YLA (group)

{{Short description|American girl group}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist  | image = Da Gurlz.jpg | alt = | caption = The group as BG5 in 2009. Left to right: Laura New, Mandy Jiroux, Brooke Adams, Dominique Domingo, and Noreen Juliano. | name = YLA | background = group_or_band | alias = {{plainlist| *The Beach Girlz {{small|(2008)}} *BG5/The Beach Girl5 {{small|(2008–2012)}} }} | origin = Los Angeles, California, United States | genre = {{Flatlist| * Pop * dance-pop * R&B}} | years_active = 2008–2014 | label = {{flatlist| *RMR }} | website = | past_members = Brooke Allison Adams Dominique Domingo Mandy Jiroux Noreen Juliano Laura New Jaime Lee Ruiz }} '''YLA''' (known as '''BG5''' and '''The Beach Girl5''' from 2008 to 2012) were an American girl group originally consisting of Brooke Allison Adams, Mandy Jiroux, Laura New, Dominique Domingo, and Noreen Juliano. In 2009, as BG5, the group released their debut EP ''Beach Girl5''. The following year, they released the single "Scratch", which peaked at number 22 on the ''Billboard'' Dance Club Songs chart.

In 2012, following the departure of Jiroux and addition of new member Jaime Lee Ruiz, the group reformed under the name YLA. The following year, the group released "$$$EX", a collaboration with Vanessa Anne Hudgens. It became their most successful release, peaking at number 11 on the ''Billboard'' Dance Club Songs chart and spending twelve weeks on the chart. The same year, BG5's self titled debut album, which was recorded prior to the group being renamed YLA, was released to digital retailers. The group released one final single, "Bad Bitches", before disbanding in March 2014.

==History== ===2008–2012: BG5=== thumb|left|BG5 in 2011 In 2008, Brooke Allison Adams, Mandy Jiroux, Laura New, Dominique Domingo, and Noreen Juliano formed the group The Beach Girlz.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-06-13 |title=Introducing: THE BEACH GIRLZ! |url=https://fanvasion.com/2008/06/introducing-the-beach-girlz/ |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=Fanvasion.com |language=en-US}}</ref> The group members met after being individually hired as entertainers on the 2008 AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour.<ref>"[http://www.thebg5.com/ thebg5.com] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130625030853/http://www.thebg5.com/ |date=June 25, 2013 }}". Retrieved January 23, 2013</ref> The group's name was later simplified to BG5, which stands for The Beach Girl5.

In 2009, BG5 won KIIS-FM's "Breakout Star" contest, which awarded them $10,000 and a spot in the 2009 Wango Tango line-up.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thebg5.com/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831064114/http://www.thebg5.com/ | archive-date=2009-08-31 | title=The Beach Girl5 }}</ref> They worked with producers Rock Mafia and released the single "Unbreakable" which was followed by the release of their debut EP ''Beach Girl5'' on December 11, 2009.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=27 September 2010 |title=Five Things You Need to Know About BG5 |url=http://www.celebuzz.com/2010-09-27/five-things-you-need-to-know-about-bg5/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120427022625/http://www.celebuzz.com/2010-09-27/five-things-you-need-to-know-about-bg5/ |archive-date=27 April 2012 |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=Celebuzz |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Beach Girl 5 |date=2009-12-11 |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/1vWlYtikfRI9nUTY5gTp7S |access-date=2023-08-13 |language=en}}</ref> In 2010, they were an opening act for Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber.<ref name=":0" /> They began being managed by Kris Jenner and appeared in two episodes of the show ''Keeping Up with the Kardashians'' in autumn of that year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All the Business Ventures the Kardashians Actually Failed At |url=https://www.vh1.com/news/lqdvs3/kardashian-family-business-fails |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813020946/https://www.vh1.com/news/lqdvs3/kardashian-family-business-fails |url-status=live |archive-date=August 13, 2023 |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=www.vh1.com |language=en}}</ref> In September, they were credited as backing vocalists on the track "Summer's Not Hot" by Selena Gomez & the Scene from their album ''A Year Without Rain''.<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title= A Year Without Rain |year= 2010 |type= booklet |publisher= Hollywood}}</ref> In November, they released the single "Scratch".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anker |first=Erica |title=BG5 Prepares for New Single Release, US Tour and TV this Fall |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/BG5-Prepares-for-New-Single-Release-US-Tour-and-TV-this-Fall-20100921 |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}}</ref> "Scratch" peaked at number 22 on the ''Billboard'' Dance Club Songs chart.<ref name=bbscratch>{{Cite magazine |last= |date=2013-01-02 |title=Dance Club Songs – Week of December 11, 2010 |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/dance-club-play-songs/2010-12-11/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> In early 2011, the group was showcased in a television commercial for the 2011 Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball tournament. The commercial, which aired on Fox Sports, featured the group performing their previous single "Unbreakable".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bellfast |date=February 3, 2011 |title=Fox Sports Beach Girl 5 |url=https://vimeo.com/19530847 |website=Vimeo}}</ref> The same year, the group released the single "Lay A Little Sunshine" and appeared in an episode of ''Khloé & Lamar''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BG5 - Lay A Little Sunshine |url=https://www.amazon.com/Lay-Little-Sunshine-BG5/dp/B005FM2MOA |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=Amazon}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Nunn |first=Jerry |date=2011-03-23 |title=BG5 member talks Bieber, volleyball and more |url=https://windycitytimes.com/2011/03/23/bg5-member-talks-bieber-volleyball-and-more/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Windy City Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

