Random were a five-member Australian R&B vocal group formed in 2005 by Xylocaine "Xy" Latu, Wayne Tauvao, Tasesa Junior "TJ" Tauvao, Donald Tauvao and Andy-Iese "Jesse" Tolo-Paepae. Random were the winners of the first season of ''The X Factor'' (Australia); they were also the first (of five worldwide) group to win the franchise. In October that year, they issued their debut self-titled album, which peaked in the

ARIA Albums Chart The ARIA Charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling songs and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA became the offici ...

top 100. Their first single, "Put Your Hands Up", peaked at No. 7 on the related ARIA Singles Chart. A follow up single, "Are You Ready", reached No. 36. The group disbanded in 2007 but briefly reunited in October 2009 for a one-off performance.

History

Random formed at the Brisbane auditions for ''The X Factor'' (Australia) in December 2004. Initially Xylocaine "Xy" Latu and Andy-Iese "Jesse" Tolo-Paepae were to compete as a duo, Rough Diamonds; while Tasesa Junior "TJ" Tauvao wanted to enter as a solo artist: he was attending with his brother Wayne Tauvao and their cousin, Donald Tauvao – all three were former members of a vocal trio, 315. Prior to auditioning all five agreed to compete as a combined R&B vocal quintet and named themselves, Random. The group were mentored by

Mark Holden Mark Ronald Holden (born 27 April 1954) is an Australian singer, actor, TV personality, record producer, songwriter, and barrister. He was a pop star in the 1970s and had four top 20 hit singles, "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again" (May 1976 ...

and won the TV talent contest.

After ''X Factor''

The group released their first single "Put Your Hands Up" on 10 June 2005 after their win. The single reached No. 7 on the Australian

ARIA Chart The ARIA Charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling songs and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA became the offici ...

. Their second single, "Are You Ready", peaked at No. 36 in September. They released their self-titled debut album on 9 October 2005, but it only reached No. 79. The group performed at Australia's biggest Christian music festival, the

Australian Gospel Music Festival Australian(s) may refer to: Australia * Australia, a country * Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia ** European Australians ** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists ** Aboriginal Aus ...

Awards in 2006 before breaking up. In October 2009 the group reunited for a one-off benefit concert for victims of the Samoan tsunami. Latu reflected on their split, "we all wanted to do different things and there were other personal issues that needed to be taken care of." All five ex-members were either performers or record producers.

Members

* Xylocaine "XY" Latu, (born 13 January 1979 in

Tonga Tonga (, ; ), officially the Kingdom of Tonga ( to, Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga), is a Polynesian country and archipelago. The country has 171 islands – of which 45 are inhabited. Its total surface area is about , scattered over in ...

) from

Logan Central Logan Central is a mixed-use suburb and the central business district and administrative centre of the City of Logan, Queensland, Australia. In the , Logan Central had a population of 5,945 people. Geography Once forming part of Woodridge ...

* Andy-Iese "Jesse" Tolo-Paepae, (born 19 January 1984 in Australia) from Kingston * Wayne Tauvao, (born 8 December 1985 in New Zealand) from Queensland * Tasesa Junior "TJ" Tauvao, (born 31 May 1988 in New Zealand) from

Kippa-Ring Kippa-Ring is a suburb in the Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , Kippa-Ring had a population of 9,790 people. Geography Kippa-Ring is located in the centre of the Redcliffe Peninsula, by road west of Redcliffe and by road ...

* Donald Tauvao, (born 12 October 1988 in

Western Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands ( Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands ( Manono and Apolima); a ...

) from Redcliffe

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Random Australian contemporary R&B musical groups Musical groups established in 2005 Musical groups disestablished in 2007 The X Factor winners The X Factor (Australian TV series) contestants