This classically trained band are composed of members: Matt Stiff aged 24 from Grimsby, Jonathon Ansell aged 22 from Bognor Regis, Michael Christie aged 23 from Surrey and Ben Thapa aged 22 from Cambridge. This quartet have been working as professional vocalists and street entertainers. Jonathon had singing lessons since age 12 while all the other members are classically trained. They all met while studying at the Guildhall School of Music And Drama. Ben spoke about the band: "Hopefully, we will encourage young guys to start singing and they will realise it's a cool thing to do, not something that's a bit snobby or a bit geeky. And it shows you don't have to do pop to get into this business." Jonathon spoke about the auditions: "I found the whole audition process very, very stressful. Just to get through the first round was exciting enough. To get through the next round was ridiculous and going in front of the judging panel was just surreal. If we get knocked out on Saturday there maybe some more tears." Matt spoke of the reaction of his home town of Grimsby: "I texted a friend to say: 'Are you watching the show?' He replied saying: 'Are you serious? The whole of Grimsby is watching the show' It's funny that Verity and I are both from the same town. I didn't know her but we lived ten minutes apart and I delivered newspapers to her road."
Q & As
Occupation? All graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Any formal singing training? Yes!
What part of The X Factor do you have?
Jon: We’re unique both in styling and vocals; we don’t conform to any genre or bracket of music and we feel that we perform competently all the styles which we have been challenged to do to date.
Matt: I wouldn’t call us crossover yet, but that might be a label that comes up because people think our style is operatic but it’s really not.
Mike: Exactly. People are waiting to pigeon hole us and we’re not really conforming to that.
Why will people vote for you?
Mike: Much the same answer really. We’re very different and very new, it’s something people haven’t heard before.
Jon: But people are very bored of pop and pre-fabricated music, pop groups and boy bands, I think we offer something different but completely entertaining
Matt: We are 4 boys but we’re not a boy band.
Ben: It’s the surprise element. Every time we stand up to do a song they won’t know how we’ll work it.
What’s the best thing about your judge?
Jon: His track record with groups.
Ben: He’s been able to market some groups in amazing ways and he’s had success over a long period of time which is very rare to see.
Why are you glad you didn’t get the other two?
Jon: Simon seems to be a bit of his own entity, he’s kind of out for himself to a certain extent which I don’t think would have boded well in the long term and Sharon’s more of a celebrity.
Matt: They might not have put us through. They both have their good qualities and certain bad qualities but before we knew who it was we didn’t really have any preference. They were all so positive.
What are your personal goals?
Ben: Just to further our musical careers.
Matt: I agree, if this hadn’t happened I would be trying to get a job somewhere. It’s a great opportunity and we enjoy doing what we do.
Jon: Just to continue progressing to as high a level as I can, that’s always been my dream. It stared off to just be able to sing, but to actually earn a living off it is just wicked.
Mike: Same for me. I can’t really better that.
Last CD you bought?
Mike: Faure’s Requiem
Ben: Rigoletto by Verdi
Matt: Red Hot Chili Peppers
Jon: Cosi Fan Tutti
What music would we be surprised that you own?
Matt: I’ve got a Marilyn Manson album.
Jon: Gareth Gates Unchained Melodies
Ben: Coldplay
Mike: Britney Spears
Which artist do you most resemble/ identify with?
Jon. We don’t. I think that’s the point.
Ben: Lots of people confuse us with Il Divo but we’re not like that. The thing we’re most excited about is that there’s not really a place they can pigeon hole us, they’ve tried calling us a Barber Shop quartet or Operatic ensemble but we’re not really that either.
What do you sing in the shower?
Jon: A Whole New World from Aladdin
Matt: Any aria that I’m learning.
Mike: Just whatever’s in my head.
Ben: Any opera tune
What’s one thing that would surprise the public about you?
Ben: That we’re all the same as any other young people. We’re not aliens who went off and had classical training! People think we’re loaded but we realised the other day we’re just glorified tramps trying to scrape two pennies to put together for the next pint.
Matt: We go out and drink the same as everyone else and we don’t live in mansions.
What would be your one Diva Demand?
Ben: Keira Knightly
Matt: A crate of Jack Daniels
Jon: A masseuse.
Mike: It sounds really sad but internet access.
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