First off, some introductions: Real world, Sugar Jones. Sugar Jones, real world.
Those who eagerly tuned in to Global's reality TV docusoap Popstars saw thousands of young women audition to be one of five members who go on to form a new pop act.
The group then goes through a bootcamp a la the ABC-TV series Making the Band en route to making an album for Universal Music Canada.
From that 13-episode series emerges Sugar Jones, comprised of Julie Crochetiere, 20, from Beaconsfield, Que; Mirella Dell'Aquila, 19, St-Leonard, Que.; Andrea Henry, 21, Hamilton; Maiko Watson, 19, Winnipeg; and Sahara MacDonald, 24, Vancouver.
And from there, it's on to bright lights, big cities, perks and instant pop stardom, right?
That may be how it works on reality TV, but reality, as Sugar Jones is finding out, works a tad differently. Are they ready for what challenges lie ahead?
"We hope that we can make it up to the level that people are expecting of us," Henry says during a phone interview. "We are getting plenty of good opportunities so far."
Adds Crochetiere: "The series was a stepping stone to get to this point. The focus for all of us the whole time has been to be doing music and putting out an album. It just happened that we ended up forming a group, and that's how it's going to be. We're so happy."
They have a right to be happy. According to SoundScan Days Like That, the first single from their self-titled debut CD (released Tuesday), has already cracked the Top 5 singles charts in Canada, even spending a couple of weeks at No. 1.
But performances are starting from ground zero. Since their premiere at a tiny club in Toronto, they've been doing mostly shopping-mall appearances, including one yesterday at HMV in the St. Laurent Centre.
Performing
(Tonight at 6, they perform for contest winners at the CHUM Market Media Mall Studio, 87 George St. -- the public can watch the show from outside.)
What's taken some adjustment is being recognized as Sugar Jones, the TV pop stars.
"We perform a lot, we rehearse a lot, but all that's done late at night," Crochetiere says.
"What's interesting is when people come up to tell you, 'Remember that part where ...' Because they see it as a TV series part, it's like a movie to them."
Henry, in particular, can relate to the movie scenario. Initially, she didn't make the final cut. Her spot was instead filled by 21-year-old Toronto bartender Marla Joy Berman. But Berman was cut when she admitted stealing a handbag from a fellow contestant last October and charging $2,311 to her Visa card.
"It was weird. I had no idea that was why Michael was coming by my house at that time," Henry says. "My initial reaction when I saw him was, 'Oh yeah, that's cool' because I wondered if he could hook me up with something, get my name out there ...
"But when he told me I was in the group, I went, 'What are you talking about? I was not in the group, now you want me in the group.' Weird."
Given the Popstars framework, one would assume that out of Sugar Jones' singing labours would come a pop album. Not so.
Instead, Sugar Jones is chock full of R&B and soul flavourings.
"We all knew what the base was going to be" Henry says. "It's cool how together we deviated away from the pop."
With various producers, writers and backup singers pitching in, the girls consider I Got U -- featuring vocals from Toya Alexis, a Popstars contestant -- a personal favourite.
But there are other perks to being a pop star. Mainly, they get to meet other pop stars.
"Mirella got to meet J.C. from 'N Sync," Henry says with schoolgirl glee. "So I'm like, 'Mirella, can you just relax? It's only J.C. Okay, yeah he's cute ...' Don't get me wrong, they're nice guys. But Mirella was having a heart attack over him.
Many perks
"Anyway, I was stirring my tea and I looked down for some reason. I was staring at feet, so I moved my eyes up. I knew it was a black guy, saw this face and went hi-eee-yi ..." The face belonged to R&B singing great Brian McKnight, sending waves of ecstasy through Henry.
Asked if there were any
