Mis-Teeq

{{Short description|British girl group (1999–2005)}} {{about|the group|their self-titled album|Mis-Teeq (album)}} {{More citations needed|date=February 2010}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}} {{Use British English|date=November 2011}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Mis-Teeq | image = Mis_Teeq_13.jpg | caption = From left to right: Su-Elise Nash, Sabrina Washington, and Alesha Dixon | background = group_or_band | origin = London, England | alias =  | genre = {{hlist|R&B|garage|hip-hop<ref name="allmusic">{{allMusic|artist|mn0000423776/biography|author=Ed Nimmervoll|access-date=21 December 2019}}</ref>}} | years_active = {{hlist|1999–2005|2026}} | label = {{hlist|Telstar|Warner|Reprise}} | current_members = *Sabrina Washington *Alesha Dixon *Su-Elise Nash | past_members = Zena McNally | associated_acts = {{hlist|Redman|Baby Cham|Joe|So Solid Crew|Salaam Remi}} }}

'''Mis-Teeq''' are a British girl group, consisting of Sabrina Washington, Su-Elise Nash and Alesha Dixon.<ref name="guardian" />

From 2001 to 2005, Mis-Teeq had two top-ten albums and seven consecutive top-ten singles on the UK Singles Chart, as well as success across Europe, Asia, Australia and the US. Their debut studio album, ''Lickin' on Both Sides'', released on 27 October 2001, peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart and was certified double platinum.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Official Albums Chart, 5 April 2003 - 11 April 2003 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/20030406/7502/ |website=Official Charts}}</ref> The album featured the group's first five singles, all of which became UK top 10 hits, including their debut single, "Why?", and "All I Want".

On 29 March 2003, they released their second studio album, ''Eye Candy'', also a double-platinum success. This album featured their biggest international hit, "Scandalous", which peaked at No. 2 on the United States ''Billboard'' Dance charts. The group announced in February 2005 that they would be splitting to pursue solo careers, owing to the demise of their record label Telstar Records. They released a greatest hits album on 25 April 2005 to coincide with their separation.

On 22 May 2026, the group announced that they would be reforming for a comeback gig at Wembley Arena on 12 September 2026.

==History== ===1997–2001: Formation and line-up changes=== Alesha Dixon and Sabrina Washington met in 1997 at Dance Attic studios in Fulham through Louise Porter, who was putting together a group for her production company Big Out Ltd.<ref name="guardian">{{cite web|first=Deirdre |last=Donovan|title=It's a girl thing |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2002/feb/17/life1.lifemagazine6 |work=The Observer. The Guardian|date=17 February 2002 |access-date=4 March 2013}}</ref> The two worked with Louise Porter for a couple of years before being joined by Tina Barrett to form a trio performing singing and dancing.<ref name="musiceyez"/> They were named '''Face2Face''' and were unsigned, and all band members still worked day jobs. Barrett left to join S Club 7 after a successful audition for Simon Fuller<ref name="musiceyez">{{cite web|title=Music Eyz Interview With Tina Barrett|url=http://musiceyz.co.uk/2012/09/26/interview-with-tina-barrett/|work=Music Eyz |date=26 September 2012 |access-date=4 March 2013}}</ref> and was replaced by Zena McNally and Su-Elise Nash.<ref name="situation">{{cite web|first=Annika|last=Allen|title=Featuring Zena|url=http://www.thesituation.co.uk/ukartists/zena/zena.html|work=The Situation|access-date=4 March 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822004648/http://www.thesituation.co.uk/ukartists/zena/zena.html|archive-date=22 August 2011}}</ref> Their then producer David Brant (writer of their first two hit singles, "Why?" and "All I Want") introduced them via DJ Darren Stokes (TinTinOut) to Inferno Records (sub pop) A&R man Pat Travers, who signed them to Telstar Records and changed their name to Mis-Teeq. After months of recording—including sessions with producers Norwegian duo Stargate along with Brant (Vybrant Music), Ed Case, Blacksmith, Rishi Rich, and Ceri Evans—Mis-Teeq released their debut single in 2000, "Why?", a Latin-flavoured mid-tempo song co-written and produced by Brant. A garage remix by Matt "Jam" Lamont soon became a success in the underground UK garage scene, and as a result a second music video for the song was filmed and released. "Why?" became a hit on the UK Singles Chart with a peak position of number eight. McNally left the line-up in January 2001 saying she felt unhappy about "an unbalance in the group".<ref name="situation"/>

