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Interview With Allure....
Davey D: WE ARE HERE WITH ALLURE AND FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW WHO ALLURE ARE, INTRODUCE YOURSELVES, ONE BY ONE. Allure:AALIYAH, LENNY, LALESHA AND LAKESA Davey D: WHERE ARE YOU GUYS FROM? Allure: NEW YORK. Davey D:NEW YORK? Allure:YEAH Davey D: ALRIGHT YOU KNOW I'M FROM THE BOOGIE DOWN BRONX. WHAT PART OF NEW YORK ARE YOU FROM? Allure: BROOKLYN, THE BRONX. Davey D: SINCE WE ARE ON THE WEB, WE ARE TALKING TO THE WORLD THAT HAS DIALED US UP. HOW DID ALLURE GET STARTED? ARE YOU GUYS SOME NEW GROUP THAT JUST CAME OUT OF NO WHERE, OR HAVE YOU BEEN PUTTING IT DOWN FOR A WHILE? Allure: ACTUALLY, WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR 9 YEARS AND WE JUST STARTED SINGING ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO, BUT WE REALLY DIDN'T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY TILL ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. Davey D: SO WERE YOU GUYS FRIENDS FOR 9 YEARS. Allure: WE JUST TOLD YOU WE WERE FRIENDS FOR 9 YEARS. Davey D: I MISSED THAT PART. I MUST HAVE NOT BEEN PAYING ATTENTION, MY FAULT. SINCE YOU GUYS WERE FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF NY, HOW DID YOU BECOME FRIENDS 9 YEARS AGO? Allure: WELL, THIS IS LENNY SPEAKING, AND AALIYAH AND MYSELF GREW UP TOGETHER. WE BEEN KNOWING EACH OTHER SINCE THE 6 GRADE. AND AALIYAH, LALISHA AND LOKESA WENT TO THE SAME HIGH SCHOOL, LAQUOIA HIGH SCHOOL IN MANHATTAN, NY, SO WE ALL JUST CAME TOGETHER. Davey D: NOW WHERE YOU GUYS FIRST STARTED PLAYING AROUND WITH THE SINGING AND STUFF. WAS IT JUST A HOBBY, OR WERE YOU GUYS JUST INCLINED TO SING ANYWAY? WHEN DID IT MAKE THAT TURNING POINT? Allure: APPROXIMATELY 5 YEARS AGO. OUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS STARTED ENCOURAGING US. WE WOULD GO TO ANYONE OF OUR HOUSES, A COMMERCIAL WOULD COME ON, IT WOULD HAVE ONE NOTE, THEN THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW IT HAS 4 NOTES. IT WAS SOMETHING WE DID FOR FUN, AND WE LOVED IT. AND WE FINALLY STARTED TAKING IT SERIOUS WHEN THE COMPLIMENTS STARTED, FAMILY AND FRIENDS STARTED TELLING US THAT WE HAVE A GIFT. Davey D: OK...NOW YOU KNOW GROWING UP IN NEW YORK, EVERYBODY ALWAYS ASSOCIATES NEW YORK WITH BEING THE HIP-HOP MECCA, AND YOU BEING A PART OF THE HIP-HOP GENERATION. HAD THE THOUGHT CROSSED YOU GUYS MINDS THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD RAP? WHY SINGING OVER RAP? Allure:WE ENJOY SINGING.RAPPING IS NOT OUR FORTE. Davey D:5 YEARS AGO YOU STARTED TALKING ABOUT SINGING SERIOUSLY. WHAT WAS THE BIG BREAK WHERE PEOPLE REALLY STARTED TO NOTICE YOU? WAS IT A TALENT SHOW, THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? Allure: FROM WORD OF MOUTH.WE WERE INTRODUCED TO POKEY FROM THE TRACK MASTERS PRODUCTIONS TEAM AND FROM THERE WE STARTED TRAVELING THROUGHOUT THE BUSINESS THAT THERE WAS THIS NEW FEMALE GROUP DOWN WITH THE TRACK MASTERS, AND THAT'S BASICALLY HOW WE GOT STARTED. HOW PEOPLE STARTED TO KNOW US. Davey D: SO YOU WERE DOING TRACK DATES IN CLUBS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT? Allure: NO. WE STARTED WORKING ON THE ALBUM AS SOON AS WE MEET POKEY FROM THE TRACK MASTERS. WE SIGNED A PRODUCTION DEAL AND 1 MONTH LATER WE STARTED ON THE ALBUM. Davey D: OK. TELL ME ABOUT THE ALBUM. WHAT WOULD ONE EXPECT WHEN THEY PICK IT UP? AND WHAT APPROACH ARE YOU TAKING IN MUSIC? Allure: OUR ALBUM IS VERY VERSATILE. WHEN YOU LISTEN TO IT, YOU CAN HEAR ALL TYPES OF MUSIC. WERE NOT JUST AN R&B GROUP, WE HIT ALL AREAS LIKE POP, R & B, A LITTLE BIT OF HI-HOP AND THE LYRICS