<\/a><\/p>\nWas it easy to gel as a group after Simon Cowell decided to put the five of you together during the early stages of the show?<\/b><\/p>\n
I think the chemistry between us came straight away. We laughed at the same things, talking about the same things because we\u2019re all around the same age. I think the bond that we have now, it\u2019s still growing. The tears, fights and struggles that you have to overcome together, I think that\u2019s where the bond comes from.<\/p>\n
What would you say to critics that suggest shows like The X Factor<\/i> are an easy way to make it in the industry compared to artists who have worked for years before getting a record deal?<\/b><\/p>\n
I feel like people forget that for us, without the show, we probably couldn’t have gotten to where we are. In order to work at it from scratch, you need to be able to have the financial stability to go places and play shows and go to meetings with people. We didn\u2019t have the access to that because I come from a working class family and we wouldn\u2019t have been able to afford that. I feel like The X Factor<\/i> gives people from the bottom of the ladder the ability to learn and have that chance. It\u2019s kind of like getting a scholarship! I don\u2019t think the chance we got was unfair at all.<\/p>\n
You won the \u2018Artist to Watch\u2019 award at this year\u2019s MTV: VMAs \u2013 \u00a0how did that feel?<\/b><\/p>\n
It was definitely unexpected, as shown clearly by our incredibly unorganised acceptance speech! We were up against some tough competition \u2013 people we hear on the radio every two seconds \u2013 so we weren’t expecting it in the slightest. Our fans are very passionate and loud, when they have a goal they work incessantly to get us there. They come through for us and we’re so grateful.<\/p>\n
You did an incredible performance of your new single Sledgehammer at the MTV: EMA Award\u2019s earlier this month, where you all wore some fierce black outfits. As a band, do you have a big say in the way in which you project yourselves?<\/b><\/p>\n
We have a really good team of stylists. Basically they work with us and we will be like \u2018this dress is my style or could you pull something together for me like this\u2019 and they will. We have to match together with the rest of the group though. If it were up to me, I\u2019d wear the same thing every day, so they help me break out of that!<\/p>\n
You’re going to be performing on The X Factor<\/i> in December. Can you tell me what fans should expect?<\/b><\/p>\n
We are so excited because The X Factor<\/i> has an incredible production team. How we\u2019re able to perform, with our kind of budget, is not the same as on the show. It\u2019s going to be absolutely huge in a way that nobody has seen before. Even though we’re from the US version of the show, it\u2019s like a homecoming.<\/p>\n
Sledgehammer<\/i> was written by All About That Bass<\/i> singer Meghan Trainor, can you tell me how you guys came to record the track?<\/b><\/p>\n
We worked with Meghan on a couple of songs for the album; she\u2019s a really good writer. She says the same things that we want to talk about. Sledgehammer<\/i> came about when we heard it in the studio and we immediately were desperate to record it.<\/p>\n
Why was Sledgehammer picked to launch you guys in the UK?<\/b><\/p>\n
I think that BO$$<\/i> has its run and so did Miss Movin\u2019 On<\/i>, so we moved onto Sledgehammer. I feel like it reflects the air of the group right now and I feel like we\u2019re in the Sledgehammer stage of our lives\u2026<\/p>\n