===2013–2014: YLA=== In late 2012, Jiroux departed from BG5. Following her departure, the group was renamed YLA (which stands for Young L.A.) with new member Jaime Lee Ruiz.<ref>{{Cite web |title=YLAmusic |url=https://www.facebook.com/YLAmusic |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}}</ref>

In February 2013, YLA released the single "Kids R OK".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-02-05 |title=Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez Date Night: Pair Spend Night "Hanging Out" Together at Club |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/384941/justin-bieber-and-selena-gomez-date-night-pair-spend-night-hanging-out-together-at-club |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=E! Online}}</ref> The group performed the song in an appearance on ''Kathy'' during the same month.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.tvmaze.com/episodes/505081/kathy-2x05-larry-king-and-craig-ferguson |title=Kathy: Larry King And Craig Ferguson {{!}} TVmaze |language=en |access-date=2024-08-28 |via=www.tvmaze.com}}</ref> In March 2013, YLA released the single "$$$EX", a collaboration with Vanessa Hudgens.<ref>{{Cite web |title=$$$EX (Explicit) Original Mix |url=https://www.beatport.com/track/ex-explicit/4643928 |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=www.beatport.com}}</ref> The song peaked at number 11 on the ''Billboard'' Dance Club Songs chart and spent twelve weeks on the chart.<ref name="vchart">{{Cite magazine |title=Vanessa Hudgens Chart History |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/vanessa-hudgens/ |access-date=2023-08-13 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> Though not included on the soundtrack, the song was released to promote the film ''Spring Breakers'', which starred Hudgens.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-05-03 |title=Vanessa Hudgens Gets Sexy in YLA's "$$$ex" Music Video—Watch Now! |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/414456/vanessa-hudgens-gets-sexy-in-yla-s-ex-music-video-watch-now |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=E! Online}}</ref> Later that month, the group was featured on the third soundtrack for the Disney Channel show ''Shake It Up'' with the song "I Can Do Better".<ref>{{Citation |title=Various Artists - Shake It Up: I |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/shake-it-up-i-3-dance-mw0002469507 |access-date=2023-08-13 |language=en}}</ref> In August 2013, the group performed "I Can Do Better" on the third season episode of ''Shake It Up'', "Oui Oui It Up".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shake It Up: Vol. 6 – TV on Google Play |url=https://play.google.com/store/tv/show/Shake_It_Up?cdid=tvseason-AGyhhBO4FHI3RmU5HDgwdw&gdid=tvepisode-RTmd_cJG3eM&id=T4JGe1ZUPuw&hl=en_ZA&gl=US |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=play.google.com |language=en-ZA}}</ref> In September 2013, BG5's self titled full debut album, which was recorded prior to their name change, was released to digital retailers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BG5 on Apple Music |url=https://music.apple.com/us/artist/bg5/410554793 |access-date=2023-08-13 |language=en-US}}</ref> In November 2013, YLA released the single "Bad Bitches".<ref>{{Citation |title=YLA Bad B*tches A.K.A. Bad Bitches (Music Video) | date=November 12, 2013 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChZCdH8Tqhw |access-date=2023-08-13 |language=en}}</ref> The song was supposed to serve as the lead single from an album due out in 2014, but the album was shelved and the song was the group's final release.<ref>{{Cite web |title=YLA als 'Bad Bitches' in debuutclip |url=https://www.funx.nl/news/music/d1ff1110-48da-4c15-9d2c-3a6b88e61bf5/yla-als-bad-bitches-in-debuutclip |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=FunX |language=nl}}</ref> The group announced their dissolution on March 7, 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 7, 2014 |title=We love you guys 💙 |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/lPOMgqPCFd/ |archive-date= |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=www.instagram.com}}</ref>

==Discography==

=== Studio albums === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:11em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:18em;" | Album details |- ! scope="row" | ''BG5'' | *Released: September 16, 2013 *Label: Shamerock Solutions UK Ltd *Formats: Digital download |}

=== EPs === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:11em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:18em;" | Album details |- ! scope="row" | ''Beach Girl5'' | *Released: May 8, 2009 *Label: Rock Mafia Records *Formats: Digital download |}

=== Singles === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- !rowspan="2"|Title !rowspan="2"|Year !colspan="1"|Peak chart positions !rowspan="2"|Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:4em;font-size:85%;"| US Dance <ref name=bbscratch/><ref name=vchart/> |- |"Unbreakable" |rowspan="1"| 2009 |— |''Beach Girl5'' |- |"Scratch" |2010 |22 |rowspan="2"|''BG5'' |- |"Lay A Little Sunshine" |2011 |— |- |"Kids R OK" |rowspan="3"| 2013 |— |rowspan="3" {{Non-album singles}} |- |"$$$EX" (with Vanessa Hudgens) |11 |- |"Bad Bitches" |— |- | colspan="4" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes releases that did not chart. |}

== References == {{Reflist}}

Category:American dance music groups Category:American girl groups Category:American contemporary R&B musical groups Category:American pop girl groups Category:American pop music groups Category:Musical groups established in 2008