The X Factor USA Season 2 - Where Are They Now?
Image: Fifth Harmony/ Epic Records
Hot off the heels of the X Factor USA Season 3 premiere, I thought it would be interesting to check up on what some of the more popular acts from Season 2 were up to. For all the criticism The X Factor got last season, mostly due to some factors of production, it turns out that a good deal of the contestants have significant musical careers in the making. What have the likes of Emblem3, Diamond White, CeCe Frey, and more been up to? Where are they now? Check it out below!
The Over 25s:
Tate Stevens: Just to get this out of the way, winner Tate Stevens hasn’t had the best post-show trajectory. Selling just about 17,000 copies in its first week, Tate Stevens, his self-titled debut, seemed to bow out of the charts at a little under 40,000 copies sold to date. Not too shabby. Although, Tate Stevens is no longer listed on the RCA Nashville label’s website. In any case, good luck, Tate.
Vino Alan: As of September 10th, Vino Alan has quit the "machine" of the music industry in favor of building a more stable life for his son. He announced the news via his official Twitter. Take a look:
https://twitter.com/VinoAlan/status/377504915544764416
https://twitter.com/VinoAlan/status/377675698019639296
https://twitter.com/VinoAlan/status/378010765296291840
There you have it, Vino fans. If you're still interested in his music, he seems to be very excited about an upcoming EP which will, of course, be self-released. Hey, there's absolutely no shame in that.
The Teens:
Carly Rose Sonenclar: Season 2 Runner-up singing sensation Carly Rose Sonenclar has, to no one's surprise, inked a deal with Syco Entertainment. While a joint record deal with a major label has yet to be officially announced, it has been implied that official word will break soon. Carly Rose has been touring the country, covering old favorites and some new original tunes as well. Poised as ever, Carly Rose is coming!
https://twitter.com/CarlyRoseMusic/status/377149120248811521
Watch Tour Videos of Carly Rose Sonenclar on YouTube
Diamond White: Diamond White has taken to her personal Twitter account to announce that she is, indeed, signed to Simon Cowell's Syco Entertainment and is hard at work on an album, although any joint record label deal has yet to be confirmed. In the meantime, we can look forward to Diamond's recurring role on Nickelodeon's The Haunted Hathaways!
https://twitter.com/Diamondkwhite/status/352893300912570369
Beatrice Miller: Our first bit of a solid music update for Britney's Teens comes courtesy of the spunky and raspy Beatrice Miller. Beatrice, like Diamond and Carly Rose, signed with Syco Entertainment several months ago. In addition, an official deal with Hollywood Records (Disney) has been officially announced, and Beatrice is hard at work in the studio. Her awesome new hair inspired by Sulley from Monsters, Inc. is only a bonus!
https://twitter.com/BeatriceMiller/status/376037911247847424
Image: Beatrice Miller's Twitter
The Young Adults:
Paige Thomas: Since leaving The X Factor, Paige Thomas has dedicated herself to a career in pop. Teaming up with the Jackie Boyz (a duo who've, according to Paige, worked with the likes of Madonna and Justin Bieber), Paige is using the Kickstarter program to independently fund a music video for her first single. Paige has also popped up in a few visual musical collaborations with American Idol's YouTube sensation, Todrick Hall. Paige joins the likes of Jennel Garcia, Willie Jones, and Lyric 145 on The Unexpected tour, which is apparently still a work in progress.
Pledge to Paige Thomas' Kickstarter Campaign
Watch Paige Thomas and Todrick Hall on YouTube
Vote for the next stop of The Unexpected Tour
CeCe Frey: Being the most polarizing contestant during your run on a show like The X Factor has its perks. CeCe's fans are as rabid as ever (She has nearly 450,000 Twitter followers now!), and the leopard-clad plucky pop singer is hard at work on new original material. CeCe also recently launched her official merchandise store online. If you're interested in following CeCe's journey step by step, you can check out her new web series, 14:59, a high quality docuseries that follows CeCe's dedication in the studio and lays the edited X Factor drama to rest. Will this be the Year of the Leopard?
https://twitter.com/CeCeMissXtotheO/status/377971890880806912
Image: @XOJordan6
Watch CeCe Frey's 14:59 Web Series
The Groups:
Emblem3: Beachy boy band trio Emblem3 might have found themselves caught between their signature alternative L.A. sound and the need to please pop audiences with more generic tunes on The X Factor, but that didn't stop the very popular act from landing a joint deal with Syco Entertainment and Columbia Records. Their debut album, Nothing To Lose, was released this summer to much success for a debut artist, selling about 40,000 copies in its first week. That's impressive! The album has continued to sell a decent amount since. Emblem3 can currently be seen as the opening act on the U.S. leg of the Selena Gomez Stars Dance tour.
https://twitter.com/wesleystromberg/status/378163217685434368
Image: Columbia Records
Buy Nothing To Lose by Emblem3 on iTunes
Fifth Harmony: Perhaps the biggest success story in the making, X Factor Season 2 manufactured girl group, Fifth Harmony, has experienced both continued radio success with their rising single, "Miss Movin' On," as well as much hype for their debut EP, Better Together. Signed to a deal with both Syco Entertainment and Epic Records, 5H is poised for pop domination, so long as the material on their highly anticipated EP delivers. Fifth Harmony is currently the opening act on Cher Lloyd's I Wish tour. You can check out their first official music video for "Miss Movin' On" below! Anything could happen...
Pre-Order Better Together by Fifth Harmony on iTunes