Five girls auditioned for THE X FACTOR USA separately and were put into a group by judge Simon Cowell. Together, they placed third on the show and were signed to Epic Records and Syco Music shortly thereafter. They began work on their EP, ‘Better Together’, and shared their own music with the world for the first time. For Fifth Harmony’s Lauren Jauregui, AllyBrooke Hernandez, Normani Kordei, Camila Cabello and Dinah Jane Hansen, this is only the beginning.
THE MAGAZINE caught up with Normani, Camila and Dinah in Toronto to talk about their debut EP, girl power, boys and MUCH more.
How does it feel to be releasing your first EP, ‘Better Together’?
Normani: It’s amazing. We co-wrote a lot on this EP so it’s coming from us to our fans. It’s great to know something we worked so hard on made #2 on iTunes, up there with Katy Perry and Lorde.
What is your favourite song off the EP and why?
Camila: “Me & My Girls.” It’s awesome when the bass drops and just the whole concept of not necessarily going out to a party, but just being with your friends inside.
Dinah: “Who Are You.” If you’re in a relationship, you have those moments where it’s an off day, where you’re arguing and the next day you’re all lovey-dovey. It’s like back and forth. I love it because it’s very heartfelt and you can feel how much passion is in that song.
You have released three singles off ‘Better Together’ – “Miss Movin’ On”, “Me & My Girls” and the title track “Better Together”. What do you think makes a great single?
Normani: I think something that everybody collectively is like, “Yes! That’s the one.” I think you know.
Dinah: It’s something that you feel. When we did “Miss Movin’ On”, we actually felt it right when he heard the demo of the track. We listened to it and we were like, “I love this song!”
You five girls were grouped together by Simon Cowell after auditioning solo for THE X FACTOR USA. How quickly did you get yourselves in sync and comfortable with each other?
Camila: I think it was more of a process. I think something that we did have when we first met though was chemistry. I don’t think you can make that. If it’s there then it’s there, but if it’s not then it’s not. The kind of sisterhood and close relationship that we have now wasn’t something that was easy – we were strangers. It’s something you have to work hard at.
You’ve had the chance to play shows with some of the biggest artists in the business. Who did you fangirl the most over?
Camila: Demi Lovato. I could not breathe for like 24 hours.
Dinah: I felt like we were in Camp Rock.
Do you have a celebrity crush?
Normani: I love Channing Tatum, especially in THE VOW. I’m just like, “Oh my gosh!”
Camila: I love Ryan Gosling, but it’s funny because it’s not Ryan Gosling. It’s more Noah from THE NOTEBOOK. I think that movie made me a romantic.
Dinah: Paul Wesley from THE VAMPIRE DIARIES. If you watch the show, you fall in love with him and his character and how romantic he is.
Fifth Harmony is basically the definition of girl power. Who is your ultimate girl power artist?
Normani: Beyonce. She’s all for girl power. Who run the world?!
Camila: Girls! I’m going to go with Demi.
If you could hang out with One Direction or Beyoncé for a day, who would you choose and what would you do?
Normani: Beyonce. We’d probably babysit Blue.
Camila: We’d probably just look at her.
Dinah: I’d just be staring at her all the time and I’d be singing her songs. Not to annoy her, but it would just start to happen.
Camila: One Direction. I think it’d be so fun to have a jam session, so they pull out their guitars and we just start jamming.
Normani: What if we did with a music video with Beyonce?! That would be cool. I would take her back to Houston since we’re both from Houston so I think it would be cool to go around.
Dinah: I would take her to Cali, or an island. Beat that.
Simon Cowell has mentored acts including Emblem3, One Direction and you. What is the best advice he has given you?
Camila: To make sure that Fifth Harmony has as much creative input that we can give because at the end of the day, it’s ours and it has to represent us.
You see a cute boy in the crowd while you’re performing. What do you notice first about him?
Normani: He has to have good hair.
Camila: I’m supposed to wear glasses, so I can’t see that far. I’d probably notice his face. I get really nervous when I see a cute boy in the crowd. I feel like I can’t perform.
Dinah: I notice his style and sense of fashion.
Fifth Harmony joins Demi Lovato, Little Mix and Cher Lloyd on The Neon Lights Tour starting in February! How excited are you for that?
Dinah: I’m super excited for that because it’s a girl power show.
Camila: I’m looking forward to chilling. Demi is our friend but we are never in the same place, so we can never hang out!
Normani: Plus, even though we have Demi sometimes, it’s the five of us with Demi. Now we can each have our own friend.
You girls and Demi seem to be good friends! Can we expect a collaboration in the near future?
Dinah: I don’t know about Demi but we’ve been hoping for that ever since we got off the show.
Thank you Normani, Camila and Dinah!