M.O
{{Short description|English girl group}}
{{distinguish|Mo (disambiguation){{!}}Mo|MØ}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = M.O
| image = Mokissfm.png
| caption = M.O before a Kiss FM session in 2015
| origin = London, England
| years_active = 2012–2022{{efn-ua|Indefinite hiatus}}
| label = {{hlist|Operator|Polydor|Interscope}}
| website = {{URL|www.officialmo.com}}
| current_members = * Annie Ashcroft
- Chanal Benjilali
| past_members = * Frankee Connolly
- Nadine Samuels
}}
M.O are an English girl group consisting of members Annie Ashcroft and Chanal Benjilali, and previously Frankee Connolly until her departure in June 2017 and Nadine Samuels until her departure in 2020. The group was formed in 2012 by the members themselves, after their previous groups Mini Viva and Duchess had disbanded.{{cite web|last1=Younes|first1=Nadia|title=The 405 meets M.O|url=http://www.thefourohfive.com/news/article/m-o-feature-140|publisher=The 405|access-date=15 March 2015}} Starting out on independent label Operator Records, they have been signed to Polydor Records since early 2016. On 19 October 2020, Nadine Samuels confirmed her departure from the group.{{cite web|title=M.O Tease New Mixtape With "Love The Most," Featuring Yungen|url=https://www.thefader.com/2015/12/22/mo-heavytrackerz-youngen-love-the-most|publisher=The FADER|access-date=2015-12-25}}
Career
=Beginnings=
Frankee Connolly was a part of Mini Viva until the duo's split in 2010, whereas Nadine Samuels and Annie Ashcroft were both members of the girl group Duchess until 2012.{{cite web|last1=Love|first1=Ryan|title=Mini Viva confirm split|date=10 November 2010|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a287099/mini-viva-confirm-split.html|publisher=Digital Spy|access-date=15 March 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Parke|first1=Phoebe|title=Pass the Tissues: Girl Group Duchess Split|url=http://pappzd.com/2012/02/pass-the-tissues-girl-group-duchess-split/|publisher=Pappzd|access-date=15 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402141714/http://pappzd.com/2012/02/pass-the-tissues-girl-group-duchess-split/|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=usurped}}
M.O was formed in late 2012, after Connolly met Samuels and Ashcroft at music industry events.{{cite web|title=M.O - Meeting {{sic|Eac|hother,|nolink=y}} Last Year, Creativity - Interview [Part 1]| date=12 September 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75hPbG6QqJ4|publisher=MOBO Awards|access-date=15 March 2015}}
M.O stands for Modus Operandi,{{cite web|last1=Phillips|first1=Noel|title=INTERVIEW: M.O, KICKIN' UP A STORM|url=http://respect-mag.com/interview-m-o-kickin-up-a-storm/|work=Respect.|date=9 April 2014 |access-date=15 March 2015}} which is a Latin term for "a particular way to do something."
M.O's initial aim was to bring old school 1990s music back, naming TLC, J.Lo, Aaliyah, and All Saints as an inspiration amongst others.{{cite web|last1=Magnocavallo|first1=Fabio|title=M.O - Interview - May 2014|date=21 May 2014|url=http://www.hitthefloor.com/music/pop/m-o-interview-may-2014/|publisher=Hit the Floor|access-date=17 March 2015}}
M.O made their debut as a group with a remix of Brandy and Monica's "The Boy Is Mine" on the YouTube channel SB.TV in 2012.{{cite web|last1=Waller|first1=Joe|url=http://www.flavourmag.co.uk/m-o-the-only-girl-group-you-need-to-worry-about/|title=M.O Girl Group - The only girl group you need to worry about!|publisher=Flavour|access-date=15 March 2015}} At this point they received positive feedback from the music industry and were championed by the likes of Ed Sheeran.{{cite web|last1=Lester|first1=Paul|title=M.O. (New band of the day No 1,657)|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/dec/09/m-o|work=The Guardian|date=9 December 2013|access-date=15 March 2015}}
They followed up their debut on YouTube with their first promotional single "Wait Your Turn", which was followed by other releases in 2013, including "Ain't Got Time" and "Hot".{{cite web|last1=Copsey|first1=Robert|title=M.O debut new single 'For A Minute' - listen|date=26 February 2014|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a553907/mo-debut-new-single-for-a-minute-listen.html#~p6XRR77mw4wMR9|publisher=Digital Spy|access-date=15 March 2015}}
