The Girls Next Door How do new R&B girl groups Electrik Red and Richgirl match up with some of the all-time greats?

Ever since The Supremes set the record for the most consecutive No.1 hits with five singles in 1965, “girl groups” have not only been breaking records, but breaking down barriers in the once male-dominated music industry. Continuing the trend, each following decade has been marked by top-selling girl bands from TLC to Destiny’s Child. But now, as we march toward a new decade leaving behind the demise of Danity Kane and the evitable disband of the Pussy Cat Dolls, who will be the top all-girl group to claim 2010 as their year?

Enter this fall’s bubbling R&B bands: Richgirl and Electrik Red. Both are four-member groups that appear to have the winning formula of success: a dash of crazy, a lot of sexy and a heap of cool. However, beyond that, history shows there are a few more factors responsible for shaping our all-time favorite girl groups, including dynamic personalities, the perfect mentors, an infectious sound and an overall signature that separates them from the rest. Can these new ladies on the block meet the mold?

Character

British sensation, the Spice Girls, took their personas to a new level and became better known for their nicknames Baby, Posh, Scary, Sporty and Ginger. Emphasizing their individual personalities and “girl power” slogan, this group capitalized off of cross-branding opportunities from a No. 1 movie to Pepsi commercials and even dolls that generated millions of dollars…or pounds. Since they are officially the best-selling girl group of all time topping 60 million albums sold worldwide (not to mention their brilliant marketing), let’s have fun and use them as the measuring stick for burgeoning groups Richgirl and Electrik Red.

Richgirl’s members: Brave, Seven, Lyndriette and Audra

Loving the challenge, Richgirl came up with their Spice-like descriptions. Brave is best summed up for her edge and free-spirit, so she would certainly be Feisty Spice according to the rest of the members; Seven, infamous as the little sister and troublemaker of the group, takes on the title of Drama Spice; Lyndriette, the youngest, yet has a no-nonsense maturity about her, is attributed Gangsta Spice; and Audra is given the trifecta of Sexy, Sultry and Smart Spice.

“The Spice Girls were about vocals and imagery; each girl was able to be an individual,” says Audra of Richgirl. “It gave a little girl out there in the world to say ‘I want to be like Posh, I want to be like Baby Spice.’ They were all different. And the same goes with us.”

Electrik Red’s members: Binkie, Sarah, Naomi and Lesley

Respecting the feats of the spice Girls, Electrik Red also had fun coming up with some names to describe each member of the quartet. Binkie, the group’s wild card, is given the nickname Spicy Spice while Sexy Spice goes to Lesley for her girlie ways. The girls joke that Sarah, a mother of one, is both a “MILF” and Party Spice because she’s always able to get things jumping. And the super enthusiastic, but equally sassy Naomi takes on the insignia of Energy Spice.

A Mentor

With the genius of Berry Gordy and the Motown producers and writers, The Supremes commanded the charts with 12 No. 1 singles. Additionally, TLC’s 50 millions in albums sales didn’t come without the direction of L.A. Reid and the LaFace crew. Oh, and who could deny Diddy of his dues for crafting the platinum-selling Danity Kane?

Richgirl has in their corner Grammy Award-winning producer Rich Harrison, who is better know for producing Amerie’s “1 Thing,” Beyonce’s “Crazy in Love” and Destiny’s Child’s “Solider.” While trying to break into the industry, the girls met each other by either working together in the past or recording in the same studio, but it was Harrison who picked up the pieces and put them together to execute his grand scheme.

“A lot of people tend to say that we were manufactured and we were not at all,” says Lyndriette of Richgirl, who is signed them to Harrison’s Richcraft label and Jive Records. “Rich Harrison was the one who put us all together. He knew Brave since she was 15; she was signed to him. He knew me since I was 15. He found Audra in a nationwide audition and he found Seven on Myspace.”

Def Jam’s Electrik Red, who were all back-up dancers in the industry representing Toronto and New York, is under the wing of songwriter and producer Tricky Stewart, along with the multi-talented The-Dream. This dynamic duo is credited with penning and producing Rhianna’s “Umbrella,” Mary Carey’s “Touch My Body” and Mary J. Blidge’s “Just Fine.”

The Sound

Coming after the doo-wop groups and Motown R&B bands, Labelle created and captured a new niche for girl groups, blending powerful gospel-like vocals over rock and funk. Likewise, while the hip-hop and New Jack Swing rhythms dominated the airwaves in the early 90s, En Vogue took the girl group concept back to its roots with heavy harmonization and an old school style, helping them become one of the top all-time selling girl groups to date.

Luckily for our ears, both Richgirl and Electrik Red come from performing arts backgrounds, which signify that they can actually blow. But their sounds sing two different tunes. Electrik Red channels Vanity 6 and TLC, recreating a sexy, urban pop feel, while Richgirl tackles everything from ballads to club chants, utilizing the abilities and dynamic vocal ranges of each woman.

“Electrik Red is definitely a little bit more edgy, a little bit more in your face,” says Lesley about her group. In comparison, Richgirl’s Audra says, “We definitely want to bring singing back–the art of singing.”

RichGirl

Electrik Red

A Signature

The Supremes introduced an ultra feminine look with elegant dresses, sultry moves and timeless sophistication, collectively becoming the template for years to come. Early in their career, Destiny’s Child was all about fun, over-the-top outfits and upbeat hood classics like “Bug A Boo,” “Bills, Bills, Bills” and “Bootylicious.”

Richgirl’s currently untitled debut album is set to release this fall, but expect their calling to have an emphasis on solid vocals through a capella performances like their rendition of “Over the Rainbow.”

Electrik Red’s album How To Be A Lady Vol. 1 is currently in stores now. The four started off as professional dancers, performing for Usher, Mariah Carey and Ciara, so expect to see them shine and light up the stage, showcasing their dancing skills, frankness and extreme sex appeal.

Let’s keep an eye on Electrik Red and Richgirl and see if their careers will be added to the formula of what makes a girl band one of the all-time greatest.

quotes:

“We definitely want to bring singing back–the art of singing.”

– Audra, Richgirl

“Electrik Red is definitely a little bit more edgy, a little bit more in your face.”

– Lesley, Electrik Red