IM5 is an
up-and-coming band made up by a varied and talented singers Gabe
Morales, Dana Vaughns, Will Jay Behlendorf, Dalton Rapattoni and
Cole Pendery. All were working separately until they were meshed
together by industry vets Simon Fuller, Jamie King and Perez Hilton.
With that kind of powerful backing, as you may expect, they are
catching a whole lot of buzz, selling out concerts before their
first album has been even released. Still, their YouTube
performances have millions of views and the fan base is anticipating
big things.
We met with
IM5 at the Philadelphia Anti-Bullying Fall Fan Fest, presented by
Realty Dance. When we entered the room they greeted us with an
impromptu a capella rendition of "God Bless the USA" (Proud
to be an American) and sounded awesome. So from the get go we knew
these guys could sing. As we got to know them through the interview,
we could also see that they had a lot of charm and energy. The
perfect combination for another popular boy band!
Here's what
they had to say:
What
should your fans expect in the future?
Gabe Morales:
We’re working on a single, coming out early next year. We’re working
with a producer called Harmony. He did Ariana [Grande]’s new album
The Way, “Right There,” all those songs. Then he did B5,
Jasmine V. We’re working with him for our single for next year.
Dana Vaughns:
We’re going to work with other producers, too, but that’s our main
focus. Just getting the single out.
Where do you
take your inspiration from, music wise?
Will Jay
Behlendorf:
I think individually we all have different ones. As a band, it’s a
lot of influences. I would say Bruno Mars is a big one, just because
he’s not only a great singer, but also a songwriter and producer. We
like Chris Brown, what he did with his last album. Yeah, I’d say
those two are big ones. We also like those old school boy bands like
N'Sync and Backstreet Boys. Individually we have different ones.
Dalton
Rapattoni:
I get tons of inspiration from Lady Gaga.
Is there
anyone you want to do a collab with?
Dalton
Rapattoni:
Realistically? Fifth Harmony would be cool.
Cole Pendery:
For me, I wish we could do a collaboration with of course Justin
Timberlake. And Rihanna.
Dana Vaughns:
I would say for me, a collab with Bruno Mars, Justin Bieber and Trey
Songz.
Will
Jay Behlendorf:
Bruno Mars is
a big one for me.
Dana Vaughns:
Also 2 Chainz.
Dalton
Rapattoni:
2 Chainz!
When this
group was being formed, were you afraid you guys wouldn't get
along?
Dalton
Rapattoni:
Yes, actually.
Will Jay
Behlendorf:
I think in any new situation, you're wondering. But it was actually
surprising. It was pretty easy. It really wasn't that hard like in a
week.
Dalton
Rapattoni:
We really, really hated Cole for the majority of this experience.
Cole Pendery:
Yeah.
Dalton
Rapattoni:
I’m joking.
What is the
best memory you guys have together so far?
Will Jay
Behlendorf:
Oh God, there's so many.
Dana Vaughns:
I would just say the multiple trips.
Will Jay
Behlendorf:
Touring is just so much fun. We just have so fun.
Dana
Vaughns:
I would say besides all of the drama when down in Gabe and Cole’s
lives in Connecticut, it was pretty fun. Me and Will, we laid down
in the snow shirtless.
Dalton
Rapattoni:
Yes it was so much fun!
Cole Pendery:
Will was in his underwear in the snow.
Will Jay
Behlendorf:
It was a dare. I got $5.00.
You were
probably really cold!
Will Jay
Behlendorf:
I was! Thankfully it hadn’t snowed that much yet. It was just a
layer of ice.
If you weren’t
doing this, what would you want to be doing?
Gabe Morales:
Stripper.
Dalton
Rapattoni:
Sous chef.
Will Jay
Behlendorf:
I would still be like a singer. I like singing.
Dalton
Rapattoni:
This guy!
Will Jay
Behlendorf:
Is there much else I’m good at Dalton? Answer that honestly.
Gabe Morales:
You're actually really good at Ping Pong. Like, not trying to be
racist.
Dalton
Rapattoni:
I’d be an American. (laughs)
Cole Pendery:
I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free.
Dana Vaughns:
I
would be dancing still.
Cole Pendery:
I would probably be a music producer.
Do you have
any advice for aspiring singers?
Dana Vaughns:
Practice.
Dalton
Rapattoni:
If you don’t want to completely do it, if your not 100% dedicated to
it, then I probably wouldn’t do it.
Cole Pendery:
Your heart and soul has to be into it.
