How did you guys become a band?
We all auditioned to sing the theme song for the Lego Friends movie “Girlz 4 Life”, and once we landed the audition, they decided to make us an actual group! So from then on, we were L2M.
How did you guys come up with the band name L2M & what’s the meaning of the name?
Before L2M was put together, our management team held focus groups of kids and had them come up with ideas for cool band names and “L2M” was everyone’s favorite. It stands for Listening to Music!
Can you tell us a little something about each of you?
Lexi: Each of the girls has something that they are obsessed with! Mari is OBSESSED with SpongeBob; Jenna is the one that always makes everyone laugh! McKenzie is very outgoing and turns everything into a party!!! It’s awesome!! And I am into clothes; I love giving the girls makeovers. Tati also is ALWAYS laughing and gives really good advice!
Tati: I love to dance and I am a black belt in karate. I also write my own raps.
Jenna: I would describe myself as very energetic, athletic, competitive, and music lover I love to spend time with my family…it’s something that I cherish the most. A lot of kids don’t have a family that they are close to or don’t have to time spend time with their family. This makes me very thankful and grateful for my family and the time I get to spend time with them.
Mariangeli: A little something about me would be that I’m obsessed with theater and New York. I attend a performing arts studio that I am a part of back home and there I constantly participate in musicals. I also love dancing and singing.
McKenzie: Starting with myself, I am very outgoing. I love to socialize and meet new people. I also love to perform and show people my creative side and I enjoy boxing!!!
What is it like being in a band?
Lexi: I love being in a band because I have the other four girls to support me and we all have each other’s backs.
Tati: So much fun!
Jenna: Being in a band is amazing! Even when you’re working really hard, you have your friends in it with you to support and help you. We all help each other as much as we can!
Mariangeli: Being in a band is amazing! I am so lucky to have met these girls and I have learned so much from them.
McKenzie: Being in a band is such a great experience because I get to do what I love with for other girls, which always makes it super fun!
How would you describe your musical style as a band?
Lexi: L2M’s music is pop music, and our lyrics are inspiring.
Tati: Pop!
Mariangeli: Probably pop or dance depending on the song!
McKenzie: Our musical style is mainly pop music. It’s very youthful and fun and will make you want to dance!
What artists/bands are you influenced by?
Lexi: I am really influenced by Cher Lloyd. She is a U.K. artists and she means a lot to me!! From her clothes, music, to her back-story, she is very inspiring.
Tati: Justin Bieber and Fifth Harmony.
Jenna: I am very influenced by Tori Kelly and Kari Jobe. Tori Kelly started off when she was very young. All of her songs are very clean and meaningful. Kari Jobe is a Christian singer who sings at my church. All of her songs that she writes really move me and give me an inspiring feeling that make me want to sing. Tori Kelly and Kari Jobe are the reason that I felt inspired to start songwriting.
Mariangeli: I am influenced by Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato, Fifth Harmony, and Sabrina Carpenter.
McKenzie: I’m influenced by Fifth Harmony, Justin Bieber, Beyoncé, and Tori Kelly.
What’s the difference from your band and all bands that have come before you?
Lexi: We are very young compared to other bands, and we all are able to sing, dance, and act.
Jenna: I think our band is different from all of the other because we are a younger group then most of them. We try our best to inspire other girls to be the best they can be and be who they want to be.
Mariangeli: Well we’re young, different, and live by the motto “if we can do it, you can do it too”.
McKenzie: What sets our band apart from others before us is that we are true best friends and our connection makes it so easy to work with each other. You can definitely tell we enjoy what we do! Also, there aren’t many bands that started out as young as we did!!!
You guys recently released your new single, “Living For The Rhythm”. Can you tell us how this song came about and the meaning of the song?
Lexi: Living For the Rhythm is about how you should just have fun and live life!!
Tati: This song was for the Lego Friends movie and it’s all about girl power and girls having fun!
Jenna: Well we recorded the song for Lego Friends and the meaning is to just have fun and dance! CHA CHA!
Mariangeli: Living for the Rhythm is about being free and living your life to the fullest.
McKenzie: Our single “Living For The Rhythm” is about having fun with friends and being care- free and just enjoying life. When it comes to our music we always strive to have a positive message, which is what is shown through this song!
I watched your newest music video for your new single,”Living For The Rhythm”. How did the idea for this music video come about? Whats the process to make a “L2M” music video?