TO THE SONGS ARE THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN RELATE TO, SO ANYBODY LISTENING TO OUR MUSIC CAN EITHER RELATE THIS TO SOMETHING THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH EITHER WITH LOVE OR LOSING A LOVED ONE OR BEING IN LUST WITH SOMEONE. IT'S JUST A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS. Davey D: HAVE YOU ALL BEEN INVOLVED WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS, Y'ALL EVER LOST ANYBODY? Allure: NO, OUR SONGS DON'T NECESSARILY MEAN WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH IT. THE ONLY REAL REFLECTION OFF OF THIS ALBUM THAT'S PERSONAL WITH THE GROUP IS "MAMA SAID", WHICH HAS A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH LAKESA, SINCE HER MOTHER PASSED AWAY. THE SONG WAS A DEDICATION TO HER MOM. Davey D: OK...SORRY TO HEAR THAT. HOW LONG AGO DID THAT HAPPEN? Allure: 3 YEARS AGO ON JUNE 17TH. Davey D: WOW.SORRY TO HEAR THAT. Allure: THANK YOU. Davey D: IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HEAR THAT, CAUSE PEOPLE CAN LISTEN TO A SONG LIKE THAT AND IT HELPS BRING SOME HEALING FOR SOMEBODY ELSE. WHAT'S THE NEXT LEVEL FOR ALLURE RIGHT KNOW? ESPECIALLY NOW THAT YOU HAVE TH ERYKAH BADUS, AND YOU HAVE ALL THIS NEW STYLE SOME THATS COMING OUT. YOU HAVE YOUR TRADITIONAL GROUPS LIKE EN VOGUES AND THEN YOU HAVE NEWER GROUPS LIKE YOURSELVES, WHAT DO YOU SEE THE NEW PATH, OR ARE YOU GONNA FOLLOW WHATS ALREADY BEEN DONE RIGHT NOW? Allure: NO. DEFINITELY NOT. THE SAME WAY SOMEONE HAS PAVED THE WAY FOR US, WE WANT TO PAVE THE WAY FOR SOME ONE ELSE. BUT IN A DIFFERENT WAY. WE DON'T ALWAYS WANT TO BE COMPARED TO ANOTHER GROUP, WE WANT TO BE SET APART. WE WANT TO HAVE OUR OWN IDENTITY. Davey D: HOW DO YOU ATTEMPT TO DO THAT? WHA WOULD BE DIFFERENT ABOUT YOU THAN OTHER GROUPS THAT HAVE COME BEFORE YOU? Allure: WELL, FOR ONE THING, WE ARE ALWAYS CHANGING. WE WILL NEVER STICK TO ONE STYLE OR SOUND. WE WILL ALWAYS BE OPEN TO DO WHATEVER SOUNDS GOOD TO US. WHATEVER WE THINK IS A HIT, WE WILL DO IT. NO MATTER WHAT IT IS. IT COULD GO FROM COUNTRY TO CLASSICAL TO WHATEVER WE THINK WILL WORK, WE WILL DO IT. WE ARE NOT AFRAID TO TRY ANYTHING. Davey D: Y'ALL GONE DO SOME COUNTRY? Allure:IF IT COMES OUR WAY WE WILL. Davey D: GARTH BROOKS? (LAUGHING) Allure: WE DOWN WITH HIM! (LAUGHING) Davey D: YOU GUYS ARE HOOKING UP WITH THE TRACK MASTERS. ONE OF THE CRITISMS THAT PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS PUT TOWARDS R & B GROUPS IS THAT Y'ALL ARE EXPLOITING HIP-HOP. TAKING HIP-HOP BEATS AND SINGING OVER IT. HIP-HOP HEADS SOMETHING GET UPSET ABOUT THAT. WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT THAT SORT OF CRITICISM? I'M NOT ONE OF THEM. I THINK ITS COOL, BUT.... Allure:ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS WHAT ABOUT HIP-HOP HEADS WHO TAKE R & B BEATS. Davey D: TRUE. Allure: AND THERES NOTHING WRONG WITH RECYCLING. Davey D: OK. NO PROBLEM. ARE YOU GUYS WRITING YOUR OWN MUSIC NOW, AND HAVE YOU GONNA GET INTO THE PRODUCTION END OF IT FOR YOURSELVES PERSONALLY? Allure: THAT'S HOW WE PLAN TO EXTEND OUR EXPERTISE AT THIS POINT. ON THE 1ST ALBUM WE REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO GET INTO THAT, WE JUST WANTED TO SING, SINCE IT WAS OUR INITIAL PROJECT. BUT THE 2ND TIME AROUND, WE WANT TO DIP OUR HANDS INTO WRITING AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PRODUCTION END OF IT. Davey D: HOW MUCH DID YOU WRITE ON THIS PASS ALBUM? Allure: YOU DON'T LISTEN. WE DID NOT WRITE ANYTHING. WE DO LITTLE SIMPLE THINGS LIKE WRITE INTERLUDE INTO OUR STAGE SHOWS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. THAT'S