No.1 for Interviews - JLS Revealed
JLS Revealed

Marvin, Aston, JB and Oritsé: four names that cause hysteria amongst teenagers and grown women alike... the charmers tell us why they think they’re Scottish!

JLS have gone from strength to strength over the last 18 months, racking up chart hits and awards right left and centre.

But it’s the effect they have on the ladies that has really put them on the map! Go anywhere near a venue JLS are due to play and you’ll be met with a scene reminiscent of Beatlemania in the 60s.

So ardent and determined are their fans that they have been known to go to great lengths to get near the foursome.

In fact a fan recently caused a safety scare in the reception of a hotel they were staying in. The boys’ security noticed a suitcase in a hotel reception they were staying in was moving. Thinking it was a bomb the area was apparently evacuated only for it to transpire that a fan had hidden herself in a suitcase in the hope that she would be delivered to one of the boys’ rooms!

So what is it about these young men that has changed them from losers on The X Factor to a megastar band? The answer is charisma, and lots of it!

Meeting JLS is never a disappointment: the charming ads laugh and joke and make time for everyone!

And, thankfully the success has not gone to the lads’ heads and they’re just as excitable, appreciative and chatty as ever – as In Demand’s Romeo found out for No.1…

It’s great to have you guys back in Scotland! Two no.1 singles, two Brit awards… what would you say has been the highlight of the last year?
Oritsé: Our shows in Scotland!

Do you think the Scottish fans are different to others?
Marvin: They’re very enthusiastic should we say!
JB: We’ve been to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, Dumfries and Hamilton and got the most amazing response every time. It’s not a cliché, every time we come it’s amazing!
Aston: Yeah, Marvin’s right at home here!
Marvin: I’m a bit Scottish!

Oh you’re Scottish Marvin? Well do you know this one – have you ever thrown you granny off a bus?
[All start singing] Have you ever thrown yer granny off a bus? Oh you cannae shove yer granny, ‘cause she’s yer mammy’s mammy, oh you cannae shove yer granny off a bus! [All laugh uproariously]

Oh Aston, I think you want to be Scottish too!
Aston: Och aye!
Marvin: Irn Bru!
Oritsé: Braehead!

That’s actually a Scottish shopping centre but never mind! Anyway, congratulations on The Brits!
Marvin: Well it was in Glasgow that we won two MOBOs so we have great fortune here!
Oritsé: It’s the lucky Scottish charm.

After your performance at The Brits your idol Jay-Z gave you the thumbs up!
Oritsé: It was so weird because we were walking backstage and there were so many famous people we were bumping into, which is still something you don’t get used to! But then Jay-Z walked through the middle of us like hip hop royalty! And as he walked past, Aston and I looked up at him and we said, “Hey what’s up man?”

And what did Jay-Z say back to you?
Marvin: He just said, “What’s up?” And then we saw him later at his after party and he sent over lots of Champagne for us and we gave the cool little head nod to each other.
Aston: Then we started giggling like little girls saying, “That’s Jay-Z, that’s Jay-Z!”

When you’re backstage what’s on the JLS rider?
Marvin: It’s pretty boring to be honest!
JB: We’ve got crisps, red wine that we never ever drink and sweets that Aston will not stop munching!
Marvin: And Berocca and Listerine – it’s not very rock ‘n’ roll!

What can we expect from a JLS concert?
Marvin: It’s usually complete mayhem! Because JLS plus our supporters… I’m telling you that’s like one big explosion!
Aston: When we get on stage we can’t hear ourselves, the crowd can’t hear themselves, it’s a whole heap of noise!

Do you get used to all of the screaming fans?
Aston: Last time we were here I don’t think we could walk 100 metres to our car in one piece and you can’t get used to that! But we love it, it means people have come out to support us and to enjoy the JLS show.
Oritsé: We just wish we could spend more time with our fans but from a security point of view we can’t stop and chat, which is frustrating for us because that’s what we want to do!

Are you going to break any ladies’ hearts by telling us right now that you’re all married or engaged?
Aston: No one’s married and no one’s engaged!
Oritsé: We’ve all been out with girls of course but there’s nothing official at the moment.
Aston: Nothing official at all!

Is the next big plan for JLS to crack America?
Oritsé: There’s been a lot of talk about it and we know that there is going to be a song released there soon and we’re going to be over there to do some promotion, but our main focus is the UK. This is our home. We’ve got a tour here at the end of the year and a second album to work on, any other territories are a bonus!

Listen to Romeo on IN:DEMAND from 7pm on Scotland's biggest stations

 

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