Lexi: Coco & Breezy directed the music video and they are amazing to work with. My favorite part of filming to music video was when we got to go on the roof and watch the sunset and run around!! Filming music videos takes a lot of work, from the hair and makeup, to wardrobe, to lighting, and choreography, and many many other things, but it is so so so much fun!!
Mariangeli: A L2M video usually involves a lot of people all with amazing ideas. The concept of this video was really just about having tons of fun and living for the rhythm!
McKenzie: The creative concept came from our directors CoCo and Breezy who we worked with on our first single! They also allowed us to give input on what we thought would be cool for the video as well! The process of an L2M video is a team effort. From us the artists, to the directors, camera crew, makeup and hair, and tons of other people all coming together to make the video!!! We always have a lot of fun on set and it never feels like work!
Do you guys have a creative say in your music and videos?
Lexi: In Living For The Rhythm one of the shots, L2M got to co-direct it!! It was super cool.
Mariangeli: Yes! Normally we have a team that works on the concepts for the video, but they’re always one on one to us exchanging feedback or ideas.
McKenzie: Yes we have input when it comes to our music as well as our videos!
You also have one of your singles in the Lego Friends: Girlz4 Life Movie. Can you tell us how this opportunity came about for you guys and how it feels to have one of your songs in a movie?
Lexi: I think it is super cool to have our song GIRLZ in the Lego Friends movie. I was so excited the first time I watched the movie and heard our song in it.
Mariangeli: Well the opportunity was originally the reason for what we auditioned for, but it was still super cool to hear a song that we take pride in and we worked so hard on in an actual movie!
McKenzie: The opportunity came about with the help of the creative founders of our group. We were so excited when we got this opportunity and to have one of our songs in a Lego Friends movie was absolutely amazing. Being able to see the animated characters with our voices was amazing! The opportunity was honestly surreal
Speaking of movies, you guys also have been cast in the YouTube red series titled “Hyperlinked.” Can you tell us about this new series?
Lexi: We have been working really hard the past few months! It is a show based on a true story of a teen girl website called “Miss O and Friends”. I had a blast filming season 1 and I can’t wait for it to be released!
Tati: It’s a show that all young girls will be able to relate to. It’s by girls for girls!
Jenna: HYPERLINKED IS AMAZING!!!! The show is about 4 best friends and a little sister who create a website for girls to go too. They can go to the site and talk to other girl and ask us questions about being a girl and all of the rough stages we go through. It’s also about the bond with friends and family and how they grow which is very cool. I believe it’s going to be a hit.
Mariangeli: This series is a brand new project for L2M. It has taught us many new things about acting and the industry, as well as introduced us to truly amazing groups of people. Although we can’t share much yet, we are very thankful for our crew and the rest of our cast members for making this series possible and we can’t wait to share the Miss O and Friends girls with you!
McKenzie: While I can’t tell you too much because the show isn’t released yet, it is about 5 girls who started a website called Miss O and friends. We help girls of all ages with the typical problems and struggles we all go through growing up! It’s also about friendship, family, empowerment, and sticking together no matter what!
What do you hope to gain out of your music and acting careers?
Lexi: I hope that I get many more opportunities with my acting and singing. I really enjoy both and I want to do them for the rest of my life!!
Tati: Stardom! Inspiring all young kids to live their dreams to their fullest.
Jenna: Well I’ve always wanted to be an inspiration to other people. I started singing, acting, and dancing because I felt inspired by Tori Kelly and Kari Jobe. Also I saw the two movies La La Land and Beauty & the Beast and they really moved me. I would die to be in a movie like that. Ever since I was little I’ve always wanted to be a Disney princess. It might sound funny but it’s true. Anyway, all I want is for my dreams to come true. I’m sure they will but I have hope and faith.
Mariangeli: I hope to be a part of the performing arts industry forever, whether that be in music, theater, or film/TV. It has truly become the structure of my life and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
McKenzie: I want to gain as much knowledge as possible and continue to work on my craft as an artist!
Are you guys planning on touring or doing any shows anytime soon?
Lexi: L2M is always hard at work on our music, so I’m sure we will be performing soon.
Tati: We sure hope so!
Jenna: I’m sure we are! I would love to go on tour that’s DEFINITELY on my bucket list!!!
Mariangeli: At the moment we are focusing more on the release of our YouTube Red show and new music, but who knows, anything can happen! We are looking forward to it.
McKenzie: Yes, we definitely want to start performing more and hope to go on tour very soon!
What’s the feeling you guys get when performing in front of your fans?
