TrueBliss

TrueBliss
Origin	New Zealand
Genres	Pop
Years active	1999–2000
Labels	SonyBMG (1999-2000)
Past members	Keri Harper Joe Cotton Megan Cassie Carly Binding Erika Takacs

TrueBliss were a New Zealand pop girl group formed in April 1999. The band were formed on the popular television show Popstars, which aired on TV2 for nine weeks in the search for a new girl group. TrueBliss were the first ever group to be formed under the Popstars banner, before the concept was sold to Australia (who formed the group Bardot in similar style), continental Europe, the UK (who later started Pop Idol and The X Factor) and the United States (who later started American Idol and The X Factor USA).

Formation

Five girls, Joe Cotton, Keri Harper, Erika Takacs, Carly Binding and Megan Alatini, were taken from obscurity to instant stardom overnight while enjoying commercial success with their #1 single "Tonight". TrueBliss were managed by Jonathan Dowling, and briefly by Simon Grigg, although on TV they were portrayed as being managed by Peter Urlich, one of New Zealand's most notable music gurus, and enjoyed three single releases with label Columbia, an imprint of Sony Music.

The girls signed sponsorship deals with Pepsi and Burger King before embarking on the 'Number One Tour' across 17 towns nationwide. Demand for tickets to the shows was so strong that matinee performances were put on in most venues.

'Number One' was the follow-up to ‘Tonight’, achieving a #12 position on the New Zealand charts. Its video was, and remains to this day, the most expensive New Zealand music video. In September 1999 a cover of the George Michael penned ‘Freedom’ was released but failed to chart due to changes in chart reporting. Columbia discussed a follow-up album to the platinum 11-track debut Dream in 1999, but it was never recorded. The planned first single 'We Kissed' was written by Carly Binding who then left the band in early 2000 citing personal differences. She has since gone on to record a string of hits.

Post TrueBliss

South African-born Megan Cassie later married All Black Pita Alatini. She also opened a hair braiding shop in Dunedin she ran herself. In July 2006 Megan Alatini reappeared on screens in NZ Idol as the new female judge along with Iain Stables and Frankie Stevens. She also played Java in Cloud 9's The Tribe along with her two sisters Monique Cassie and Meryl Cassie and Atlantis High by the same production company where she played Dr. Legges. Megan and her sisters recorded music for the shows including the opening and closing songs to The Tribe . Megan also competed on the third season of New Zealand's 'Dancing with the Stars' finishing a controversial second place. Post Dancing With The Stars the sisters formed a band called Nubian Angelz (Dark Angels) performing at private functions and events with the hope of recording some new music. She has appeared as a celebrity guest on many shows and is passionate about her Charity work. Megan is currently in Japan with her family.

Carly Binding has had the most successful career afterwards scoring six top 40 hits and a gold-selling album 'Passenger' as well as donating her hit song 'This Is It' to the New Zealand AIDS Foundation's 'Love Is...' campaign. Her new album 'So Radiate' was released on 3 July 2006.

Joe Cotton was the winner of Pop's Ultimate Star in 2007. The show showcased winners of various Kiwi singing contests over recent years. Her other screen work included hosting TV2's Thursday-Saturday ‘M2’ show (a graveyard shift alternative music programme). Joe left M2 (when it was cancelled in February 2003) and after appearing on 'Celebrity Treasure Island' is now a fill-in host on the C4 music channel show 'Select Live'. She has recently appeared on the shows 'The Great New Zealand Spelling Bee', 'Pop Goes The Weasel' and 'Celebrity Joker Poker'. After hosting her own show on the New Zealand radio station "The Edge" she went on to be co-host on More FM Auckland's breakfast show and currently hosts the night time show. She was also the vocal coach for Boyband and did backing vocals on their b-side Pour Some Sugar On Me from their chart-topping single "You Really Got Me".

Erika Takacs hosted the weekly ‘Coke RTR Top 20’ show which ran from 2000-2003, appeared on commercials for the chain store Video Ezy and appeared on celebrity shows. She was signed to Sony for a single 'Do It' which remains unreleased.

Keri Harper kept the lowest profile post-TrueBliss although a song called 'Atmosphere' was produced by Che Fu it has never been released. She has also had cameos in the finale song of the 2002 “Coca Cola Christmas in the Park” (Auckland performance) and, in 2005, in the series final of the charitable show So You Wanna Be A Popstar? with all other True Bliss members except Binding. Keri has continued with theatre work including a stint with Michael Barrymore in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. In 2007 Keri competed in Pop's Ultimate Star, but was the first contestant to be eliminated.

Reformation

In 2012 Megan Alatini, Joe Cotton, Keri Harper and Erica Takacs reformed the group to sing and release a single for the New Zealand Child Cancer Foundation. The song was performed live at a Northern Mystics versus NSW Swifts netball game. The single 'A Minute Of One Day' will be released via itunes on July 20th with all proceeds going to the Childens Cancer Foundation. Carly Binding, now in a relationship with Matthew Ridge was not part of the reformed band.

Discography

Date of Release	Title	Label	Charted	Certification	Catalog Number
Albums
1999	Dream	Columbia	#1 (NZ)	2 x platinum

Singles

Year	Single	Album	NZ Singles Chart	Certification
1999	"Tonight"	Dream	#1	3 x platinum
1999	"Number One"	Dream	#12	-
2000	"Freedom"	Dream	Did Not Chart	-
2012	"A Minute Of One Day"	Charity Single	N/A	-