===2001–2002: ''Lickin' on Both Sides'' and touring=== The three remaining members released their second single, "All I Want", in June 2001. It was co-written and originally produced by David Brant, and produced and remixed by Ceri Evans (also known as Sunship). The song topped the success of the trio's debut single, becoming a number 2 hit in the UK and simultaneously entering the top 30 of the Australian singles chart. The group released their debut album, ''Lickin' on Both Sides'', on 27 October 2001. It was certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry on 7 September 2001.<ref>{{cite web |title=BRIT Certified |url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/brit-certified/ |website=BPI |access-date=12 October 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

Nevertheless, Mis-Teeq saw instant international success with their Stargate-produced third single, "One Night Stand". While the song peaked at number 5 on the UK singles chart, it also entered the top 20 in Australia, New Zealand, Norway, and Denmark. In 2002, the band's fourth single, "B with Me", continued the group's remarkable sales with another top 10 entry in the UK, once again entering at number 5. The last release from ''Lickin' on Both Sides'' was a double A-side of "Roll on" and the Montell Jordan cover "This Is How We Do It", the latter song being featured on the soundtrack for Ali G's 2002 film ''Ali G Indahouse''. This release entered the charts at number 7 on 29 June 2002. The band supported Shaggy on his UK tour in 2002.

===2003–2005: ''Eye Candy'', international breakthrough and split=== Returning from a short hiatus, Mis-Teeq released their second album, ''Eye Candy'', on 29 March 2003. The album featured production by Stargate, Ed Case, Salaam Remi, singer Joe, Delroy "D-Roy" Andrews, and JD (of the group So Solid Crew) and debuted at its peak position of number 6 on the UK Albums Chart<ref name="officialcharts_20030406">{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/20030406/7502/ |title=Official Albums Chart on 6/4/2003 |website=officialcharts.com |access-date=2025-01-01}}</ref>{{refn|group=a|name=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/20030406/7502|It doesn't automatically show up; you need to add category "albums" and certification "gold", then enter the name.}} While ''Eye Candy''{{'}}s sales failed to link to the sudden success of ''Lickin' on Both Sides'', pre-released lead single "Scandalous" became the group's most successful single by then: It reached number 2 in the UK and top 10 in Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, and Denmark.

In June 2003, the album's second single, "Can't Get It Back", became the band's seventh and final domestic top-ten single. Originally a remake of the same-titled unreleased Blaque single, Mis-Teeq and Telstar agreed not to use the album version, instead releasing the alternate "Ignorants Radio Edit" as an official single, which entered the UK charts at number 8 on 12 July 2003. The song also was included on a Special Edition of ''Eye Candy'' that was released in December of the same year and spawned a third single with "Style". The song peaked at number 13.

"Scandalous" was released in the United States in May 2004 (under another label, Reprise Records) and reached number 35 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart in June, making it their only single to chart in the U.S. That summer, it was featured as the theme song of the film ''Catwoman'', starring Halle Berry.

As Mis-Teeq began promoting "Scandalous" in the United States and preparing for the release of their self-titled compilation album, the group's record label Telstar Records entered bankruptcy proceedings,<ref name="Loffhagen"/> leaving the group without clear professional direction.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2009/05/08/alehsa-dixon-reveals-all-about-her-rollercoaster-career-115875-21342665/|title=Alehsa Dixon reveals all about her rollercoaster career|work=Daily Mirror|date=8 May 2009|access-date=16 April 2012}}</ref> Although further recording opportunities with other labels were available, the members ultimately decided against continuing at the same pace, later citing personal and professional exhaustion following years of intensive touring and promotional commitments.<ref name="Loffhagen"/> Following the announcement of their split in February 2005, the group released a greatest hits album, featuring the newly recorded track "Shoo Shoo Baby," a cover of the 1940s song originally recorded by The Andrews Sisters, which the group had previously contributed to the soundtrack of the animated war comedy film ''Valiant''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4225955.stm|title=Girl group Mis-teeq to split up|work=BBC News|date=1 February 2005|access-date=26 May 2026}}</ref>