Lexi: I have always loved performing on stage so it gives me so much joy getting to perform for fans.
Tati: Performing for our fans is amazing and surreal.
Jenna: I get really excited to perform and give it all I’ve got!
Mariangeli: I personally love the feeling of performing in front of people, but performing with my best friends makes it even better. It is great to know that people love our music just as much as we do and that it makes them smile.
McKenzie: We always feel super happy inside when we get to perform for our fans because we love making them happy and seeing how inspired they are by what we do!! Also just to know that we have such a big impact in someone’s life makes what we’re doing amazing!!
Does your fan base have a name?
L2M’s fans are called the #Listeners
How do you want your relationship to be with your fans?
Lexi: I love interacting with my fans on my social media so I think it’s cool to have that personal relationship with them.
Tati: Loving
Jenna: I want to be close with are fans. I know a lot of people say this but…if it weren’t for them we wouldn’t be where we are. Like just think of it- if we didn’t have fans no one would be listening to our music and watching our music videos!
Mariangeli: We want to show them that we are just an ordinary group of teens that were able to pursue their dreams, and that they can do the same if they put their minds to it!
McKenzie: I want our fans to feel connected with what we do as a group through our music! I want our fans to know we are just like them and that they can do anything they put their minds to!!!
What social media platform do you use most to stay connected to your fans?
Lexi: Instagram!
Tati: Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat
Jenna: Instagram for sure!
Mariangeli: Probably Instagram because I am a huge fan of photography, so I love to share the pictures I take on there.
McKenzie: I mostly use Instagram to connect with my fans because that’s where they connect with me the most. I also use musical.ly because I can do Q&A’s and live streams to talk to them!
What was the craziest fan encounter you guys have had?
Lexi: Whenever people come up and ask for a picture it is so cool and I love getting to say hi to them!
Jenna: One time I was at a softball tournament about to play a game and a fan came up to me and asked for a photo!
Mariangeli: Probably at our first live concert. We got to meet so many amazing kids!
McKenzie: Probably our first live performance because a lot of our fans were there and when it was time to sign autographs and meet them there were so many people waiting in line!! It was so amazing to see the support from our fans!!!
Will there be an EP/album out soon?
Lexi: Yes!!!! We have been working on an album so there should be one coming out soon.
Mariangeli: We’re working on some new tracks at the moment so, maybe…
McKenzie: We definitely have more music coming very soon! We’ve been in and out of the recording studio working really hard to put out the best album for our fans!
What’s an average day for “L2M” look like?
Lexi: We go to vocal lessons, then go to the recording studio, then off to choreography lessons!!
Tati: We are always all pretty busy!
Jenna: A crazy day filled with adventure. We’re always doing different things like recording, dance, photo-shoots, and rehearsals!
Mariangeli: Well we all live across the country so it honestly depends. When were all together were constantly goofing around and having fun, and when were back home, we return to our normal lives and are always in touch.
McKenzie: From going to the recording studio, dance lessons, and meetings it’s a lot of work but it’s always fun!! In our free time though, we love to go to escape rooms and amusement parks!!
What goals have you guys set out for the band?
Lexi: We have made many goals that I hope come true in the future!! One of mine is performing at Madison Square Garden.
Tati: Perform our hearts out around the world and star in our own movie!!
Jenna: We all want to go on tour!!!!
Mariangeli: We hope to inspire kids everywhere whether with our music or with our show! And maybe one day get to perform for all of them live!
McKenzie: We hope to continue making music for our fans and to keep inspiring them! I know we all hope to go on tour some day and perform and sell out Madison Square Garden!!
Where do you guys hope the band is in 5 years?
Lexi: I hope L2M is known globally and we are in tour inspiring everyone!!
Tati: Touring worldwide
Jenna: On tour and performing at some award shows!
Mariangeli: Hopefully touring or working on massive new projects!
McKenzie: In five years I hope our band is still touring across the country and reaching millions of people and continuing to be an inspiration! Also having platinum albums!!!
Do you guy have any last things you want to tell your supporters?
Lexi: Thank you so much for believing in us and I love each and everyone of you!!!❤❤
Tati: We love and adore you!!
Jenna: Never give up. Be determined, hard working, humble, and kind…with that you can be anything you want to be.
Mariangeli: Just remember, if we can do it, your can do it too!
McKenzie: I just want to let our supporters know to never stop chasing their dreams, always work hard and remain humble!!
Photo Credit: Travis Schneider