12:25pm Thursday 12th April 2012
By Rosy Moorhead
Three singers and dancers from Harrow who call themselves MITSOTU are doing rather well in a battle of the bands competition at the moment. But, with a £10,000 prize up for grabs, the prospect of playing festivals across the UK and Europe, a tour and a grand final in London’s The O2, Live & Unsigned is a battle of the bands unlike any other.
Holly Cooper, 22, James Collins, 22, and Jimmy Essex, 23, were one of only five acts to make it through the regional finals at the Beck Theatre in Hayes in March to win a place in the area finals in May.
“We got such a great response,” says James, from north Harrow, “the crowd was amazing. And then one of the judges came up to us afterwards and told us we’d got full marks, he said we were outstanding.”
The three friends seamlessly blended together a song of their own, Won’t Go Down, and a cover version of Rihanna’s You Da One. After hearing they’d made it through, says James, “we were running about screaming, we had so much adrenaline, we’d put so much into it, that we could have gone on and done a whole show!”
Now the band is busy getting ready for the area finals in May, rehearsing every day, writing new music and doing other gigs. The next round will involve another original and another cover – they will be mixing Labrinth’s Earthqauke with the original Break Your Heart.
“We’re really excited,” says James, “we just want to get there and do it. Any chance to get in front of a crowd, we love it.”
James and Jimmy met when they were just seven, at Soul Performing Arts School in Ruislip, and went on to the Urdang Academy of performing arts in Finsbury when they were 16, where they met Holly.
They formed their band, whose name is an acronym of the quote ‘music is the soul of the universe', a year and a half ago and have been performing and producing their blend of pop and rock ever since.
They are playing at Showcase Live at Stamford Bridge on Monday, April 16, an industry night with record label talent scouts and producers in attendance that in the past has played host to Jessie J and JLS, and are planning on releasing their own EP later in the year.
There’s no underestimating just how much a win at Live & Unsigned would mean to MITSOTU. “It would be incredible for us.” James says. “This is the dream.”
MITSOTU are playing in the Live & Unsigned regional finals at The Beck Theatre, Grange Road, Hayes in May. The competition is being screened on Sky TV this summer. Details: www.liveandunsigned.uk.com
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