Lemonescent

Lemonescent
Origin Scotland
Genres Pop, dance-pop, R&B
Years active 2002–2005
Labels Supertone/Universal
Past members Nikki MacLachlan
Sarah Cassidy
Shonagh Strachan
Lisa Rose Harrison
Emma Cassidy
Leona Skimming

Lemonescent were a Scottish girl group formed in 2002. The band consisted of Lisa Rose (2002–2003), Nikki MacLachlan (2002–2004), Sarah Cassidy (2002–2004), Shonagh Strachan (2002–2004), Leona Skimming (2003–2004) and Emma Cassidy (2003–2004).

History

Lemonescent came together through auditions for singers held by former Johnny Hates Jazz songwriter/member Iain MacDonald; He had chosen eight girls and then cut down to four with singer and dance champion Lisa Rose Harrison, former waitress Nikki Maclachlan, singer and dancer Sarah Cassidy, and Shonagh Strachan. They were signed to Supertone Records, distributed by Universal Music and came up with the name Lemonescent.

They released their first single "Beautiful" on 17 June 2002. The video was filmed at Culzean Castle[1] by Brighter Pictures, Directed by Gavin Hay. It reached No.70 in the UK Singles Chart.[2] They performed at the Irn Bru Live + Loud festival in 2002.[3] They released their second single "Swing My Hips (Sex Dance)" on 29 October 2002 accompanied by a raunchy video showing them in tight denim shorts washing a car (inspired by cult film Cool Hand Luke). This performed slightly better peaking at No.48 in the UK charts, and topped DJ magazine's Beat charts.[4] In March 2003, Harrison left the group. Harrison left the band due to disagreements with their manager over their sound. Their manager made several negative remarks about Lisa after she had left the band. After Harrison's departure, the remaining members auditioned for a replacement, eventually taking on two new members, Emma Cassidy (Sarah's cousin) and Leona Skimming. In between releases the band would perform at roadshows up and down the UK, toured with boy band Triple 8,[5] and performed at the Scotland v. Lithuania football match at Hampden Park in October 2003.[6][7] Their 2003 single "Unconditional Love" was on course to give them their biggest hit, but was removed from the chart due to suspicions of chart-rigging by bulksale-buying. It was confirmed by the Official Charts Company that hundreds of copies of the single were being bought in bulk in and around Glasgow.[8]

The band released their debut album, Unconditional Love in October 2003. The album sold poorly and failed to chart. They supported Atomic Kitten on their UK tour in 2004,[9][10] and in the same year performed at the D-Code 2004 event, aimed at warning teenagers of the dangers of drink, drugs and smoking.[11] Other charity work included involvement in the "Go Yellow" walk in Glasgow, for which they performed a fundraising concert.[12] Skimming left in 2004, citing 'musical differences', leaving the group back as a four-piece. Their final single was a cover version of Free's "All Right Now", with a promotional video filmed in Egypt.[10] It sparked interest from television networks, with appearances on BBC's Top of the Pops Saturday, Top of the Pops 2, and The Saturday Show, ITV's The Chart Show, and others, but only peaked at number 37 in the UK Singles Chart.[2][13]

Lemonescent split up in early 2005, with Sarah Cassidy explaining "it couldn't really go any further, so we decided to call it a day".[14]

Band members

Discography

Albums

Singles

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 McGrath, Leanne (2002) "HOW TO MAKE A GIRL BAND ; Behind the scenes with Lemonescent", Sunday Mail, 14 April 2002, p. 36
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "Lemonescent", Chart Stats, retrieved 4 December 2010
  3. Dingwall, John (2002) "192: Lemon fresh ; Scottish quartet's debut is about to take the charts by storm", Daily Record, 14 June 2002, p. 45
  4. "Lemons hope the fruit of their labours will be a No 1", Newcastle Evening Chronicle, 3 September 2003, p. 2
  5. "Pop girls greet fans", Glasgow Evening Times, 3 September 2003, p. 15
  6. "Girl band will help to roar on Bertie's boys", Glasgow Evening Times, 3 October 2003, p. 11
  7. Bendoris, Matt (2003) "Heaven Scent", The Sun, 13 October 2003, p. 29
  8. Fulton, Rick (2003) "YOU LEMONS ; Chart-fixing claims sink girls' CD", Daily Record, 9 September 2003, p. 3
  9. "The Razz: Sweetener for Lemonescent", Daily Record, 11 November 2003, p. 12
  10. 10.0 10.1 "M2: Girl group school gig", Birmingham Mail, 23 April 2004, p. 48
  11. "Girl band back anti-drug gig", Glasgow Evening Times, 18 March 2004, p. 5
  12. Murray, Graham (2004) "Kids on scent for charity walk", Glasgow Evening Times, 18 May 2004, p. 11
  13. Bendoris, Matt (2004) "Rock switch has made us All Right now says Scots babes Lemonescent", The Sun, 27 May 2004, p. 53
  14. Lyons, Beverley & Bennett, Cath (2005) "THE RAZZ: Bitter split? No we're still pals say Lemonescent girls after calling time on pop ambition", Daily Record, 18 January 2005, p. 19
  15. Beacom, Brian (2008) "A WIZARD AUDITION SHOWBIZ SPECIAL Pavilion Theatre launches a Search for a Panto Star to find a Dorothy for Christmas show", Glasgow Evening Times, 8 September 2008, p. 15
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 Dingwall, John (2003) "A DROP OF LEMON AID ; Leona and Emma are the fresh new faces to join Scots girl groupLemonescent – thanks to 192", Daily Record, 9 May 2003, p. 22-3
  17. Dingwall, John (2003) "WANTED ; Another slice of lemon to join top Scots girl band", Daily Record, 15 April 2003, p. 18-19
  18. Ventura, Steve (2002) "192: TOP OF THE SHOPS ; We take Scots girl band Lemonescent out on a day's spending spree", Daily Record, 20 September 2002, p. 62
  19. Smith, Ken & Belcher, David (2003) "The Diary: Strip Show", Glasgow Herald, 29 August 2003, p. 20
  20. 20.0 20.1 Ellis, Maureen (2004) "A POSTCARD FROM... LEONA SKIMMING", Glasgow Evening Times, 23 October 2004, p. 16
  21. Holmes, Roger (2007) "Dick Whittington and His Wonderful Cat", The Stage, 10 December 2007, retrieved 4 December 2010
  22. "Two gigs for talented Cumbernauld girls", Cumbernauld News, 31 May 2006, retrieved 7 December 2010
  23. "7seas: Leona Marie", 7seaslive.com, retrieved 7 December 2010

External links