Dalton
Rapattoni:
Yeah, or else you won’t get the opportunities that come up, because
you’d say you have this and that.
Will Jay
Behlendorf:
I know this is so cliché but if this is truly what you want to do,
then just don’t give up on it.
Dalton
Rapattoni:
Just follow your heart.
Cole Pendery:
If people say you can’t do it, prove them wrong.
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Dana Vaughns:
Also surround yourself with honest people. Because you know on
American Idol, 47 year olds can’t sing. All their friends have
been telling them they're good. You’re being a horrible friend by
telling them you're good.
Dalton
Rapattoni:
The real friend is the person that tells you you're good and points
out your mistakes.
What
has been your favorite city you visited?
Cole Pendery:
Chicago.
Dalton
Rapattoni:
We kind of put Philly, New York and New Jersey together, because we
go to all of them in one trip.
Dana Vaughns:
Phoenix.
Will Jay
Behlendorf:
Florida.
Dalton
Rapattoni:
Florida is not a city.
Will Jay
Behlendorf:
I’m just saying all the places we went to in Florida.
Gabe Morales:
LA.
Dalton
Rapattoni:
Quebec.
Will Jay
Behlendorf:
No one said Texas!
Dalton
Rapattoni:
Texas!
Will Jay
Behlendorf:
Honestly, though, everywhere we go, we find something amazing. It
was great. Just getting out of town and seeing everyone that we
don’t get to see usually.
Dalton
Rapattoni:
Oh, I love getting out of town. LA.
Are
there any rituals you do before you go on stage?
Will Jay
Behlendorf:
We have a lot!
Dana Vaughns:
We just pray.
Cole Pendery:
We pray. I tie my shoes. I don’t know what Will does. Gabe sings a
chorus of one of our sings.
Dana Vaughns:
No, [Gabe] dances.
Dalton
Rapattoni:
I get hyped.
Dana Vaughns:
I always get worried about the note we have to sing.
Gabe Morales:
I
always crack my knuckles.
When you meet
someone new, would you rather know their past, or see their future?
Cole Pendery:
See their future.
Dalton
Rapattoni:
I wouldn’t want to know their past!
Cole Pendery:
Yeah, I don’t want to know their past. That's what made them who
they are now. I want to know who they are now and continue on.
Gabe Morales:
What [Cole] said.
Dalton
Rapattoni:
Yeah and if you know their past, you might catch yourself judging
them on it.
Will Jay
Behlendorf:
See their future.
Dana Vaughns:
Know their past. Because I want to know about you.
Dalton
Rapattoni:
So when people meet you, do you want them automatically to know you
did Kidz Bop?
Dana Vaughns:
Yeah, awesome. Kidz Bop made me a lot of money, bro.
What
is your favorite Starbucks drink?
Dalton
Rapattoni:
Pumpkin spice latte with whipped cream.
Will Jay
Behlendorf:
Me too.
Dana Vaughns:
Peppermint Mocha.
Cole Pendery:
Vanilla bean frappuccino, no whipped cream. Grande. Ariana Grande.
Gabe Morales:
Coffee frap.
One song that
describes your life?
Dana Vaughns:
"Dive in," Trey Songz.
Gabe Morales:
"Neighbors Know My Name," Trey Songz
Will Jay
Behlendorf:
"Why I’m Single," Alli Simpson (laughs)
Dalton
Rapattoni:
"Legacy," Eminem
Cole Pendery:
"God Bless the USA!" [Lee Greenwood]
Twitter,
Instagram, or YouTube?
Dalton
Rapattoni:
YouTube!
Dana Vaughns:
I’d have to say YouTube.
Will Jay
Behlendorf:
I spend my most time on YouTube. There's so much to do on YouTube.
You can look up doggies. You can watch the Ellen show.
Dalton
Rapattoni:
You can watch the entirety of the Ellen show.
Cole Pendery:
Instagram. Instagram. Instagram. Instagram.
Gabe Morales:
I’d choose YouTube.
Would you ever
date a fan?
Cole Pendery:
Yup.
Dalton
Rapattoni:
(sarcastically) We would only date a fan.
Will Jay
Behlendorf:
The question is how sharp are the blades? (Mimes a circulating
fan propeller turning.)
Cole Pendery:
I like Will’s response, usually. Because he’s like: "Why would you
date someone who's not a fan of what you do?" We wouldn't want to
date someone who hates the band. It’s like: "Hi sweetie, I hate
you."
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OUR FULL INTERVIEW WITH IM5! |
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