Fifth Harmony is an American girl group, composed of Camila Cabello (who departed the group in 2016), Normani, Lauren Jauregui, Ally Brooke + Dinah Jane. The group signed a joint record deal with Simon Cowell's label Syco Records + L.A. Reid's label Epic Records after forming + were the last contestant eliminated in the second season of the American singing competition series The X Factor in 2012.
The group released their debut single "Miss Movin' On", preceding their extended play Better Together. In 2015, the group released their debut studio album Reflection, which was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It spawned the singles "Boss", "Sledgehammer" + "Worth It"; the latter of which was certified triple platinum by RIAA + reached the top ten in thirteen countries. In 2016, the group released "Work from Home", the lead single from their second album 7/27, which peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the first top five single by a girl group in a decade on that chart.
In 2015, the group contacted a music lawyer that helped transfer the Fifth Harmony's trademark from Simon Cowell to its members, becoming the total owners of such.
In 2016, journalist Hugh McIntyre of Forbes, declared "It's safe to say that Fifth Harmony doesn't have any real competition worth speaking of in the girl group lane". The Daily Trojan stated that:
"Fifth Harmony established themselves as the most popular girl group of the new generation — a void that desperately needed to be filled after the dissolution of the Pussycat Dolls and Danity Kane. The girls found their niche: empowered women of color who didn't shy away from sexuality, feminism or achievement. Their songs echoed with dynamism and fierceness, and their vocal talents shined through in every hit".
They released their self-titled third album in 2017. The group went on indefinite hiatus in March 2018, allowing its members to pursue solo projects.
Fifth Harmony has sold nearly 15 million RIAA certified units + are one of the best-selling girl groups of all time with a reported 33 million copies sold. They are known for their vocal range + songs with themes of female empowerment, self positivity, confidence + unity. As of 2016, they have earned 1.6 billion on-demand streams, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Billboard named them the biggest girl group of the 2010s.
In 2017, TIME magazine referred to them as arguably "the biggest girl group in the world".
Fifth Harmony have been referred to as "the current standard-bearers for girl group success" by Gold Derby + "the biggest girl group in a generation" by The Recording Academy.
Fifth Harmony's success was compared to the impact Spice Girls made in the 1990s, with MIC dubbing them as "The Spice Girls of the 21st Century". Fifth Harmony have also been referred to as one of the best girl groups of all time by US Magazine, in 2022.
Fifth Harmony have earned the most top ten albums on the U.S. Billboard 200 for any girl group in the 21st century. Their accolades include an American Music Award, three MTV Europe Music Awards, three Guinness World Records, four MTV Video Music Awards, four iHeartRadio Music Awards, the first ever Billboard Women in Music Group of the Year award, a record five Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards (the most for a girl group) + ten Teen Choice Awards.
In March 2018, the group made their decision to take an indefinite hiatus to pursue solo projects. Before their hiatus, the group completed a final run of shows + released a music video for their song "Don't Say You Love Me". As of January 2019, all members have released solo singles.
In 2022, MTV credited Fifth Harmony for challenging several of the stereotypes associated with girl groups, pouring their voices into their music + speaking out against misogyny + abuse of power, stating that
"Fifth Harmony were also inheriting the low retention rate of girl groups in American popular music, which has long been driven by the misogynistic belief that multiple women couldn't function on a collaborative level without falling out with one another in a fight for the spotlight. It wasn't a fair hand to have been dealt, but it gave them something to prove. After spending their formative teenage years being compared to one another while filling in pre-shaped pop molds, Fifth Harmony looked inward on their third and subsequently final album Fifth Harmony and restored the confidence in their voices that had been hidden beneath years of being kept quiet".
Fifth Harmony was involved in a long-time confliction with their ex-label for alleged mistreatments + the ownership of their music, in an interview with Billboard member Lauren expressed that:
"We'd put blood, sweat and tears — and birthdays and funerals we missed — into this thing, it's our livelihoods and our families, this is the train, and now you're like, 'Is the conductor going to come through with the coals, or are we left here to die?"
