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Mis-Teeq
Left to right: Nash, Washington, and Dixon
Background information
Origin	United Kingdom
Genres	R&B, urban, pop, dance-pop, UK garage, 2-step garage, rap
Years active	1999—2005
Labels	Warner, Telstar, Reprise
Associated acts	Baby Cham, Joe, So Solid Crew
Website	Official site
Former members
Alesha Dixon Su-Elise Nash Sabrina Washington Zena McNally (1999-2001)

Mis-Teeq were a British R&B girl group, comprising singers Alesha Dixon, Su-Elise Nash and Sabrina Washington. Originally a quartet which included Zena McNally, the group was formed in 1999 and released three major studio albums and seven consecutive UK top ten singles, including international hits such as "All I Want", "One Night Stand" and "B With Me".

Following the release of their self-titled U.S. album and the single "Scandalous" in 2004, the band's record label Telstar Records went bankrupt,¹ in January 2005 Mis-Teeq eventually announced their disbandment.

History

1999: Formation

Alesha Dixon and Sabrina Washington met when they both joined Dance Attic (a popular dance school in West London), and decided to form a duo. They started recording a demo album titled Inspiration, and soon met Su-Elise Nash during an audition, and then together they formed a trio. They were then signed to Inferno Records by Pat Travers who went on to sign them to Telstar Records with the addition of a new member, Zena McNally, and became the Garage/R&B band, Mis-Teeq.

2000-2002: Rise to Fame

After months of recording - including sessions with producers Norwegian duo Stargate, Ed Case, Blacksmith, Rishi Rich, and Ceri Evans - Mis-Teeq finally released their debut single "Why?". Originally an R&B song (co-written and produced by David Brant), a remix version by Matt "Jam" Lamont soon became a smash in the underground UK garage scene, and as a result a second music video for the song was filmed and released. While "Why" became a hit on the UK singles chart, reaching the top 10 with a peak position of number 8 despite its appearance on a number of dance compilations and an early lack of media support, Zena McNally consequently decided to leave the lineup in spring 2001.

Mis-Teeq's original line up, including McNally (far left), in "Why?"

The three remaining women went on to release their second single "All I Want" in June 2001 Co-written and originally produced by David Brant & Produced and Remixed by Ceri Evans aka Sunship. The song topped the success of the trio's debut single and became a number 2 hit in the UK, simultaneously entering the top 30 of the Australian singles chart. On October 27, 2001, the band finally released their debut album, Lickin' on Both Sides. The album became a platinum success and sold more than 300,000 copies domestically.² Outside the UK, however, Lickin' on Both Sides failed to chart or sell noticeably.

Nevertheless Mis-Teeq saw instant international success with their Stargate-produced third single "One Night Stand": While the song peaked at no. 5 on the UK singles chart, it also entered the top 20 in Australia, New Zealand, Norway, and Denmark. In 2002, the band's fourth single, "Be with Me", continued the group's remarkable sales with another top 10 entry in the UK. The last release from Lickin' on Both Sides was a double A-side of "Roll on" and the Montell Jordan cover "This Is How We Do It", latter song being featured on the soundtrack for Ali G's 2002 film Ali G Indahouse.

Their album is featured on the popular driving game Midtown Madness.

2003: Eye Candy

Returning from a short hiatus, Mis-Teeq released their second album, Eye Candy on March 29, 2003. The album featured production by Stargate, Ed Case, Salaam Remi, singer Joe, and Jermaine Dupri and debuted at its peak position of number six on the UK albums chart, eventually receiving a gold certification.² While Eye Candy's sales failed to link on the sudden success of Lickin' on Both Sides, pre-released lead single "Scandalous" became the group's most successful single by then: It reached the top ten in the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, and Denmark.

In June 2003 the album's second single "Can't Get It Back" became the band's seventh and final domestic top ten single. Originally a remake of the same-titled unreleased Blaque single from 2002, Mis-Teeq and Telstar agreed not to use album version, instead releasing the alternate "Ignorants Radio Edit" as an official single version. The song also was included on a Special Edition of Eye Candy which was released in December of the same year and spawned a third single with "Style". However the song failed to reach the UK top 10 and eventually peaked at number 13.

"Scandalous" was released in the USA in May 2004 (under another label, Reprise Records) and reached number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart in June, making it their only USA hit. The song was featured as the theme of the film Catwoman, starring Halle Berry, in Summer 2004.

After the announcement of their split in 2005 they released a compilation album, Greatest Hits, containing a new track, a cover of The Andrews Sisters 1940s song "Shoo Shoo Baby", and they were awarded a 2005 Soul Train Lady of Soul Nomination for Best R&B/Soul Album - Group, Band or Duo for their album "Mis-Teeq".

A reworked version of their hit single "Scandalous" can be heard in the new commercial for the Giorgio Armani fragrance, 'Armani Code'.

Solo

It was scheduled for Dixon to release her debut album Fired Up during 2007, however the album's UK release was cancelled due to the poor reception of the first two singles "Lipstick" and "Knock Down" which charted at number 14 and number 45 respectively.

Fired Up did however achieve moderate success in Japan. Her comeback single, "The Boy Does Nothing" (co-written by Brian Higgins) was received much more positively, reaching number 5 on the UK single chart and the top twenty in various other European countries. Her follow-up single, "Breathe Slow", followed it into the top 10 in early 2009. "Breathe Slow" has so far become Dixon's most successful single peaking on the UK charts at number 3. The Alesha Show debuted on the UK charts at number 26. However, after the success of "Breathe Slow" it climbed to reach a new peak of 12. The Alesha Show has so far been certified platinum by the BPI, selling in excess of 300,000 copies in the UK.²³ The next single was released on the 11th of May 2009 and is entitled "Let's Get Excited". Dixon started her first UK headlining tour, The Alesha Show, in October 2009.

Sabrina, who changed her stage title to Puma Washington, released a demo titled "Pocket Rocket" in June 2006. The single was expected to be released in Autumn 2006, but Puma decided to work harder to improve on her debut album and wait for a specific time to have her debut album (to be titled Comfort Zone) released, without being specific about when that might be. As of November 2009, it is still awaiting release. The star featured in the ITV1 reality TV show 'I'm a Celebrity Get me Out Of Here!' Nov/Dec 2009 (finishing in 6th place), which may bring about her debut album.

Su-Elise, who has gone back to university to get her business degree, is currently hard at work on her debut album said to be released next year. She describes it as "R&B" and is possibly the only member of Mis-Teeq to stay with the genre left from the band. In 2008 she was in the jury of a TV-casting show called "Britain's Next Urban Superstar", broadcast on Flava(UK), a cable channel.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Soundtracks

References

External links

• Mis-Teeq MySpace Profile
• Interview with Alesha in 2006 on I Like Music
• 2005 Lady of Soul Awards
• Mis-Teeq: Posh Spice ruined our record label Contactmusic.com, 20 May, 2004.
• Mis-Teeq's Su-Elise presenting Behind The Oscars on LA Muscle TV