简介：Destiny may have brought them together, but genuine camaraderie has kept FDM sane and on a path toward international stardom. Their union in 2003 quickly surfaced as the genesis of a global package to be, one that has come to mean so much to so many in their native UK. And like their American idols – Michael Jackson, Usher and Ne-Yo – FDM has consistently shown the desire to represent an essential ingredient to music that didn’t exist prior to their emergence as an overseas sensation. Proving they are indeed “Fundamental” to the game, the trio – Jermaine, Kyle and Varren – has matured at a frenetic pace in the space of six years. In the process, they’ve garnered the attention of most major labels, before ultimately committing to Geffen Records and then Ne-Yo’s Atlanta based Compound Entertainment. By honoring their musical roots with every carefully penned song and executing every step with pinpoint precision, FDM promises to deliver a product that reminisces over generations past. Ironically, as rapidly as they grew on others, they developed their own kinship, nothing short of an eternal brotherhood. Even though Jermaine has been touted as the group’s front man since the move to the states, their “two against one policy,” has always worked to engender a cohesiveness that has helped them survive each other’s company for six trying years. “We all have identical focus and drive,” says Jermaine. “We all stand out on the same level and we all have the same goal and that is that FDM has to be one of the biggest groups in the world at some point.” Sparked by the UK smash hits “Jump” and “Playground,” which were officially released to their adoring public in 2006, FDM created an unimaginable following and earned nominations for numerous awards along the way. Among them were three UMAs, two of which they won and a MOBO nomination for “Best Newcomer,” which they eventually lost out to fellow UK newcomer Corrine Bailey Rae. Setbacks aside, FDM is something the UK had never seen before. A deft combination of multiple boy groups that came and went, they assumed the onus of learning from their predecessors mistakes and gained all the necessary tools to garner uncharted success. Without the benefit of an album to promote or millions of digital downloads to lean on, FDM gained momentum by turning in incredible live performances every chance they got. Several local showings in 2004 eventually landed them a shot at UK Unsigned and they didn’t waste it, winning in convincing fashion. “If someone performed before us and they danced, we would actually aim to take them out,” says the group’s youngest member, Varren. Kyle, the eldest and arguably most athletic of the three agrees, adding, “We made it a pride thing because dancing had become really huge in London. If you’re going to bring it, bring it.” Their impressive showing off caught the attention of daWorks Records, who in turn alerted David Wade (Varren’s father) that FDM was the ‘real deal.’ The independent label signed the boys shortly thereafter, then immediately booked them for a tour and more live shows. Since then FDM has warmed up the stage for the likes of Bobby Valentino, Missy Elliot, Jodeci, Cameo, Omarion, Ginuwine, Jagged Edge, 112, Ray J, Ne-Yo and Sugababes, among others. In 2005 with Wade managing their business affairs, FDM had the opportunity to shoot three videos – “Playground,” “Wait a While” and “Party People” – in one sleepless weekend. The collective thought among the group was to “bombard the industry” and that they did. With a good amount of tracks to choose from FDM ultimately decided on officially releasing “Jump” and “Playground” on March 13th 2006. “After we dropped the singles we knew we needed an album,” says Varren. “They skyrocketed and everybody had a high expectation for the album, which we should have dropped and were in the process of preparing.” Accordingly, those expectations would have to wait as the entirety of what would have been the tracklist of their debut album, Backstage Pass, was leaked to the Internet. Despite another delay, FDM stayed the course and eventually got a call from Geffen. Eight months later, they signed on the dotted line and left for Los Angeles in November of 2007. Prior to the Geffen deal, FDM and Ne-Yo crossed paths at a show they were doing in Norway. He relayed to them that he was familiar with their music and proved it by singing a part of one of their songs on the spot. As fate would have it, they met again months later in London at Ne-Yo’s concert. While the boys were there for sheer pleasure, Ne-Yo expressed an interest in signing them and worked to do just that. Upon returning home to sort out their visas on July 24th of 2008, FDM waited another six months for the Compound deal to be negotiated, touring all the while. By January 16, 2009 it was official and they flew out to Atlanta three days later. With perhaps more focus than they’d ever had before, FDM recorded their official Compound co-signed debut in just over a month. With the help of in-house producers and writers (Bei Maejor, Sam Hook, D. Smith, Chuck Harmony, Rykeyz, etc.), the album is nothing short of astonishing, sans any collaborations besides Ne-Yo. A composite of carefully crafted tracks, all equally powerful, it echoes legendary soulful installments while simultaneously pushing the current R&B/pop branded envelope. “It’s three guys from the UK coming over here combining forces with literally one of the biggest songwriters in the world,” says Jermaine. “It’s a big deal. It’s bigger than us. We’re just grateful that God put us in this position.” “Future In You,” written by Ne-Yo, is a fitting introduction that addresses the obvious between an optimistic couple. “It’s basically letting a girl know that, ‘when I look at you, I can see everything we’re going to be in the future,’” says Jermaine. “We could also put a clever twist on it as far as R&B and where it’s going to go in the future.” In combining irresistible charm with remarkable dance steps and an unmoving zest for their craft, South London natives Jermaine, Kyle and Varren, conquered their homeland before arriving in the states looking to secure themselves as a worldwide phenomenon. ‘The boy group from London’ that proved to be on par with their American counterparts, FDM is now the standard by which young Black male artists in the UK gauge themselves… and they’re just getting started.