The Hollyoaks Music Show with Matalan
Episode Two
N-Dubz
You might not know this, but N-Dubz make music for your Mum, your Dad and your Nan. It's true! It says so on their website! So, the next time your Nan's knitting you a jumper and her gramophone's booming out some dirty urban beats, well, you now know she's listening to the tunes of London's finest hip-hop/R&B three-piece.
The trio - with a sound suitable for all generations – have now featured on five (that's FIVE) top 30 hits. They've achieved this most admirable achievement through a potent concoction of hard work and hats. Of course, the group are known for songs like 'Ouch', 'Papa Can You Hear Me?', and their cameo on Tinchy Stryder's number one 'Number One', but just after the hits come the hats.
The Chullo's a Peruvian/Bolivian hat known as 'The Dappy hat' - named after none other than rap-slinging N-Dubz member Dappy. Now, there's not many other pop stars who can claim to have had that honour bestowed upon them, apart from maybe Beanie Man...
N-Dubz perform without a 'Dappy hat' in sight in our episode two gallery!
The Veronicas
When I heard we were going to have twins on The Hollyoaks Music Show with Matalan.co.uk I thought Sophie and Mel 'misery guts' Burton were coming back to Hollyoaks village. But no, they're still dead. The twins the producers had in mind were an all-singing, all-dancing duo. The Olsen twins? No, hotter than that and a bit more, well... better.
The Veronicas (named The Veronicas presumably because their actual surname, Origliasso, is a bit unpronounceable) are a big hit in their homeland down under and we're quietly confident their electo-rock-pop melange will be a hit over here too. This Australia to UK success factor is something I like to call 'The Neighbours Principle'.
The Veronicas are well on their way to fulfilling The Neighbours Principle after releasing top 20 single '4Ever' and touring with Natasha Bedingfield, Hanson, and, steady yourselves ladies, the Jonas Brothers.
The Aussie twins get up close and personal in our episode two gallery!
Alphabeat
Us folk at The Hollyoaks Music Show with Matalan.co.uk don't have many rules to get us by in life, but we strictly follow this one: "If 50% of a band's members are called Anders the band in question will be awesome." Well, what do you know. Three out of Alphabeat's six members are called Anders and, hey, they're awesome.
What is it about Scandinavians having this innate ability to write perfect pop songs? Abba, erm, Basshunter, and now Alphabeat. It must be something in the water... or the flat-pack furniture. Whatever it is, Alphabeat have had three top 20 singles in the UK charts, including monster smash 'Fascination', which wouldn't have been out of place on the soundtrack of 80s musical 'Footloose'. This is a good thing.
The sextet return this autumn with their second album 'The Spell' and with it promise to bring back a return of early 90s dance-pop. Oh yes!
Alphabeat make turquoise suits cool in our episode two gallery
Groucutt & Haynes
Groucutt & Haynes are the second unsigned act to appear on The Hollyoaks Music Show with Matalan.co.uk, but will you think they're second best? Andy Moss (Rhys) their mentor thinks otherwise! Read all about them here!
G&H lay down some upbeat acoustic vibes in the episode two gallery!
Episode Two Gallery
Alphabeat make turquoise suits cool, N-Dubz perform without a 'Dappy hat' in sight, Lil' Tom becomes a controversial rapper, and The Veronicas get a bit too close to one another considering they're related... eeee!...
Episode Two Interviews
Like some sort of pop psychologist, N-Dubz lay down on my metaphorical green sofa to tell me their social networking woes, while Alphabeat let on that you too can be in their band if you speak Danish. True facts...