In early 2014, M.O announced that the Jess Glynne-penned track "For a Minute" would be released as their official debut single.{{cite web|last1=Copsey|first1=Rob|title=M.O. tease debut album, next single: 'It will make you want to dance!'|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/mo-tease-debut-album-next-single-it-will-make-you-want-to-dance-__7541/|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=15 March 2015}} It was released in April 2014 and entered the UK Indie Chart at number 6. In May, the group joined Little Mix as the main support act on their sold out Salute Tour, and performed at numerous festivals in the UK, including Wireless festival.{{cite web|title=LITTLE MIX ANNOUNCE M.O AS UK SALUTE TOUR SUPPORT ACT|url=http://www.sugarscape.com/music/news/a1032409/little-mix-announce-mo-as-uk-salute-tour-support-act/|website=sugarscape.com|publisher=Sugarscape|access-date=15 March 2015}}{{cite web|title=Wireless Festival 2014 Line-Up|url=http://www.capitalxtra.com/news/wireless-festival-2014-line-up/|website=capitalxtra.com| publisher=Capital Xtra|access-date=15 March 2015}} In August, they released their garage-influenced second single "Dance on My Own", which entered the UK Singles Chart at number 49.{{cite web|title=BBC Radio 1 - official twitter account|url=https://twitter.com/BBCR1/status/502125447782891520|publisher=BBC Radio 1 on Twitter|access-date=15 March 2015}}{{cite web|title=Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-sales-chart/20140831/7509|website=officialcharts.com/|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=15 March 2015}} Also in 2014, the group was nominated for a MOBO Award in the Best Newcomer category.{{cite web|title=Best Newcomer|url=http://www.mobo.com/voting/best-newcomer|website=mobo.com|publisher=MOBO|access-date=15 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225181145/http://www.mobo.com/voting/best-newcomer|archive-date=25 December 2014|url-status=dead}}
In 2015, the single "Preach", which was co-written by Starsmith and Joel Compass, was released.{{cite web|title=M.O Get Uplifting In Their Video For "Preach"|url=http://www.thefader.com/2015/03/17/mo-get-uplifting-in-their-video-for-preach|publisher=The Fader|access-date=17 March 2015}}{{cite web|title=M.O premiere brand new R&B single 'Preach'|last1=Corner|first1=Lewis|date=18 March 2015|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a636303/mo-premiere-brand-new-rb-single-preach.html|publisher=Digital Spy|access-date=23 March 2015}} The same year, they signed a record deal with Polydor and released the promotional single "Love the Most", a collaboration with the HeavyTrackerz. In 2016, M.O released the extended plays Good Friends and Who Do You Think Of?, the latter of which spawned the single of the same name. "Who Do You Think Of?" reached the top 20 of the UK Singles Chart, becoming their highest-charting single yet. The song was certified silver and sold over 375,000 copies.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/RobCopsey/status/880385528226615297|title=Rob Copsey on Twitter|publisher=Rob Copsey|via=Twitter}} In July 2016, it was announced that the group signed a US deal with Interscope Records.{{cite web|title=News: M.O Signs With Interscope Records|url=http://notionmagazine.com/news-m-o-signs-interscope-records/|publisher=Notion|date=26 July 2016|access-date=4 August 2016}} Their next single, "Not in Love", featured rapper Kent Jones and was released in December 2016, peaking just outside the top 40 at No. 42.
On 26 June 2020, the group released the EP Modus Operandi, featuring tracks such as "Who Do You Think Of", "Ex at the Party" and "Going Out of My Way" featuring Mr Eazi.
=Line-up changes=
After a quiet 18 months, including the departure of Connolly, the group made a comeback with their new single "Bad Vibe", featuring Lotto Boyzz and Mr Eazi. It peaked at number 18 on the UK Singles Chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/52968/m-o-lotto-boyzz-mr-eazi/|title=M O/LOTTO BOYZZ/MR EAZI|publisher=officialcharts.com|access-date=27 November 2018}}
During 2020, founding member Nadine Samuels left the group.
