, as 2008 turned into 2009 there was much unrest in the Girlicious camp. They parted ways with their label, Geffen Records, and signed with Universal Music Canada. Then, with the backing of Antin, the girls decided to alter their R&B influenced sound in favour of a pop based club style that was more reflective of the girls’ personal musical tastes.

“We go out and we really like dance music and that’s what we wanted to go for going forward,” Cordova explains. “The next album will definitely be more us. We got a bigger hand in the creative aspect of this album than the first one.”

With the change in direction, the R&B stylings of Anderson became redundant and, though an emotional Youtube video, Anderson announced her split with the group, stating that Robin Antin and the new label were looking for a less urban direction for the group and that she “didn’t fit into the new puzzle they’re going to create.”

“Tiffanie’s departure was a sad time, you kind of feel like you’re losing a sister,” Cordova recalls. “But we’re strong girls and we just have to keep it going.”

Seeing this new direction as a change to reinvent and assert themselves, the remaining members took a heightened role in both the commercial and artistic direction of their own careers.

“The creative process was definitely different because we got to write so much on this album,” Cordova says. “There wasn’t a person in the room saying, ‘this is what we need it to be.’ We got to pick the parts we want to sing.

“It was definitely a liberating experience. I definitely enjoyed this round better than the first time.”

Though the album doesn’t have a release date nor title just yet, Cordova reveals that “there’s definitely a lot of dance music, ’cause we like to dance.” But insists that “our fans won’t be disappointed, there’s still an R&B flavour.”
Indeed, both elements are present on the two singles that group has released, the driving ‘Over You’ and the infectious ‘Manic.’ And, though the future is still a bit uncertain for the group — especially in their native United States — Cordova isn’t worried.

“It’s all about timing,” she states. “We’re waiting for the right time. I’m not in a rush.

“We’re from a reality TV show and it’s definitely interesting that we’ve been going for so long, I couldn’t be more proud of us.” - SOURCE

Check out the video below to get a glimpse of Chrystina shooting Robin Antin’s workout DVD. Towards the end of the video Chrystina also answers a few questions, check it out.

Thanks to our new friends over at pcdworld.co.uk!

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