Another Level are an English
soul
The soul is the purported Mind–body dualism, immaterial aspect or essence of a Outline of life forms, living being. It is typically believed to be Immortality, immortal and to exist apart from the material world. The three main theories that ...
and
R&B-influenced
boy band
A boy band is a vocal group consisting of young male singers, usually in their Teenage, teenage years or in their twenties at the time of formation. Generally, boy bands perform love songs marketed towards girls and young women. Many boy bands ...
that formed in 1997 originally consisting of Mark Baron,
Dane Bowers
Dane Bowers is an English singer, songwriter, producer and DJ. He is a part of Contemporary R&B, R&B boy band Another Level (group), Another Level. Bowers has also had solo success. He has made TV appearances on ''Celebrity Big Brother (British ...
, Bobak Kianoush and Wayne Williams. They achieved seven top ten singles, including the 1998 number one "
Freak Me".
In 2013, the band were about to reunite for the
ITV2
ITV2 is a Television in the United Kingdom, British free-to-air television channel owned by ITV Digital Channels, a division of ITV plc. It was launched on 7 December 1998. For a number of years, it had the largest audience share after the fiv ...
documentary ''
The Big Reunion''; however, Williams and Baron chose not to take part in the show.
Bowers was the only member to take part in the show and joined the supergroup
5th Story along with
Kenzie from
Blazin' Squad and former soloists
Adam Rickitt,
Kavana and
Gareth Gates.
According to the
British Phonographic Industry
BPI (British Recorded Music Industry) Limited, trading as British Phonographic Industry (BPI), is the British recorded music industry's trade association. It runs the BRIT Awards; is home to the Mercury Prize; co-owns the Official Charts C ...
(BPI), Another Level has been certified for sales of 400,000 albums and 1 million singles in the UK.
Career
Dane Bowers
Dane Bowers is an English singer, songwriter, producer and DJ. He is a part of Contemporary R&B, R&B boy band Another Level (group), Another Level. Bowers has also had solo success. He has made TV appearances on ''Celebrity Big Brother (British ...
and Wayne Williams were both students of the
BRIT School of Performing Arts & Technology in the
London Borough of Croydon
The London Borough of Croydon () is a London borough, borough in South London, part of Outer London. It covers an area of and had a population of 397,741 as of mid-2023, making it the most populous London borough. It is London's southernmost ...
when they were discovered. Williams enrolled at the school in 1995, while Bowers was in the year below, but started in 1994.
Another Level were originally conceived by
Nick Raphael
Nick Raphael is a music industry executive and entrepreneur born in London, England. He is a former President of Capitol Records in the UK.
Career
In the early 1990s, Raphael moved to Leeds, UK and organized, managed and promoted several night ...
and Christian Tattersfield for their new record label project
Northwestside Records, a
BMG sub-label in the United Kingdom that had also signed
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American Rapping, rapper, businessman, and record executive. Rooted in East Coast hip-hop, he was named Billboard and Vibe's 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time, the ...
's
Roc-A-Fella Records
Roc-A-Fella Records was an American record label and music management company founded in 1994 by record executives and entrepreneurs Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, Damon Dash, and Kareem "Biggs" Burke. Carter issued his debut album, '' Reasonable Doubt ...
unit in 1998. The group consisted of Baron, Bowers, Bobak Kianoush and Wayne Williams. Due to Northwestside's position as an urban marketed record label, a number of R&B and
hip hop
Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hip- ...
stars guested on Another Level's songs. These included Jay-Z,
Ghostface Killah
Dennis David Coles (born May 9, 1970), better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and a member of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of ''Enter the Wu-Tang ...
and
TQ, amongst others.
Another Level had seven
top 40
In the music industry, the Top 40 is a list of the 40 currently most popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "To ...
singles in two years, including 1998's
UK singles chart number one "
Freak Me" (a cover of the 1993 hit by US group
Silk
Silk is a natural fiber, natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be weaving, woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is most commonly produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoon (silk), c ...
), and a platinum-selling,
eponymous debut album.
1999's
gold
Gold is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol Au (from Latin ) and atomic number 79. In its pure form, it is a brightness, bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile metal. Chemically, gold is a transition metal ...
-selling ''Nexus'' followed, along with
Brit Awards nominations, and the opening slot on
Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, actress and dancer. She is noted for her innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows. Her sound and choreogr ...
's European
tour. Shortly after the release of the album's third single "Bomb Diggy", Williams abruptly departed the group to pursue a solo career. Shortly afterwards, Kianoush quit the group, leaving Baron and Bowers to continue as a duo until they split up in early 2000.
Bowers went on to have success with Jonny L and Victoria Beckham as part of the Truesteppers' record "Out of Your Mind", as well as two, number nine, solo hit single releases. Williams went on to start up his own record label with his brother Jason. His debut album ''Fame And Fortune'' failed to make an impact on the UK charts.
On 27 August 2013, Another Level were on the verge of signing up for the
ITV2
ITV2 is a Television in the United Kingdom, British free-to-air television channel owned by ITV Digital Channels, a division of ITV plc. It was launched on 7 December 1998. For a number of years, it had the largest audience share after the fiv ...
documentary, ''
The Big Reunion'', but Williams announced that he would not take part. In an interview with
MTV UK, he said: "I decided not to participate in ''The Big Reunion'' because it wouldn't feel right to me...I'm in a totally different space in my life and I don't feel any need to look back."
Bowers was the only member to take part in the show as he joined supergroup
5th Story along with
Kenzie from
Blazin' Squad and former soloists
Adam Rickitt,
Kavana and
Gareth Gates.
On 25 September 2021, a reformed Another Level, consisting of Baron, Bowers and Kianoush, made a one-off appearance at the Kisstory Festival, marking their return to the stage. This performance occurred without Williams, who chose not to participate.
Discography
Studio Albums
Compilation Albums
Singles
Members
Current members
*
Dane Bowers
Dane Bowers is an English singer, songwriter, producer and DJ. He is a part of Contemporary R&B, R&B boy band Another Level (group), Another Level. Bowers has also had solo success. He has made TV appearances on ''Celebrity Big Brother (British ...
(1997–2000, 2021, 2024–present)
* Mark Baron (1997–2000, 2021, 2024–present)
* Shaun Hoyte (2024–present)
* Greg Costa (2024–present)
Past members
* Bobak Kianoush (1997–1999, 2021)
* Wayne Williams (1997–1999)
Tours
Headlining
*Another Level Tour
Supporting act
*
Boyzone
Boyzone were an Irish boy band created in 1993 by the talent manager Louis Walsh. Before even recording any material, Boyzone made an appearance on RTÉ's ''The Late Late Show (Ireland), The Late Late Show''. Its most successful line-up was co ...
– A Different Beat Tour
*
Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, actress and dancer. She is noted for her innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows. Her sound and choreogr ...
–
The Velvet Rope Tour
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Another Level (Band)
*
British contemporary R&B musical groups
English boy bands
Musical groups established in 1997
Musical groups disestablished in 2000
Contemporary R&B musical groups from London