SORT OF LIKE THE TEST FOR US, BUT THE REAL TEST WILL BE WRITING AN ACTUAL SONG. Davey D: OK. ACTUALLY I DID HEAR WHAT YOU SAID, BUT I KNOW FROM TALKING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT A LOT OF TIMES THEY GET LIKE A GUIDE FROM THE PRODUCERS AND THEN PUT THEIR OWN INPUT IN IT AFTERWARDS. SO THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING THAT AGAIN. (LAUGHS) Allure: WELL NATURALLY THERE WILL BE A GUIDE SINCE THEY ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH. THOSE WILL BE THE PEOPLE THAT WE WILL LEARN OUR CRAFT FROM. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT GOES IN THIS SITUATION. Davey D: WHO DO YOU GUYS ADMIRE IN THIS BUSINESS? WHAT SINGERS DO YOU THINK ARE REALLY MAKING THEIR MARK THAT YOU GUYS GROOVE TO? Allure: ERYKAH BADU, MAXWELL, NOT TO SOUND CORNY, BUT MARIAH CAREY, CELINE DION, PATTI LABELL. Davey D: NOW YOU DID A COUPLE OF TRACKS WITH RAP ARTISTS, LL AND NAS. WHO ELSE WILL WE HEAR YOU GUYS HOOK UP WITH? Allure: RAEKWON AND WU TANG, ARE FEATURED ON A SINGLE ON THE ALBUM. LL WAS FEATURED ON HEAD OVER HEELS, AND SO WAS RED HOT LOVER TONE, WHO IS ALSO APART OF THE TRACK MASTERS. WE ALSO GOT 112 ON ALL CRIED OUT. Davey D: THAT'S A GOOD REMAKE. Allure: THANKS A LOT. Davey D: FINALLY LAST WORDS YOU WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT ALLURE. FOR ANYBODY WHO NEVER HEARD OF YOU, OR THEY HEARD ABOUT YOU AND THEY WANT TO KNOW MORE. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE THEM TO KNOW MORE ABOUT YOU? Allure: WE ARE REAL PEOPLE. DON'T PRE-JUDGE US, TILL YOU GET TO NOW US. WE CAN SING. Davey D: OH, Y'ALL DEFINITELY CAN SING. YOU HAVE PROVED THAT. Allure: THANK YOU. Davey D: HAVE PEOPLE OUT PRE-JUDGEMENTS ON YOU DO FAR? Allure: ALL THE TIME. ITS "THEY ARE JUST A ANOTHER ALL FEMALE GROUP ON STAGE TRYING TO LOOK CUTE AND THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE NO TALENT". BUT WE HAVE PROVED TO EVERYONE THAT WE ARE GIFTED. AND ITS JUST A MATTER OF PROVING TO EVERYONE ELSE WHO DOESN'T BELIEVE IT. BUT AFTER THAT OF THEY AREN'T CONVINCED THAT'S THEIR PROBLEM. Davey D: WHO WOULD YOU GUYS LIKE TO DO SONGS WITH? Allure:BABYFACE, STEVIE WONDER, D'ANGELO, FAITH, R. KELLEY, EVERYBODY MAKING IT TODAY. Davey D: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF PUFFY'S MUSIC? Allure: HE'S HOT. Davey D: IS HE IN THE BACKDROPS FOR ANY UP-COMING TRACKS? Allure: WE HOPE SO. YOU NEVER KNOW. WE ARE GONNA TRY. Davey D: WHAT WOULD YOU TELL YOUNG WOMEN TRYING TO GET INTO THE BUSINESS. WHAT LESSONS WOULD YOU PASS ON AND HOW ARE YOU FEARING AS WOMEN? ARE THEY TAKING YOU SERIOUSLY ON THE INDUSTRY SIDE? Allure: THEY ARE GIVING US CREDIT. AT FIRST THEY WEREN'T. BUT WE HAD TO PROVE OURSELVES AND WE DID. WE ASK QUESTIONS ALL THE TIME. WE ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS. TO ANY ONE TRYING TO GET INTO THE BUSINESS, SURROUND YOURSELVES WITH A TEAM THAT'S TRUSTING AND THAT YOU CAN ASK QUESTIONS TO AND THEY WILL GIVE YOU THE PROPER ANSWERS. Davey D: YOU HAD SEDUCTIVE OUTFITS ON YOU COVER. Allure: I KNEW IT WAS COMING. Davey D: IT'S NOT FOR ME. IT'S FOR EVERYONE ELSE. I WOULD BE A BAD JOURNALIST IF I DIDN'T ASK THIS QUESTION. BUT WHAT IS THE IMAGE PLAYED ESPECIALY IN THE VIDEOS. HOW DOES THAT PLAY APART IN ELEVATING YOUR CAREER? DO YOU THINK PEOPLE ARE DRAWN TO LOOKS FIRST AND THE MUSIC IS SECONDARY? Allure: WELL I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE GO WITH THE VISUALS. Go Back To Allstar DJ Table Of Contents Go Back To Interview Directory Go Back To Davey D Table Of Contents
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