LOS ANGELES 鈥� It鈥檚 been a year of transition for Fifth Harmony: The pop stars parted ways with member Camila Cabello, switched management teams, negotiated a new contract with their label and won greater creative control of their brand.
Luckily the newly minted quartet, who released their third album last week, had the fairy godmother of girl groups to guide them through the tumultuous times: Destiny鈥檚 Child alum Kelly Rowland.
鈥淲e were advised by THE Kelly Rowland,鈥� Dinah Jane, 20, said with reverence. 鈥淪he just told us to, like, let the music speak for itself 鈥� and just know your worth, believe in yourself and just be there for each other. So we鈥檝e definitely honed into that. And for her to advise that, like, that says a lot because, you know, she鈥檚 gone through the same things.鈥�
鈥淎nd she said that she was really proud of us,鈥� beamed Normani Kordei, 21.
Destiny鈥檚 Child went through similar changes before settling on the final and most famous formation, the trio of Rowland, Beyonc茅 Knowles and Michelle Williams.
Fifth Harmony said they looked to the Bootylicious hitmakers when deciding to fill the spot left by Cabello, who exited in December to pursue a solo career.
鈥淲e kept referencing that while we were in the moments of that whole thing happening. 鈥� Like people, teams or whatever, suggesting: 鈥極h maybe we get a fifth member?鈥� 鈥� Lauren Jauregui, 21, recalled. 鈥淟ike no, dude. If we鈥檙e going to do this, it鈥檚 the four of us. Period.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 been us. It will be us,鈥� echoed Kordei.
The group doubled down on that decision during Sunday鈥檚 MTV Video Music Awards, where a stand-in fifth member was quickly tossed from the stage as they began to perform. The dance-heavy performance, which came two days after the release of their new album, was well-received and boosted sales of the single Down. The women also won best pop video for the song鈥檚 video, which features rapper Gucci Mane.
Naming their third album after the group drives the point home 鈥� though they鈥檝e downsized, they feel stronger than ever.
鈥淸The album] is more edgy and mature, of course, but the most harmonious we鈥檝e ever been,鈥� Jane said.
They say they are most comfortable now because they鈥檙e in the driver鈥檚 seat. They pushed for more creative control with their labels, Epic Records and Simon Cowell鈥檚 Syco imprint, and sought legal counsel to gain ownership of the Fifth Harmony trademark.
鈥淲hen we hired our lawyer, Dina LaPolt, that鈥檚 when our real transformation began because she really informed us about our business and informed us about our rights as artists,鈥� Jauregui said. 鈥淎nd we really, I feel, gained this sort of inner power that we didn鈥檛 have before and this control and ownership of our music, of our brand, of our business.鈥�
Fifth Harmony was formed on the U.S. version of The X Factor in 2012. In 2015 they released their full-length debut, Reflection, finding chart success with the upbeat hit, Worth It. They reached greater heights with the slick and sexy song Work From Home 鈥� the lead single from last year鈥檚 7/27 鈥� peaking at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
But behind closed doors, the girls were struggling.
鈥淭here are just so many crazy things that happen behind-the-scenes. So many honestly horrific situations that happen and we had to step up and say: 鈥榊ou know what? We demand the respect that we deserve,鈥� 鈥� recalled Ally Brooke, 24. 鈥淲e need to write on this album. We need to be part of that process and that鈥檚 exactly what we did.鈥�
Fifth Harmony delivers more of the group鈥檚 signature provocative pop/R&B sound along with an eclectic mix of messages. The women writhe on motel beds and showcase saucy parking lot dance sequences in the video for Down. They touch on politics and encourage inclusivity in the uplifting album-closer Bridges. And they issue a stern warning to those who misjudge them in the darker, F-bomb fuelled Angel, produced by Justin Bieber collaborator Poo Bear and EDM star Skrillex.
鈥淗onestly, it鈥檚 a breath of fresh air,鈥� said Kordei of the group鈥檚 new dynamic. 鈥淲e鈥檙e just so grateful and we thank God, like, literally every single day.鈥�
鈥淓ven in those times where the storm was really, really heavy and we didn鈥檛 know if it was going to end 鈥� now I recognize what goodness actually feels like.鈥�
