The song topped the Billboard Christian charts prior to the album’s release last week. With their second single already on its way to the radio, “Fearless” is expected to be their most successful album to date.
Group 1 Crew, an Orlando-based trio, first stepped into the scene in 2007 when they released their self-titled debut album, “Group 1 Crew.” Supported by Warner Brothers Media, the group consisted of three members: Manwell Reyes, Blanca Callahan, and Pablo Villatoro. The album received positive reviews and featured songs like “Forgive Me,” which was showcased on the popular show “America’s Got Talent.”
The group’s previous and most mainstream effort yet, “Outta Space Love,” garnered positive reviews and spawned three singles and four music videos.
Now in 2012, with three albums under their belt and one member less, Manwell Reyes and Blanca Callahan bring us “Fearless.”
The full-length, thirteen track album is said to be the most musically diverse album the group has created.
The Group 1 Crew official website describes the album as “the ambitious sonic potpourri that could easily find a home alongside Rihanna, Drake, Katy Perry or Wiz Khalifa is certainly nothing short of fearless, the project also exposes members’ hearts to such vulnerable degrees that fans from any walk of life can’t help but relate to.”
The album features a variety of different styles of music as well as songs not only focusing on a religious message but also songs that speak about their personal lives and struggles, such as breakups and heartaches.
“Not the End Of Me,” one of the ballads on the album, talks about the end of a relationship and how “the end of us, is not the end of me.”
Moving on to completely up-tempo sounds, the album features songs like “Night Of My Life,” “Freq Dat,” and “Dangerous.” These are more like pop and dance tracks.
“On this record,” said lead vocalist Blanca Callahan, “We’re able to incorporate all the different styles of music that we love and it’s a fun thing that a lot of bands don’t get to do. We’ll go from hip-hop to an inspirational ballad, but that’s just how we think, kind of like an iPod shuffle.”
With a No. 1 hit on the radio and another single soon to air, “Fearless” is looking to be as successful, if not moreso, than the group’s previous material and with a new look and a new style, the duo has no plans to stop anytime soon.
“They take a different approach to Christian music, but maintain true to their message, they stay urban and their style is the music you would hear in mainstream media,” said Valencia student Christian Martinez.
“Fearless” is available now on iTunes. For concert dates and any other information visit http://www.Group1crew.com.