The FIFTH HARMONY ladies took some time out of their very busy schedule for a fun Q&A with All Access Music writer, Nicole DeRosa. Enjoy their interview below!
You ladies all met on the second season of The X Factor where you performed Ellie Goulding’s “Anything Could Happen,” which was described by L.A. Reid as “a finals-caliber performance.” And Britney Spears called it, “Magic.” What was that whole experience like? How did you ease your nerves performing for the millions of people watching the show?
NORMANI: I definitely believe that it was the biggest transition for all of us . We all grew up singing in our rooms or at a local event but never in front of millions of people . This was our once in a lifetime opportunity so we kinda just took that leap of faith and rolled with it. I personally suffered with my confidence throughout that process but I most definitely learned a lot and took away the tools that I needed to prepare myself for my career and I have gained the confidence ! It was a process that was necessary and made me stronger than I ever thought I was.
Using one word, how would you each describe your band mates?
NORMANI: Ally – sunshine, Lauren- artistic, Dinah- athletic, Camila- corky
What was the inspiration for your single, “BO$$,” from your debut album? What does that song mean to you?
CAMILA: We wanted to make a song that was all about girl empowerment and about being the BOSS of your own life. To me, it’s a fun and sassy way of showing that it’s good to love who you are.
Speaking of, the video for ‘BO$$” is pretty bad a$$! It was directed and choreographed by the very talented, Fatima Robinson. Any memorable stories to share from the set?
CAMILA: Working with Fatima was such an honor. We all felt so inspired to see how she worked and how determined she was to carry out her vision.. She had so many ideas and worked with us to make sure we felt comfortable and loved what we were doing. We all had guacamole and chips after the video was done.
What was it like going on tour with Demi Lovato? Camila, didn’t you cover “Skyscraper” in your room a while back before you met her?
CAMILA: I always say if i told my 15 year old self that I’d be on a tour with Demi Lovato, that would’ve been it. I would’ve just lost it. It wasn’t a dream come true, because I didn’t even imagine that could happen in my wildest dreams. The wildest it ever got was to meet her, but we got to go on tour with her, and i had covered her songs on youtube just two years before. She’s one of the most genuine people we’ve ever met and she’s just as kind as she seems.
Speaking of the tour, what are some things you have to have on the road with you?
LAUREN: I have to have blankets, an extra pillow, my stuffed animals and my phone and earbuds and a book and my laptop.
If you had the opportunity to work with any act/artist from the past, present or future, who would it be and why? If you could spend the day with them, where would you go…and what would you do?
LAUREN: I have four. I would spend the day with Lana Del Rey, Matty Healy, Bob Marley and John Lennon. I feel like the conversation that would transpire would make me cry of happiness and appreciation. I would just got to dinner with them or some place we could sit and talk about a bunch of things.
What was the first song you fell in love with growing up?
DINAH: Growing up , one of the songs I really fell in love with was listen by Beyoncé.
Who are some of the new artists who inspire you? Who is in your current playlist? Any “guilty pleasure” songs or who would we be surprised to find on your playlist?
DINAH: The current new artists that have inspired me lately have been Birdy and Sam Smith:) surprisingly in my playlist I don’t think anyone would’ve known I love classical music . It makes me immensely happy.
Fifth Harmony supports a number of charities and organizations which focus on underprivileged teens and promoting youth empowerment. You ladies launched a very cool self-esteem campaign in partnership with “Do Something’ called #ImABOSS. Can you tell our readers a bit about what that is about and why it is important to you?
ALLY: It’s a campaign that encourages people to empower one another. On a template you write what your friend is the “boss” of (for example Normani is the boss of creativity) and you give that template to your friend and have her take a picture with it! It's important to support one another.
This interview was in partnership with All Access Music Group, Malibu, CA
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