Neon Jungle
| Company type | Girl group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | February 2013 |
| Founder | David Cooper |
| Defunct | 2015 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
Area served | United Kingdom, United States |
Key people | Shereen Cutkelvin, Amira McCarthy, Jessica Plummer, Asami Zdrenka |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Number of employees | 4 (members) |
Neon Jungle was a British girl group consisting of members Shereen Cutkelvin, Amira McCarthy, Jessica Plummer, and Asami Zdrenka. They rose to prominence with their second single, "Braveheart", which climbed to number four on the UK Singles Chart. Their 2014 debut album, Welcome to the Jungle, featured "Braveheart" along with the top 10 hit "Welcome to the Jungle" and top 20 singles "Trouble" and "Louder". The ensemble disbanded in 2015.
History
The group was assembled by music manager David Cooper from Eye of the Storm, with auditions commencing in November 2012. Amira McCarthy and Jessica Plummer were individually discovered in London, while Shereen Cutkelvin and Asami Zdrenka caught attention through their solo performances on YouTube. By February 2013, the final lineup was established and they began recording in the studio. They signed with RCA Records UK by June 2013 and chose the name Neon Jungle to represent their distinct personalities combined with vibrant energy.
Their initial single "Trouble", released in August 2013, debuted at number 12 on the UK chart and reached the top 10 of the US Billboard Dance/Electronic Digital Songs chart. In October, they supported Jessie J on her UK arena tour dates and performed alongside Taylor Swift at the 2013 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. The next single, "Braveheart", peaked at number four in January 2014, followed by "Welcome to the Jungle", which entered at number seven in April. That same month, they secured a contract with RCA Records in the United States.
During mid-2014, Neon Jungle appeared at major UK festivals such as Wireless Festival and T in the Park. Their debut album Welcome to the Jungle was released in July 2014 after the single "Louder" reached number 14. The album debuted at number eight on the UK Albums Chart and featured songwriting contributions from Charli XCX, CocknBullKid, Cassie Davis, Fear of Tigers, Snob Scrilla, and soFLY & Nius. It was characterized as dynamic, unrefined, and versatile. Included on the album was a cover of Banks' "Waiting Game," which attracted attention due to Banks publicly expressing disapproval; Neon Jungle chose not to respond. In December 2014, they released a fifth single titled "Can't Stop the Love".
Their agreement with RCA Records concluded in May 2015. While working on new material and continuing live performances, they searched for another record label. In July 2015, Neon Jungle announced their breakup through social media channels. They had been nominated for Choice Music: Next Big Thing at the 2015 Teen Choice Awards.
Artistry
The sound of Neon Jungle was described by The Guardian as "pop-dance infused with a hint of punky elements" and "a blend of chanty agit-pop reminiscent of Icona Pop combined with rumbling, EDM-influenced noise common on radio," while The Independent referred to their style as "edgy pop." Jessica Plummer stated that their goal was to introduce "a new flavour" rather than conforming to genres such as soul, R&B, or hip-hop.
Asami Zdrenka emphasized their vocal range: she described Cutkelvin’s voice as "soulful," McCarthy’s as "raspy" with powerful belting ability, Plummer’s tone as "pleasant," and her own vocal style as "moody."
Shereen Cutkelvin
Shereen Cutkelvin, born on 2 December 1996 in Lanark, Scotland, is the youngest member of the ensemble and has Belizean and British heritage. She regards her father as her primary musical inspiration and finds influence in Motown legends such as Diana Ross and The Temptations. Prior to becoming part of Neon Jungle, she shared cover songs on YouTube and was employed by Sony. She learned about her acceptance into the group while traveling back to Scotland.
In 2017, Cutkelvin participated in the fourteenth season of The X Factor (UK TV series) alongside her brothers under the name The Cutkelvins, advancing to the second semi-final stage. Since then, she has built a career in television and radio presenting.
Amira McCarthy
Amira McCarthy was born on 2 February 1996 in London and has consistently followed her passion for performing arts. After competing in a school singing contest at Westminster Academy, she opted to focus on music rather than acting or dancing. Similar to Plummer, she was discovered at Westfields Shopping Centre in west London and progressed to the final four during auditions. Her background includes African, Irish, and Caribbean roots.
Jessica Kate Plummer
Jessica Kate Plummer, born on 16 September 1992 in London, is the eldest member of the group and formerly worked as an actress with appearances in the CBBC show Wizards vs Aliens. Her musical inspirations include Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Jessie J. She was found by the group's manager at Brick Lane, London, and earned her place through auditions. In 2019, Plummer joined the BBC soap opera EastEnders portraying Chantelle Atkins and took part in the twentieth series of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2020, which was filmed in Wales due to pandemic restrictions.
Asami Zdrenka
Asami Zdrenka was born on 15 September 1995 in Japan to parents of Japanese and British descent. She relocated to the UK early in life with her siblings. Her passion for singing stems from family influences; her mother Harumi was a vocalist, and her grandfather released albums in Japan. She was discovered through YouTube videos before joining Neon Jungle. Following the group's disbandment, Zdrenka embarked on solo endeavors, including releasing a video series titled A Cover Trilogy.
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | AUS | ||
| Welcome to the Jungle |
|
8 | 48 |
Singles
| Year | Song Title | Highest chart rankings | Certifications | Album | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | AUS | IRE | SCO | US Dance | |||||||||||||||
| 2013 | "Trouble" | 12 | – | – | 4 | 9 | Welcome to the Jungle | ||||||||||||
| 2014 | "Braveheart" | 4 | 19 | 20 | 2 | – | |||||||||||||
| "Welcome to the Jungle" | 7 | – | 46 | 4 | – | ||||||||||||||
| "Louder" | 14 | – | 86 | 6 | – | ||||||||||||||
| "Can't Stop the Love" (featuring Snob Scrilla) |
– | – | – | – | – | ||||||||||||||
| "–" indicates a track that either did not chart or was not released in that region. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tours
Supporting performer
- Jessie J – Alive Tour (2013) (select dates in Birmingham, Sheffield, and Aberdeen)
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Urban Music Awards | Best Female Act | Template:Won |
| Best Group | Template:Won | ||
| Glamour Women of the Year Awards | Band of the Year | Template:Nominated | |
| 4Music Video Honours | Best Breakthrough | Template:Nom | |
| Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards | UK Favourite Breakthrough | Template:Nominated | |
| 2015 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Music: Next Big Thing | Template:Nominated |
| APRA Music Awards | Dance Work of the Year for "Braveheart" | Template:Nom |