Another Level (band)
| Another Level | |
|---|---|
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | R&B, pop |
| Years active | 1997–2000, 2014-present |
| Labels | Northwestside |
| Associated acts | 5th Story |
| Members |
Mark Baron Dane Bowers Bobak Kianoush Wayne Williams |
Another Level was an English soul and R&B influenced boy band that formed in 1997 and broke up in 2000, consisting of Mark Baron, Dane Bowers, Bobak Kianoush and Wayne Williams. They had numerous hit singles, including the 1998 number-one "Freak Me".
In 2013, the band were about to reunite for the ITV2 documentary, The Big Reunion however, Willams and Baron chose not to take part in the show.[1][2] Bowers is the only member to take part in the show as he joined supergroup, 5th Story along with Kenzie from Blazin' Squad and former soloists Adam Rickitt, Kavana and Gareth Gates.
On 30 November 2014, it was reported that Another Level could make a comeback on New Year's Eve, with the support of Alan Sugar.[3]
Career
Formation and early career
Dane Bowers and Wayne Williams were both students of the BRIT School of Performing Arts & Technology in the London Borough of Croydon when they were discovered. Williams enrolled at the school in 1995, while Bowers was in the year below, but started in 1994.
Another Level were originally conceived by Nick Raphael and Christian Tattersfield for their new record label project Northwestside Records, a BMG sub-label in the United Kingdom that had also signed Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records unit in 1998. Due to Northwestside's position as an urban marketed record label, a number of R&B and hip hop stars guested on Another Level's songs. These included Jay-Z, Ghostface Killah and TQ amongst others.
Success
Another Level had seven Top 40 singles in two years, including 1998's UK Singles Chart number one "Freak Me" (a cover of the 1993 hit by US group Silk), and a platinum-selling, eponymous debut album.
1999's gold-selling Nexus followed, along with BRIT Awards nominations, and the opening slot on Janet Jackson's European tour. In early 2000 the group split after Kianoush and Williams left the group in 1999.[4]
The Big Reunion (2013)
On 27 August 2013, Another Level were on the verge of signing up for the ITV2 documentary, The Big Reunion,[5] but Williams has since announced that he will not take part. In an interview with MTV UK, he said: "I decided not to participate in The Big Reunion because it wouldn't feel right to me...I'm in a totally different space in my life and I don't feel any need to look back."[6] Also, Baron, who now works for Alan Sugar's company Amsprop, had been forced to pull out due to Sugar not allowing him time off work. Bowers told the Daily Star, "Another Level were supposed to do it but then Mark said he couldn't because of work. He's married to Alan Sugar's daughter and works for him. You don't say no to Alan Sugar. I was a bit annoyed because he pulled out right at the end. Surely he would have known earlier. But his loss is my gain."[7] Bowers is the only member to take part in the show as he joined supergroup 5th Story along with Kenzie from Blazin' Squad and former soloists Adam Rickitt, Kavana and Gareth Gates.
Reunion (2014)
On 30 November 2014, it was reported that Another Level could make a comeback on New Year's Eve, with the support of Alan Sugar.[8]
Solo projects
Bowers went on to have success with Jonny L and Victoria Beckham as part of the Truesteppers' record "Out of Your Mind", as well as two number nine, solo hit single releases. Wayne Williams went on to start up his own record label with his brother Jason. His debut album Fame and Fortune failed to make an impact on the UK chart.
In 2006, Bowers appeared in the follow-up show to Totally Scott-Lee, called Totally Boyband, in which five boy band members from past groups were to be modelled into a new singing act. The group featured him alongside Lee Latchford-Evans of Steps, Jimmy Constable of 911, New Kids on the Block's Danny Wood and S Club 7's Bradley McIntosh. The series commenced on MTV in the UK in September 2006 yet their first single was a commercial disaster and charted at number 35 with the group name Upper Street. They disbanded after the end of the series.
Wayne Williams now lives in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. He owns his own company, Impeccable Attire.[9] He is also a rapper under the name, Wayne Fortune.[10]
Discography
Albums
| Date | Title | Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK[11] | ||||
| 1998 | Another Level | 13 | ||
| 1999 | Another Level Remixed | – | ||
| 1999 | Nexus | 7 | ||
| 2002 | From the Heart | – | ||
| 2002 | Love Songs | – | ||
Singles
| Date | Single | Chart position | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK[11] | SE[12] | NL[13] | |||
| February 1998 | "Be Alone No More" | 6 | — | — | Another Level |
| July 1998 | "Freak Me" | 1 | 11 | 2 | |
| October 1998 | "Guess I was a Fool" | 5 | 31 | 16 | |
| January 1999 | "I Want You for Myself" (featuring Ghostface Killah) | 2 | 50 | — | |
| March 1999 | "Be Alone No More (Remix)" (featuring Jay-Z) / "Holding Back the Years" | 11 | — | — | Another Level Remixed |
| May, 1999 | "From the Heart" | 6 | 25 | 29 | Nexus |
| August 1999 | "Summertime" (featuring TQ) | 7 | — | — | |
| November 1999 | "Bomb Diggy" | 6 | — | — | |
Solo discography
Dane Bowers
Singles
| Date | Single | Chart position |
|---|---|---|
| UK | ||
| April 2000 | "Buggin'" (with Truesteppers)[14] | 6 |
| August 2000 | "Out of Your Mind" (featuring Victoria Beckham)[14] | 2 |
| February 2001 | "Shut Up and Forget About It"[14] | 9 |
| June 2001 | "Another Lover"[14] | 9 |
| July 2010 | "All She Needs" | |
(as Upper Street)
| Date | Single | Chart position | |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | |||
| October 2006 | "The One" | 35 | |
Wayne Williams
Albums
| Date | Title | Chart position |
|---|---|---|
| UK | ||
| May 2004 | Fame & Fortune | — |
Singles
| Date | Single | Chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2001 | "He Can't Love You" | 134 | Non-album single |
| May 2003 | "Anything is Possible" | 84 | Fame & Fortune |
| October 2003 | "All About the Sex" | — | |
References
- ↑ "Another Level's Wayne Turns Down 'The Big Reunion'". MTV UK. 4 September 2013. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
- ↑ Ingham, James (26 January 2014). "Lord Alan Sugar an obstruction to The Big Reunion". Daily Star (Northern & Shell). Retrieved 1 February 2014.
- ↑ https://metro.co.uk/2014/11/30/another-level-are-reportedly-making-an-s-club-7-inspired-comeback-4968186/
- ↑ http://www.mtv.co.uk/the-big-reunion/news/another-level-set-for-the-big-reunion
- ↑ Armstrong, Laura (28 August 2013). "Another Level set to appear on The Big Reunion". The Sun (News UK). Retrieved 6 September 2013.
- ↑ "Another Level's Wayne Turns Down 'The Big Reunion'". MTV UK. 4 September 2013. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
- ↑ Ingham, James (26 January 2014). "Lord Alan Sugar an obstruction to The Big Reunion". Daily Star (Northern & Shell). Retrieved 1 February 2014.
- ↑ https://metro.co.uk/2014/11/30/another-level-are-reportedly-making-an-s-club-7-inspired-comeback-4968186/
- ↑ http://www.impeccableattire.com
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/user/waynefortune
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 25. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ↑ Another Level on Swedish Charts
- ↑
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 139. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
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