Girls Can't Catch

Take three feisty young girls with extraordinary voices. Add some of the freshest sounds from the cream of the UK's pop writing and production talent. And then there's street-savvy attitude, a touch of class and hell of a lot of fun. That's Girls Can't Catch.

Girls Can't Catch are the new girls on the block. Possessed with swoopingly soulful voices, between the three of them they've sung with gospel choirs, top R&B stars and in front of literally millions – more of which later. "We've got a pop sound but with a slightly darker edge," says raven-haired Phoebe. "And we're all so different," interrupts a freshly-cropped Daizy. "Phoebe's a bit of a rebel, Jess is a sweet girl with a real street style and I'm a bit a of vamp – in a nice way, of course!"

Girls Can't Catch arrive with a bagful of smash hits. Girlband alumni Shaznay Lewis has penned the surefire radio hit 'Turn Me Up'. 'Happy Alone' is a kiss-off to an ungrateful ex that hits a groove and doesn't let up. The song is written by the platinum-plus team of Niara Scarlett and Jamie Reddington (who between them have worked with everyone from the gritty UK hip hop of Skinnyman and Roots Manuva to the polished pop of Girls Aloud and Mutya Buena). Then there's the punchy positivity anthem of lead single 'Keep Your Head Up', written by Ivor Novello-winner Chris Braide (James Morrison, Kylie). "That song feels like our theme tune at the moment," says Phoebe. "No matter what life throws at you, you've got to keep going and go for what you believe in. And it's a bloody good tune you can't get out of your head!"

The story of the girls and how they came together as a frisky threesome newly signed to premier British pop label Fascination – home to Girls Aloud, The Jonas Brothers and Sophie Ellis-Bextor amongst others – is a testament to how raw talent, a little luck and a lot of perseverance can always see you through in the end.

Dark-haired 18 year-old Phoebe Brown is English, Italian and Filipino. She holds an American passport. She had 12 teeth removed between the ages of 12 and 14. The first record she bought was Mariah Carey and Jay-Z's 'Heartbreaker.' At school she was always on report for bad behaviour. She has watched Titanic over 20 times. She has a brother who's 16 and a sister who's 18 months old.

Two years ago Phoebe was on telly every week singing to 10 million people and had everyone whispering in her ear how she was going to be a huge star off the bat. X Factor fans will remember Phoebe as the little girl with the blonde streak in her hair who fronted Hope and routinely stunned voters belting out tunes like 'Back To Black' and 'Umbrella.' Hope made it to the top five before the X dream came to an abrupt end.

"It got to the point where I was going to give up completely and get a normal job," says Phoebe. "And then this came along and suddenly everything clicked. We all really get on - no fighting about who's going to sing what bits in the studio! It's amazing."

18-year old Jess Stickley has a cake in the shape of Kanye West's head in her fridge. She is an only child but has 13 cousins. Jess has never drunk tea or coffee. The gig she is most looking forward to seeing this year is Ciara. She is addicted to hi-tops and has over 20 pairs. Her granddad David Stickley was a successful singer in the 60s and owned his own club.

Jess' path to finding her musical mates has been eventful to say the least. As a little blonde girl growing up in Bournemouth she developed an intense love of American R&B (she loves Keyshia Cole and Common, and don't even get her started on Kanye West) and by her early teens was already singing in a 50-piece gospel choir.

Her biggest break happened last year where it had all started for her — in her bedroom. "I've sung in my bedroom for as long as I can remember," she laughs. "Then I heard about this Motorokstar competition to find new singers. I just filmed myself in my bedroom singing 'Stand By Me' acapella and sent it off." Before she knew it a national vote led to her making it into the top 10 and winning an all expenses paid trip to New York to record for five days with Jay Z and Alicia Keys' producer, Freek.

"It opened up a whole other world to me. That's where I met Jordan Jay (the A&R behind Girls Can't Catch) and he called me after I got back and asked me to audition for the group. I can't believe it's all happened so fast, it's like a dream."

Daizy Agnew, 24, was born in what was to become her bedroom. She grew up on a University campus in Brighton. She reads tarot cards and is into astrology. Last year she dyed her hair blonde and it was such a disaster she ended up cutting her long locks off. She has a brother she has met only once. Her bathroom is green and pink.

Daizy laughs as she describes herself as 'a woman with experience' but she's not fibbing. Recording her own album at 15, having one of her songs recorded by urban producer SoundBwoy and even running for Eurovision ("Don't ask!") Daizy's certainly been busy.

Daizy's biggest break to date came in the shape of the Hugo Urban Rules awards 2006. "Even my mum said you haven't got a chance in hell," she laughs. 'But I always love it when people say I can't do something - it makes me more determined. I said I'm going to win it – and I did." Having wowed a panel that included US R&B star Joe and Brit hip hop star Sway, the win lead to Daizy's first official recording which ultimately brought her to the attention of Fascination Records.

"The thing about all of us is we've all done different things but as soon as we got together it all finally started slotting into place," says Daizy. "We all share leads and our vocals blend really well," adds Jess. "It's like we've been singing together forever. I can't wait to get out there and show people what we can do."

And that will happen soon as the girls are gearing up for a huge national arena tour supporting Girls Aloud where the band will unveil their funky, electro-infused power pop to an unsuspecting public.

Oh, one last thing. That name?

"People always ask twice when you say Girls Can't Catch," laughs Phoebe. 'My mum was like 'huh, what did you say?" "Actually I think it's quite clever," adds Jess.

"It's like taking an old saying which kind of means 'girls are a bit rubbish' and turning it on its head, poking fun at it..." "Because the fact is we're three girls who can do anything we want," interrupts Daizy. "And right now we're doing exactly what we've wanted to do all our lives."