Stereo Kicks

Stereo Kicks

Stereo Kicks is a UK boy band formed on The X Factor in 2014. The group is made up of eight members and is put together by Simon Cowell after the singers each enter the competition as solo performers and are then brought back together at boot camp.

Formation and line-up

The group emerges from the boot camp stage of The X Factor after the members are initially told they do not progress. They return as an eight-piece act. The line-up includes Tom Mann, James, Barclay, Charlie, Casey, Reece, Chris and Jake. Charlie is the youngest member and continues his GCSE studies while joining the band full time.

Career on The X Factor

Stereo Kicks first draw attention with a boot camp performance of Snow Patrol’s Run, which receives strong praise. They then move into the live shows, performing covers including Michael Jackson’s You’re Not Alone and a medley of The Beatles’ Let It Be and Hey Jude. Their performances make them one of the most talked-about acts in the show’s history.

Recordings and touring

The band’s debut single is Love Me So, written by Tom Mann. It presents the group as a self-penned pop act with a soulful sound. After The X Factor live shows, Stereo Kicks appear on the 2015 arena tour and then play their own sold-out UK headline tour, ending with a show at London’s O2 Islington Academy.

Reception and audience

The group builds a large online following, with more than 270,000 followers on Twitter and over 10 million YouTube views. Their fan base supports both their TV appearances and live dates, and the first airing of Love Me So leads to the song trending worldwide on Twitter.

Influences and sound

The members name artists including Ed Sheeran, Oasis and Elvis Presley among their influences. Their own sound is described as aiming for something cool and anthemic, with pop elements and a slightly different approach from other acts in the field.