AN up-and-coming Irish group has revealed global superstars Little Mix has helped them deal with online abuse.
Melladaze, who were formed on BBC’s Little Mix: The Search last year, said they are still in touch with the chart-toppers and get feedback and advice from their idols.
The band, which is made up of Megan Whelan, Aisli Moran, Ellie Allen, Lauren Bowry and Liv Aidam, said they’re incredibly grateful for their relationship with the mega-successful British band.
Megan from East Wall in Dublin told The Irish Sun: “Little Mix are always there to give us advice and if we ever need to message them about our songs or ask them any questions they’ll always be there and reply and help us out in any way they can.”
The 20-year-old added: “We still have a great relationship with them which we’re so grateful for.”
Essex teen Liv revealed Little Mix have helped them navigate the industry and prepared them to deal with online abuse and negativity.
The Shout Out to My Ex singers were formed on X Factor in 2011 in a similar fashion to how Melladaze were put together years later – giving them a unique insight into what the budding pop stars are experiencing.
Liv explained: “They gave us quite a lot of advice about online hate.
“Obviously, social media is such a big part of the music industry today.”
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She added: “It’s inevitable that you’re going to get some negative feedback sometimes.
“Some people are just really horrible online and Little Mix gave us quite a lot of tips on how to deal with it.
“They taught us how to ignore it and told us to value our worth and that we are great in what we do.
“They told us not to listen to negative comments. The girls gave us a lot of advice along them lines.”
SUPPORT
Aisli from Killiney in South Dublin admitted when they do get negative feedback or hate online it’s a huge help that they’re in a band and can rely on each other for support.
The 19-year-old said: “I think we’re very lucky being in a band, you always have four other girls around you who support each other.
“We’re very lucky to be in the situation that we are in.
“Obviously it is difficult when you do see that negative comment but there are so many positive comments that we can focus on. We try to just focus on the positive comments.
“We have each other’s backs no matter and we try to be authentic and hopefully people will like us for that.”
SHOW SHELVED
It comes as The Irish Sun revealed in August, that the BBC has rested Little Mix’s talent show The Search indefinitely – after Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Perrie Edwards became mums.
BBC Entertainment boss Kate Phillips confirmed a second series of The Search, which last time included former band member Jesy Nelson, was on hold.
Sources who worked on the show to find the UK’s best new music act said the group – which also includes Jade Thirlwall – would love to make it again.
An insider said: “Little Mix are passionate about The Search and loved creating it the first time around.”
SOLO PROJECTS
In December 2021, Little Mix announced they’re taking a break next year to focus on solo projects.
The girl group will go their separate ways after their Confetti tour ends in May, but they insist they will be back in the future.
Meanwhile, Melladaze, who released their debut single called I H8 U in October, also revealed Little Mix were on hand to dish out advice and feedback about their breakup track.
Aisli said megastars were some of the first people to hear the catchy heartbreak tune before it was launched.
She said: “The girls were absolutely amazing from the start. Obviously, it was surreal getting to work with them.
“They’re huge and we’ve all looked up to them growing up.
“We’ve all been singing and dancing our whole lives so they would be the exact people we’d of looked up to since a young age.
“They were the ideal people to be mentoring us so honestly it was amazing. They were so helpful through the whole journey.
“Even now they’re still so supportive a year on from the show and they give us advice on everything including our songs.
“We sent them the song before it was released and they were really supportive about it.
“We absolutely love Little Mix and we can only hope to be as amazing as they are one day and we’d be so lucky to do as well.”
Little Mix actually loved the song which was amazing to hear.”
Megan Whelan
Megan added: “Little Mix actually loved the song which was amazing to hear.
“I think that gave us like another reason to just get it out there and it made us even more exciting about the song.
“Because obviously, their opinion means so much to us being a girl band.
“They understand the situation that we’re in and to have their approval was incredible.”
Dubliner Megan also told how Melladaze, who are represented by music and talent agency MN2S, knew their upbeat and personal breakup song was the right tune to release first – but stressed it’s only a taster on what’s to come.
She said: “ “We’ve been writing new songs, working in the studio together and we only wrote I H8 U about a month or two ago.
“We just knew it would be a perfect first song to release.
“The support has been amazing since we released the song. The amount of support has been incredible.
“People have been streaming it and sharing it on social media.”
NOT MANAGED
Megan added: “We’re actually not managed at the minute.
“We’ve funded everything ourselves, it’s been difficult but people from the show and Little Mix have been a great support.
“We’re looking for a label and a manager but we just wanted to get this single out and show people who Melladaze is. The song is a taster for what’s to come.
“We’re looking at getting a song out soon and a couple more out for summer.
“We went to show people there are different sides to Melladaze.”
But it hasn’t all been plain sailing for the girl group, who finished fourth on the BBC competition, due to the band members living in four different cities across two countries.
STAYING TOGETHER
Band member Lauren said despite the challenges they won’t stop making music.
The 20-year-old from Croydon in London explained: “We knew before the show finished that we were going to do everything in our power to stay together.
“But it’s been a challenge obviously two of us are in Ireland, one is in London, one is Bournemouth and one is in Essex so we’re literally so spread out.
“It’s almost like all the odds were stacked against us but somehow we’ve worked it out and we’re exactly where we wished we’d be a year ago – if not further into our journey.”
The band said they’re only warming up and are already looking ahead to the future and are confident they’ll make waves in the industry.
Speaking about their five-year plan, Bournemouth Lauren said: “We’d love to have an album or two out in the next couple of years.
“We’d love to be out touring different countries and cities with our music and we’d like to be partnered with a brand – that would be so good.
“We’re going to really push ourselves to go as far as we possibly can.
“We really would love to be up there with the likes of Little Mix and the Spice Girls and other amazing girl bands.
“As young females, we just want to show every other young female they can literally do whatever they aspire to do.”
PARTING WAYS
Last year, Jesy Nelson left Litte Mix and revealed she is no longer on speaking terms with former bandmates Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirlwall since pursuing a solo career.
Jesy opened up to Graham Norton about her falling-out with her former Little Mix bandmates, admitting: “We’re not talking anymore.
“It is sad but honestly, there is no bad blood from my side, and I still love them to pieces and genuinely wish them all the best.”
She added: “I loved my time with them, and we’ve got the most incredible memories together but It’s just one of those things which needs to take time, so who knows.
“To me, they are still the ‘sickest’ girl band in the world.”