===2026-present: Reunion=== On 22 May 2026, the group announced that they would be reforming for a comeback performance at Wembley Arena in London on 12 September 2026 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their debut album ''Lickin' on Both Sides''.<ref name="Loffhagen">{{cite web|first=Emma|last=Loffhagen|title=UK Garage Legends Mis-Teeq Reveal Their Comeback Exclusively To Vogue|website=Vogue|url=https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/misteeq-reunion|date=22 May 2026 |access-date=26 May 2026}}</ref> Discussing the reunion, Dixon stated that although the group had received reunion offers in previous years,<ref>{{cite web|first=Christian|last=Tobin|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a302822/mis-teeq-to-reunite-for-tour.html |title=Mis-Teeq to reunite for tour? |website=Digital Spy |date=9 February 2011 |access-date=26 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Mayer|last=Nissim|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a449321/mis-teeq-reunion-would-have-to-be-organic-says-alesha-dixon.html |title=Mis-Teeq reunion would have to be organic, says Alesha Dixon|work=Digital Spy |date=8 January 2013 |access-date=26 May 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330104830/https://www.digitalspy.com/music/a449321/mis-teeq-reunion-would-have-to-be-organic-says-alesha-dixon/|archive-date=30 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Lewis|last=Corner |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a452473/mis-teeq-to-meet-about-possible-reunion-confirms-alesha-dixon.html |title=Mis-Teeq to meet about possible reunion, confirms Alesha Dixon|work=Digital Spy |date=21 January 2013 |access-date=4 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407174858/https://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a452473/mis-teeq-to-meet-about-possible-reunion-confirms-alesha-dixon/|archive-date=7 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fashionplusmagazine.com/interview-su-elise-nash-announces-potential-mis-teeq-reunion/ |title=Interview: Su-Elise Nash Announces 'Potential Mis-Teeq Reunion' |website=fashionplusmagazine.com |date=9 November 2014 |access-date=26 May 2026}}</ref> "it’s never felt right," adding that "this time, everything just lined up." Nash likewise described the event as "such a personal moment for us," stating that the group intended to "pour our absolute heart and souls into this."<ref name="Loffhagen"/> The concert is also scheduled to feature guest appearances from Lisa Maffia, Ms. Dynamite and Katy B.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mis-Teeq – Event Details|website=ovoarena.co.uk|url=https://www.ovoarena.co.uk/events/detail/mis-teeq|access-date=26 May 2026}}</ref> On 30 May 2026, the group made their first live performance since their reformation, appearing during the series 19 live final of ''Britain's Got Talent'', where they performed a medley of their songs.<ref>{{cite web|first=Hayley |last=Anderson|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/tv/britains-talent-fans-divided-alesha-34039381 |title=Britain's Got Talent fans divided as Alesha Dixon takes centre stage in Mis-Teeq comeback|website=WalesOnline |date=30 May 2026 |access-date=1 June 2026}}</ref>

==Members==

* Alesha Dixon (1999–2005; 2026) * Sabrina Washington (1999–2005; 2026) * Su-Elise Nash (2000–2005; 2026) * Zena McNally (2000–2001)

==Discography== {{Main|Mis-Teeq discography}} {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}

===Studio albums=== *''Lickin' on Both Sides'' (2001) *''Eye Candy'' (2003) {{col-2}}

===Compilation albums=== *''Mis-Teeq'' (2004) * ''Mis-Teeq: Greatest Hits'' (2005) {{col-end}}

==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links== *[http://www.myspace.com/misteeqmusic Mis-Teeq Myspace] *[http://www.ilikemusic.com/interviews/Alesha_Dixon_interview_2006-2794 Interview with Alesha in 2006 on I Like Music]

Category:Musical groups established in 1999 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2005 Category:English dance girl groups Category:British contemporary R&B musical groups Category:UK garage groups Category:English dance music groups Category:English hip-hop groups Category:Black British musical groups Category:English musical quartets Category:English musical trios Category:Contemporary R&B musical groups from London Category:Telstar Records artists Category:Warner Records artists Category:Reprise Records artists Category:1999 establishments in England Category:Women hip-hop groups Category:British hip-hop girl groups Category:British R&B girl groups Category:Female musical trios