From Above

Ashley Shaw

Growing up in Sheffield, UK, Ashley was bullied by her classmates and found solace in pop music sung by artists such as Beyoncé, Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears. By the time she was 12, she was writing songs about her experiences. Always one to try new things, Ashley auditioned to be on a BBC1 national dance competition reality show, Dance X, where she became friends with From Above group member Chelsey Reynolds. When Chelsey approached her to audition for From Above, Ashley leapt at the opportunity. Two years ago, Ashley was diagnosed with Addison’s disease, a rare disorder that occurs when the adrenal glands no longer produce sufficient amounts of various hormones, including adrenaline. Although this condition is treatable, the effects have hindered her energy. But Ashley, now 21, is determined to push herself in every way—just as she always has—and not let anything get in the way of her dream of being a pop star.

“My mother used to get me to sing songs by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey on the steps of our house when I was four,” says Ashley. “Growing up, I listened to Michael Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Britney Spears and, Christina Aguilera. I used to make up dance routines in the school hallways and people were always copying my dance moves. When I was twelve, I started writing songs to instrumentals on YouTube. I must have done about three hundred—they were like my personal diary –and then they got deleted from my computer. My mum saw an ad on television for Dance X and she said I should go for it. I didn’t think I was good enough, but I figured I had nothing to lose. I ended up going from one stage of the competition to another, and although I loved dancing, my singing was even stronger. There was nothing that could compare to the feeling of being onstage.”

Chelsey Reynolds

Chelsey was destined to become a performer. At age four, her mother enrolled her in Janice Sutton’s School of Dance. By the time she was 10, Chelsey was performing at the London Palladium. At 16, Chelsey went to a performing arts college in Blackpool, where she trained in dance, performance and drama. Once she graduated, she competed in BBC 1's singing and dancing show, Dance X. Chelsey worked with choreographers and vocal coaches such as Arlene Philips, Ashley Wallen, Derek Hough, CeCe Sammy and Joshua Alamu. Chelsey made the final round of the show, and was also part of the group made up of runners-up of the competition. After Dance X, Chelsey attended dance classes and auditions in London as often as possible to further her career in performance. It was at one of these auditions that Chelsey, now 23, became part of From Above.

“I started dancing when I was three,” says Chelsey. My mother took me to ballet classes initially as a way to get my toes working properly because I was born with my toes pointing inwards. Once I started doing shows from the age of five, I never thought I would do anything other than be onstage and in front of an audience. Growing up, I listened to R&B—Justin Timberlake, Usher, Destiny’s Child—and I always loved pop music. I went to a performing arts college and then my mum saw the ad for Dance X. I didn’t expect to get that far but we kept going, me and Ashley. We didn’t win, but I knew something good would come out of it...and it did, with From Above.”

Daisy Evans

Daisy was an avid singer and dancer long before joining From Above. From the age of 11 to 14, the Essex native was a member of the British pop group S-Club 8 (formerly S-Club Juniors). They performed at Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and a sold-out UK arena tour, and had two Top 10 albums and seven Top 10 singles—three of which reached #2 on the UK charts. S-Club also gave Daisy her first foray into television with the drama series I Dream, which was on BBC 1 and other channels around the world. Daisy then returned to school to finish her last two years. She became part of a sports dance team, which over time became the group From Above. Daisy is the longest standing member of the group.

“My dad was a soul and R&B disc jockey, so I heard a lot of music growing up,” says Daisy. “I always danced and I loved singing. I also heard whatever was on the radio—Beyoncé, Destiny’s Child, The Spice Girls. I auditioned for S Club Juniors when I was 10 and from then on, being with S Club 8 was amazing. Having the experience of being in the music industry with the group until I was 15 was incredible. I was living my dream, doing things that most people my age never get to do and I knew I didn’t want to do anything else.”

Monique Robert

Unlike her group mates in From Above, 23-year-old Monique was a late bloomer when it came to singing and dancing. As a child she was active in sports, which morphed into an interest in dance, which became her passion by the time she was 17. Monique completed an A level in dance at Lewisham College and then moved to London Studio Centre on a full scholarship. From there, she was a professional dancer with dance companies Zoonation and Boy Blue, and performed with artists such as Kanye West, Sugababes and Ne-Yo. During this time, Monique joined a pop band called Beyond. Although her time in the band was short-lived, she realizes that she had a passion for singing too. Soon thereafter, Monique successfully auditioned to become the fifth member of From Above.

“Music has always been there—I was a huge fan of Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five,” says Monique. “I listened to Luther Vandross, Kool & The Gang, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. Sunday afternoons after church, I’d make up songs and dance routines. I was also into sports, swimming, and aerobics. I was studying science in school—until I saw a dance production and I knew I wanted to be a dancer. I had a real passion for it. I joined a singing group and we did some live shows with (British artists) The Sugarbabes and McFly, and I realized I wasn’t just a dancer anymore, I was an artist and I wanted to make the audiences would feel whatever I was feeling.”

[Deborah] Seyi Joshua

Born in the UK to Nigerian parents, Seyi first performed at the age of six. At 14, she joined the London Community Gospel Choir, headed by Basil Meade, through which she performed around the world, including a four-week tour of Japan. Seyi signed her first record deal with Sir George Martin, the legendary producer of the Beatles, and became an accomplished songwriter. Her most notable songs include "You Will See" for former Spice Girl Mel C’s successful solo debut Beautiful Intentions, “White Lies,” for the latest Chipmunk album, featuring “Dirty Money,” as well as songs featured on Head Kandi and African Twins compilation albums. Seyi has written and worked with a number of industry heavyweights, such as Bryan-Michael Cox, Rob Knoxx, Cameron Wallace, Joshua Tree, and Joe and Brian Higgins.

“To be honest, the first artist I really heard was Tina Turner—my mum reminded me a lot of her and she used to listen to her all the time,” says Seyi. “When I was around eight or nine, I came across music videos, and when I saw Madonna, that’s who I wanted to be! I listened to Michael Jackson, Brandy, and Destiny’s Child. When I was 13, I got to go to Japan for three weeks with the London Gospel Community Choir, and even though I was one of the youngest in the group, I got to do two solos. It was uplifting and exhilarating. With the choir, I sang background vocals for P. Diddy and Groove Armada, and, when I was 16, I worked with Sir George Martin (the producer of The Beatles) on tracks for a possible solo album. Then, I started recording a lot of music with (UK producer) Harmony (‘H-Money’) Samuels—I thought we’d take over the world like Missy Elliott and Timbaland. Then, when I was 18, I wrote a song that was meant for my own project and somehow it got to Melanie C. I kept recording solo until I started working with From Above.”