Music Features

While other youngsters may have spent their half term wandering round shopping centres or leaping round the living room with their Wiis, new girl group MjeliK (pronounced em-jelik) have probably packed more than the average teenager into their week off.

For not only did they record their debut single 'Ray Of Sunshine' in the Milton Keynes's studios Liquid, they also shot the video for the track at Centre MK and Xscape.

MjeliK shooting their video at centre MK

And Natalie Kassanga, 10, from Eaglestone, Natalie Chua, 15, from  Bletchley and Holly Brewer, 13, from Old Farm Park are determined to show just how great Milton Keynes is through their music.

“We're going to promote everything in MK [in the video]” explained Natalie C.

“Yes, we love Milton Keynes” said Holly.

“We all come from here and we love it, it's a young buzzing city and we thought that it would be good to promote a young group with young  talent in Milton Keynes.”

Upbeat

I caught up with the group as they took a break from filming in the stretch limousine that was transporting them to all the filming locations for the video.

The three girls, who describe their style of music as “pop”, were very excited about the day and they hope that their first single encapsulates their fun and upbeat mood and how positive they feel about living and growing up in the new city.

It was written by group member Natalie Chua when she was just 11, although she admitted that she had changed it a bit since then.

“I started writing songs when I was about eight” she said, “but I keep improving them because obviously when I first wrote them they were a bit immature so I improve them as I grow up!

“It's a pick me up sort of song” she added.

“When people can't find a way out of a situation and feel that they can't talk to anyone it's a song that tells them that there's always someone to talk to. It's quite a jolly song.”

“It's a really bright song for our age” added Natalie K.

“It's like a fun song, it's catchy and it suits all ages from like 5 to 85” continued Holly, “and what we offer when we're performing is aimed at a whole range of ages. It's a cheerful song so it will cheer people up.   

“And we're going to try and make it like a fun young video and show people that there is young talent about” she added.

Rehearsing

The girls are certainly talented as this isn’t the first taste of performing for any of them. Far from it in fact!

MjeliK shooting their video at centre MK

Natalie Chua attends the Sylvia Young Theatre School and was in the platinum selling number 1 group Angelis, formerly managed by Simon Cowell, Natalie Kassanga is currently appearing in the Lion King in the West End and Holly has recently taken the lead role in local production of Neverland and has performed at the Royal Albert Hall.

They were all spotted and put in a group by Andy Jones who runs MK Vibe, an organisation which promotes talent in Milton  Keynes.

Prior to recording this single they have been rehearsing and working very hard on harmonies with a vocal coach who they say has really helped them a lot. They’ve also sang at the Cardomon City Restaurant in Northampton which helped them get used to performing together.

Importantly they are managing to fit all this in around their school work and try to make rehearsals at the weekends and half terms so it doesn't eat into they school week, but they also admit that it's hard because they're all so excited about what they’re doing.

Bonus

In fact, they don’t feel that there are any downsides at all, because even though they are working hard, they are sure that it  will all pay off and be worth it in the end.

So what are their hopes for the future?

“It would be wonderful if we were like the Sugababes” said Natalie K!

“That would be a bonus” added Natalie Chua, “but we're happy with what we're doing now!”

“Yes” said Holly, “it would be lovely if we were a big group but we love performing at the end of the day and we love music.

“We love performing and we love singing so whatever it brings we'll love it and we're enjoying it now!”