Emblaze

Emblaze were a British pop/rock band that consisted of the members Daniel Darling, Paul Kitten-Smith and Michael Wilson who achieved six number one singles and three number one albums on the official Urapopstar charts between 2004 and 2007.

Sun, Sea & Girls
Emblaze were originally formed in 2003 after record label Inner'Sense Records launched a nationwide talent search to form the ‘next big boyband’ with a particular focus on young singers who could also play instruments to build on the successful pop/rock sound that had been launched by rival group Fifth Element. After several months of auditions Daniel Darling, Paul Smith and Michael Wilson were chosen from thousands of applicants to become the final band and began recording sessions for what would become their debut album.

Emblaze’s first single “All My Life” was originally premiered in January 2004 in collaboration with teen magazine Smash Hits, with TV and radio reluctant to support the group, the band instead toured schools and local clubs, performing the single around the country ahead of it’s official release on March 29, 2004 where it charted at number 11, before quickly dropping out of the charts. Shortly after this, the band released the follow-up double-A side “Crime To Solve” and “Skool Days” which again after another campaign across schools and nightclubs charted one better at number 10.

In the Summer of 2004, Emblaze announced plans to release their debut album “Sun Sea & Girls” launched by the single “Holiday Romance”, premiered in July 2004 the single would become the first of the band’s releases to receive support from mainstream media, being playlisted on Radio 1 (C-List) and Capital FM as well as the band being invited to perform on Top Of The Pops, CD:UK and Ministry of Mayhem for the first time. The single became the band’s first top five single, charting at number 4 and the album was certified Gold for sales of in excess of 290,000 copies in the UK. The band finished the campaign with “Girls In Uniform” which charted at number five.

Shortly after the release of “Girls In Uniform”, Emblaze’s record label folded leaving the boys without a recording contract, despite their more-recent success other labels were reluctant to sign the band and they eventually were able to secure a one single deal with Ensemble Entertainment.

Second Base
After the demise of their former label and keen to continue to build from the successes of “Holiday Romance” and “Girls In Uniform”, Emblaze premiered the first single from their second album just two months after the release of their first.

“Air Guitar” was issued to radio in December 2004 and now with the backing of a much larger label saw the boys undertake a huge promotional campaign across TV, radio and printed media as well as touring the country and appearing at the infamous Oxford Street Christmas Lights switch on. “Air Guitar” was released in the notoriously quiet post-Christmas sales week and the plan paid off when the single became the very first number one of 2005 and to-date remains one of the band’s biggest selling singles. From the success of “Air Guitar”, Ensemble Entertainment offered the boys a three album recording contract.

As recording sessions for their second album “Second Base” continued, the band released the follow-up “Girlfriend Threat” in March 2005 which charted at number four. In the Summer of 2005 the band launched their second album with the Aloud penned lead single “Beer Glasses and Vodka Lenses” which became their second number one single. Emblaze spend the rest of 2004 on a worldwide promotional tour visiting Europe, Asia and Australia for the first time, returning to the UK for their first arena tour.

At the end of 2005, Emblaze teamed up with Claire Kitten to release the “Front Page Baby EP” which consisted of “Front Page Baby” from Emblaze’s album, “No Escape” from Claire’s album and a new duet penned by girlASKboy “What A Waste”, the EP was a huge success and charted at number one shortly before Christmas 2005.

What A Waste
Emblaze began recording for their third album while on tour in 2004, following on from the success of their second record, the band worked once again with Claire Kitten and Russ Hooch as well as collaborating with Alesha and Jon Farley for the first time.

Emblaze’s third album “What A Waste” was launched by the single “Love Fool” in March 2006 which saw the band experiment with an edgier dance sound for the first time, both the single and the album topped the charts and certified Emblaze’s status as the biggest pop band in the UK.

After releasing the album around the world, the band returned in Summer 2006 to release the third single from the album “Easy Target” written in collaboration with Russ Hooch, the single was a record-breaking success becoming the first ever single to top the Urapopstar singles charts for three consecutive weeks. In total, the single has sold over 600,000 copies and was the biggest selling single of 2006 and remains the band’s most successful single to date.

“What A Waste” was a huge success becoming Emblaze’s first album to shift over 1,000,000 copies being certified Diamond at Christmas 2006, the album’s fourth single was the Jon Farley collaboration “Top Up My Glass” which was another number one hit.

In January 2007, Emblaze took part in the first ever ‘Tango Challenge’ and duetted with Buffi on the single ‘War Of The Roses’ which saw them embrace a harder rock sound, the single was deemed by critics to be alienating for Emblaze’s younger audience and their decision to duet with Buffi was heavily criticised, the single charted at number four and deemed a commercial failure.

Greatest Hits & Split
Following on from the fall-out of their ‘Tango Challenge’ duet with Buffi, rumours began to circular online that Emblaze were planning to split up, citing tension within the band and the members being ‘burnt-out’ from their heavy touring schedule and releasing three albums within three years. Both the band and their record label strongly denied the rumours and insisted the band were busy in the studio recording their upcoming fourth album.

However, in October 2007 Emblaze called a press conference in London announcing the end of the band and the release of their single single “Bit Of Rough” and a Greatest Hits collection, supported by a farewell tour of the UK and Ireland.

The campaign for the album was plagued by rumours the band were no longer on speaking terms and the pressure saw band member Paul Kitten-Smith temporarily leave the band during the promotion. Both the single and album reached number one and Paul rejoined the band for the final night of their farewell tour.

Albums
Sun, Sea & Girls (#5) Second Base (#1) What A Waste (#1) Hits & Shits - The Best & Worst of Emblaze (#1)

Singles
All My Life (#11) Crime To Solve/Skool Dayz (#10) Holiday Romance (#4) Girls In Uniform (#5) Air Guitar (#1) Girlfriend Threat (#4) Beer Goggles & Vodka Lenses (#1) Front Page Baby EP (with Claire Kitten) (#1) Love Fool (#1) Easy Target (#1) Top Up My Glass (with Jon Farley) (#1) War Of The Roses (with Buffi) (#4) Bit Of Rough (#1)