FFWD Weekly
Copyright © 1997. All Rights Reserved.
Sex matters with Allure
New York vocal group get on top without selling themselves shortAllure
Friday, November 21 Polish Canadian Cultural Centre
Saturday, November 22 at Club ExcessWhile some may complain about their lack of musical talent and integrity, and their commercial endorsements, the biggest problem with the lovely Spice Girls is that there's five of them. Who the hell can keep track of five very different, very special young women? One gets naked, one goosed the Pope, one is chubby and underage.... How do you pick a favorite?
That's why the band Allure is a Godsend. Four women who, according to the press material (which never, ever lies), can be narrowed down to three categories of two: religion (two Catholics, two Baptists), astrological signs (two Virgos, two Leos) and character profiles (two serious, two carefree). Or to simplify things further, you may just want to call Allure one group of four friends.
The New York urban vocal group are the first signing to Mariah Carey's record label Crave and already their self-titled debut and its first single, "Head Over Heels," are heating up North American and international charts. With songs penned by Carey, Delite, Terri Robinson and Mary J. Blige, and featured guests such as Nas, Raekwon and LL Cool J, expect an even higher profile and commercial success to follow.
And while that may seem like a great deal of pressure to place on four 20-year-olds who have been friends for almost a decade, they seem to be taking it all in stride and keeping the important things in perspective.
"No, no fist-fights," laughs Linnie Belcher (Catholic, Leo, serious). "I mean we all disagree from time to time, but no cat-fights.
"Because we've been so close for so long, everything has just been taken up to a higher degree. One person's career is everyone else's in this business when you're in a group together. I think it's just made our friendship that much stronger; I think we can deal with things better because we're friends and we know each others' bad habits, good habits."
If the "no cat-fights" comment put to rest a few adolescent fantasies, the album artwork, press photos and soulful foreplay soundtrack and vocals should help renew them. The obvious danger for Allure is that people might want to focus on the image aspect of their efforts - sex still sells - and ignore the fact that their debut is actually a pretty successful blend of slow beat hip hop and extra sensual r&b.
Linnie acknowledges the shadow sex can cast on a career, but believes that it's only a problem if you have nothing else to offer.
"It's not a really big concern of ours because people are going to do it anyway," Linnie says.
"But it is a little bit of a concern people sometimes try and say that we're just sex objects or that's all our music is about, which is untrue. There's a little bit of sexiness in there, but it's not the total package.
"On the album we try to cover all sides of love: the love of losing a loved one; we cover the side of love of loving someone and not being loved back; we cover the side of trying to convince someone that I'm in love with you; and," she pauses slightly, "we cover the lustful side of love."
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