Another Level (group)
| Company type | Boy band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Headquarters | London , United Kingdom |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Another Level is a British boy band influenced by soul and R&B, established in 1997. The original lineup consisted of Mark Baron, Dane Bowers, Bobak Kianoush, and Wayne Williams. They secured seven singles within the UK top ten, highlighted by their sole chart-topping track, "Freak Me," released in 1998.
In 2013, the group almost reunited for the ITV2 series The Big Reunion, though Williams and Baron opted out. Meanwhile, Bowers became part of the supergroup 5th Story, alongside other former solo performers.
The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) reports that Another Level has moved 400,000 albums and one million singles across the UK market.
Career
Dane Bowers and Wayne Williams were both students at London's BRIT School for Performing Arts & Technology. The formation of Another Level was orchestrated by Nick Raphael and Christian Tattersfield under Northwestside Records, a BMG imprint specializing in urban music. Initially, the group included Baron, Kianoush, and Williams; Williams later invited Bowers to join. The label's urban emphasis facilitated collaborations with artists such as Jay-Z, Ghostface Killah, and TQ.
From 1997 to 1999, Another Level released seven singles that reached the UK top 40, including "Freak Me," which topped the charts and was a cover of Silk's 1993 hit. Their debut album achieved platinum status. Their sophomore album, Nexus, received a gold certification and garnered nominations at the Brit Awards. Additionally, they served as the opening act for Janet Jackson’s European Velvet Rope Tour.
Following the release of "Bomb Diggy," Williams departed to embark on a solo path; Kianoush soon exited as well. Baron and Bowers continued as a duo until the group dissolved in early 2000. Afterward, Bowers gained recognition working with Jonny L and Victoria Beckham on Truesteppers' single "Out of Your Mind," also releasing two solo top ten hits. Williams founded his own label; however, his debut album Fame And Fortune failed to chart.
In 2021, Another Level reunited briefly for a performance at the Kisstory Festival featuring Baron, Bowers, and Kianoush; Williams was not involved. In 2024, they were headliners at the inaugural RnB Nation festival alongside Damage. The current roster includes original members Bowers and Baron, joined by Shaun Hoyte and touring DJ Greg Costa.
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | AUS | BEL | NED | SCO | ||||||||||
| Another Level |
|
13 | 144 | 20 | 26 | 56 |
| |||||||
| Nexus |
|
7 | — | — | — | 32 |
| |||||||
| "—" indicates releases that did not chart or were unavailable in that region. | ||||||||||||||
Compilation albums
| Title | Album information | Highest chart rankings | Certifications | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | AUS | BEL | NED | SCO | |||
| Another Level Remixed |
|
76 | — | — | — | — | |
| From the Heart |
|
— | — | — | — | — | |
| Love Songs |
|
— | — | — | — | — | |
| Freak Me – The Collection |
|
— | — | — | — | — | |
Singles
| Year | Title | Highest chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK |
AUS |
BEL |
FRA |
GER |
IRE |
NED |
NZ |
SCO |
SWE | ||||
| 1998 | "Be Alone No More" (featuring Jay-Z) | 6 | 165 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 31 | — |
|
Another Level |
| "Freak Me" | 1 | 43 | 15 | 91 | 75 | 10 | 2 | 12 | 13 | 11 |
| ||
| "Guess I was a Fool" | 5 | — | — | — | 20 | 19 | 39 | 17 | 31 | ||||
(featuring Ghostface Killah) 2 85 — — — 19 44 — 9 50 1999 "Be Alone No More" (remix) / "Holding Back the Years" 11 — — — — — — 27 28 —
| Year | Title | UK | AUS | BEL | FRA | GER | IRE | NED | NZ | SCO | SWE | Certifications | Album |
|---|
- UK: Silver
| Year | Title | UK | AUS | BEL | FRA | GER | IRE | NED | NZ | SCO | SWE | Certifications | Album |
|---|
Present members
- Dane Bowers (1997–2000, 2021, 2024–present)
- Mark Baron (1997–2000, 2021, 2024–present)
- Shaun Hoyte (2024–present)
- Greg Costa (2024–present)
Former members
- Bobak Kianoush (1997–1999, 2021)
- Wayne Williams (1997–1999)
As headliners
- Another Level Tour
As supporting performers
- Boyzone – A Different Beat Tour
- Janet Jackson – The Velvet Rope Tour