Paradiso Girls
| Company type | Girl group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Founder | Robin Antin |
| Defunct | 2010 |
| Headquarters | International |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Music singles, album (unreleased) |
The Paradiso Girls constituted an international girl group assembled by Robin Antin as a European counterpart to her ensemble The Pussycat Dolls. The lineup featured Chelsea Korka (United States), Aria Crescendo (France), Lauren Bennett and Kelly Beckett (United Kingdom), along with Shar Mae Amor (Philippines). Signed under Interscope Records, their inaugural single, "Patron Tequila" with guest appearances by Lil Jon and Eve, debuted on May 12, 2009, and climbed to number 3 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. After encountering instability with their label, the group dissolved in 2010.
2007–2008: Formation
The creation of the group was spearheaded by Jimmy Iovine, head of Interscope Records, who discovered French vocalist and former Star Academy yoga instructor Aria Crescendo. Partnering with Robin Antin, Martin Kierszenbaum, and will.i.am, they conducted auditions for over 500 hopefuls in London, including performers identified during The X Factor UK. Initially, six members were chosen, among them singer Lauren Bennett, singer/dancer Kelly Beckett, and rapper/singer Shar Mae Amor. Each artist represented a distinct country, and unlike The Pussycat Dolls, this group did not designate a lead vocalist. The roster was eventually trimmed to four members, who appeared on a remix of will.i.am's "I Got It from My Mama."
Early rehearsals following appearances on Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll included Chelsea Korka, Mariela Arteaga, Brittany Diiorio, and Sisely Treasure. The official introduction of the group was made by Korka and Antin at the CW Upfronts event in 2008.
2009–2010: Debut, label departure, and dissolution
After two years in development, the group launched their debut single "Patron Tequila" featuring Eve and Lil' Jon via iTunes on April 14, 2009. This track was intended as the lead release from their forthcoming album, Crazy Horse. To boost visibility, they collaborated on tracks with Space Cowboy and participated in numerous events such as the Party Rock Tour, television appearances, blog features, and magazine spreads. Additionally, they served as models for Beats By Dre.
Their sophomore single, "Who's My Bitch," was released digitally on June 22, 2010, accompanied by a music video that premiered earlier that month on YouTube and MySpace. Unlike their first single, this release failed to chart successfully and lacked promotional support.
Following the underwhelming performance of their second single, speculation about the group's breakup intensified as members removed “Paradiso” from their social media handles. Nevertheless, Shar Mae Amor stated during a UStream interview that preparations for a third single were underway, while Lauren Bennett confirmed that the album was completed but awaiting a release date. No formal statement regarding the group's status was issued by Interscope Records.
Discrepancies arose when Aria Crescendo and Chelsea Korka exchanged contradictory messages on Twitter concerning the group's future—Korka insisted they remained active but were pursuing solo endeavors; Crescendo disputed this view, implying the group had effectively disbanded.
On October 27, 2010, Crescendo unofficially disclosed in an online interview that Interscope Records had terminated their contract. She expressed frustration over the absence of promotional efforts despite their dedication over two years. She also revealed that although more than 50 songs had been recorded for their debut album—including "Bad Man" featuring Will.i.am—the album would not be released.
Singles
| Year | Title | US Dance |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | "Wow" | – |
| 2009 | "Patron Tequila" (featuring Lil Jon and Eve) | 3 |
| 2010 | "Who's My Bitch" | 28 |
Collaborations
| Year | Title | GER | SWE | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | "Falling Down" (Space Cowboy featuring Chelsea Korka) | 63 | 27 | Digital Rock Star |
| "I Came 2 Party" (Space Cowboy featuring Paradiso Girls) | — | — | ||
| "Get U Home" (Shwayze featuring Aria) | — | — | Let It Beat |
Music videos
| Year | Track | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | "Patron Tequila" (featuring Lil Jon and Eve) | Ray Kay |
| "Falling Down" (Space Cowboy featuring Chelsea Korka) | The Party Rock Crew | |
| 2010 | "Who's My Bitch" | Chris Sims |