=Final single and split=
In October 2021, M.O released their first single since the COVID-19 pandemic, "U No" with producer collective Jodapac and British rapper French the Kid.{{cite web|url= https://grmdaily.com/jodapac-u-no/ |title=Jodapac offers some spirited vibes on "U No" featuring M.O & French the Kid|date=October 2021 |publisher=grmdaily.com|access-date=2 October 2021}}
In September 2022, group member Chanal Benjilali revealed via an Instagram Q&A that the group had been inactive for a while after the release of "U No" and that it was unlikely that fans could expect new music anytime soon.
Discography
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Title
! scope="col" style="width:16em;"| Details |
|---|
| scope="row"| Good Friends
|
|
| scope="row"| Who Do You Think Of?
|
|
| scope="row"| Modus Operandi
|
|
=Singles=
==As lead artists==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Title
!scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;"| Year !scope="col" colspan="3"| Peak chart positions !rowspan="2"| Certifications !scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Album |
|---|
| style="width:3em;font-size:85%"| UK {{cite web|title=M.O|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/45245/M-O/|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=15 March 2015}} ! style="width:3em;font-size:85%"| UK
! style="width:3em;font-size:85%"| IRE |
| scope="row" | "For a Minute"
| rowspan="2" | 2014 | 103 || 6 || — | | rowspan="3" {{n/a|Non-album singles}} |
| scope="row" |"Dance on My Own"
| 49 || 4 || — | |
| scope="row" | "Preach"
| 2015 | 51 || 4 || — | |
| scope="row" | "Who Do You Think Of?"{{efn-ua|also features on the group's EP Modus Operandi in 2020}}
| rowspan="2" | 2016 | 18 || — || 56 |
|Who Do You Think Of? |
| scope="row" | "Not in Love" (featuring Kent Jones) | 42 || — || 75 | | {{N/A|Non-album single}} |
| scope="row" | "Bad Vibe" (with Lotto Boyzz and Mr Eazi) | rowspan="2" | 2018 | 18 || — || 31 | | rowspan="5"| Modus Operandi |
| scope="row" | "Wondering" (with Chip) | 91 || — || — | |
| scope="row" | "Choose Sides" (featuring AJ Tracey){{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/MOMusic/status/1137026430326329348|title=So much love to u lot for being so patient with us. We're so excited to share this one with u 💖 Choose Sides ft @AJTracey coming soon|via=Twitter|date=7 June 2019|access-date=8 June 2019}} | rowspan="2"| 2019 | — || — || — | |
| scope="row" | "Ex at the Party"{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/au/album/ex-at-the-party-single/1483149859|title=Ex At the Party – Single by M.O|website=Apple Music|access-date=6 March 2020}}
| — || — || — | |
| scope="row" | "Going Out of My Way" (with Mr Eazi){{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/au/album/going-out-of-my-way-single/1500243871|title=Going Out Of My Way – Single by M.O & Mr Eazi|website=Apple Music|access-date=6 March 2020}} | 2020 | — || — || — | |
| colspan="19" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%;" | "—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released. |
==As featured artists==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Title
!scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;"| Year !scope="col" colspan="3"| Peak chart positions |
|---|
| style="width:3em;font-size:85%"| UK ! style="width:3em;font-size:85%"| UK ! style="width:3em;font-size:85%"| IRE |
| scope="row"| "Running" (USG featuring M.O) | 2014 | — || — || — |
| scope="row"| "With You" (DUSK featuring M.O) | rowspan="4"| 2018 | — || — || — |
| scope="row"| "Family Tree" (Remix) (Ramz featuring M.O) | 35 || — || — |
| scope="row"| "Feelings (Wifey)" (Crazy Cousinz featuring Yungen and M.O) | — || — || — |
| scope="row"| "Pon Me" (Abra Cadabra featuring Sneakbo and M.O) | — || — || — |
| scope="row"| “U No” (Jodapac featuring M.O and French the Kid) | 2021 || — || — || — |
| colspan="20" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%;"| "—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released. |
==Promotional singles==
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Award ! Category ! Outcome |
|---|
| 2014
|Best Newcomer |
| 2016
|Best Song |
Notes
{{notelist-ua}}