D & A interviewed by Southeast View: "Paired in perfect harmony"

June 16, 2009 (Las Vegas, NV) Female teen recording duo D & A was interviewed by Las Vegas newspaper Southeast View News: "Paired in perfect harmony; Pop duo clicks musically, personally as career launches on high note." The teens opened for singer Jesse McCartney and rapper Soulja Boy at 98.5 KLUC Summer Jam last month and are gearing up for a summer of other concerts.

Paired in perfect harmony
Pop duo clicks musically, personally as career launches on high note
By DANIELLE NADLER
SOUTHEAST VIEW NEWS

Danielle Nadler/ViewPop duo DeAnn DeNovellis, left, and Alex Lowery, known as D & A, practice at the Dance Zone, 11221 S. Eastern Ave., Suite 100, on June 5 as they prepare for an upcoming concert. The teens opened for singer Jesse McCartney and rapper Soulja Boy at 98.5 KLUC Summer Jam last month and are gearing up for a summer of other concerts.

Three weeks ago, pop duo DeAnn DeNovellis and Alex Lowery sang in front of thousands at the 98.5 KLUC Summer Jam as the opening act for singer Jesse McCartney and rapper Soulja Boy.

Not bad for their first concert.

Less than a year ago, the two would have never guessed they would share the spotlight with celebrity performers. They didn't even know each other.

Alex, 15, had just started voice lessons. DeAnn, 14, had never danced a choreographed step in her life.

The two were introduced in September by Alex's family friend and veteran entertainment manager Steve "Biscuit" Walker. Walker had a three-girl group in the mind, but when he saw DeAnn and Alex sing together for the first time, he kept it at a duo.

"It just clicked," Alex said. "It was like we knew each other forever."

The two girls have since become inseparable. In the fall, they left Coronado High School and Canarelli Middle School for home schooling to focus on their newfound career.

D & A has since consumed their schedules. They take dance lessons twice a week, voice lessons three times a week, acting and modeling classes twice a week and practice dancing and singing nearly every day.

And they coach each other.

Alex has danced most of her life, but didn't take a voice lesson until a year ago. DeAnn, on the other hand, has sung since she was 4 years old, inspired by her mother, Ann DeNovellis, who sang at nearly every hotel-casino along the Strip over the past 20 years.

What DeAnn needed to work on was her dance moves.

"I feel like we cover each other's weaknesses," she said.

"DeAnn might help me hit a note, and I help her with some of the dancing," Alex added.

Alex's father, Daniel "Jamariah" Mowery, who also has sung locally for 20 years, never imagined his daughter would follow the limelight.

"Her voice coach called after her first lesson and said, 'Your daughter has a beautiful voice,' " Mowery said. "I had no idea. She would never sing for me."

When Alex joined forces with DeAnn, she said she finally felt at home in the spotlight.

"I love it," Alex said of performing. "It's like what I was meant to do."

"Me too," DeAnn added, who used to hang out backstage with her mother. "It's always been like a sparkle that I was drawn to. I knew I wanted to sing."

The girls recorded their first songs in Los Angeles late last year. Developed by producer Chris "Brody" Brown, D & A's sound has catchy choruses and rhythms. The songs' lyrics speak to friendship, loneliness, flirting and, of course, boys. So far, they have five recorded songs.

"We feel like we relate to every song," DeAnn said.

Two of their songs debuted on 98.5 KLUC-FM two weeks ago. The girls happened to be listening to the station at home when the songs aired.

"I was like, wait, that's us," Alex said.

"I threw my dog," DeAnn said with a playful grimace. "I was just shocked."

D & A could share the spotlight with other big-name performers in the music industry this summer if all goes as planned. Walker is working to showcase the girls in Orlando, Fla., New York and Los Angeles.

"I think they have potential to be big, but it all comes down to what kind of music kids want," said Walker, who's also worked with New Kids on the Block, Aaron Carter and other popular performers. "For the short amount of time, they've done extremely well, but they have a lot of work to do. My main thing is for them to keep honing their craft."

The girls received similar advice from McCartney after his performance at Summer Jam. The 22-year-old urged them to press on even when things get tough.

"We know it's going to be a lot of work," DeAnn said. "Hopefully, one day, we'll be at the MGM (Grand) walking down the red carpet with Mariah Carey."

About D & A
It is apparent at first glance that teen duo D & A are uniquely different. What is not as obvious is how similar, 14-year-old DeAnn and 15-year-old Alex actually are. Though the up-and-coming performers met only a short time before they began their musical journey together, their chemistry is evident to all who lay eyes on the young beauties.

While growing up in very different environments, both girls expressed interest in the arts from a young age. In the early years DeAnn’s emphasis was on music, whereas Alex focused more on dance. Each of the girls’ opposite strengths has become a catalyst for the other’s success. As multi-faceted entertainers, they also have experience in modeling and acting.

Having parents with industry experience proved to be a great asset to D & A’s development. DeAnn’s mother Ann has toured internationally as a singer and Alex’s father, Danny, is a national recording artist. They both have continued successful music careers in Las Vegas. Another asset the girls have attributed to their growth is the support they’ve gained from their family as a whole.

Both D & A members achieved industry success early on. Alex successfully secured a contract with Ford Modeling Agency, one of the premier global agencies, at only 2 years of age. DeAnn has appeared in local commercials in Las Vegas, and has received recognition at talent competitions and showcases nationwide in both singing and acting. Additionally both girls attended the same talent development academy, where they received training in modeling, acting, dance (jazz, hip-hop, ballet), and vocal training.

Looking ahead, the goals for D & A include making a big splash into the music industry by introducing a fresh and young, yet mainstream approach to pop music, as well as an active presence in TV and film. D & A recently signed a personal management deal with Mark Harris of Abundant Entertainment and Steve "Biscuit" Walker of Freestyle Entertainment (Backstreet Boys, 'NSYNC, Aaron Carter). They are currently working with GRAMMY®-nominated, up-and-coming, songwriter and producer Chris “Brody” Brown (T Pain, Lionel Richie and Kara DioGuardi). Their music embodies the wholesomeness of their age with an edge, and the experience of seasoned artists.

Success is inevitable for these two. Not only will D & A dominate the music world, but with such immense talent, they are sure to succeed in the entertainment industry as a whole.

About Crossover Entertainment Group, LLC
Crossover Entertainment Group, LLC is an entertainment industry multidisciplinary professional services firm, which through its three wholly-owned subsidiaries, specializes in: celebrity personal talent management services, development of media properties and branded entertainment corporate consulting. For more information, visit Crossover’s website at www.CrossoverEntertainment.com.