LuvBug tell Pressparty about moving on from JLS and debut single 'Resonance'

Marvin Humes has certainly kept busy following the split of JLS in late 2013. He has taken on TV presenting roles and DJ slots - and this weekend sees the release of his new music project LuvBug's first single.

He has formed the trio with producers JKAY and The White N3rd and their debut track 'Resonance' - which features Talay Riley on vocals - will be released on October 5. Pressparty caught up with Humes and JKAY to find out more.

Do you think 'Resonance' is a good choice for your first single?

Marvin Humes: Releasing the first single is always a daunting experience, especially when you've got so much material. But I think we've made the right decision - it's a good introduction to who LuvBug are and what the sound is. Fingers crossed for next Sunday.

Are you bothered about how it will chart next weekend?

Humes: This is a long-term project for us and it's completely different to what I've been in before. We've started at the grass roots really, with specialist radio and pirate radio and online - it's taken quite a long time to get out there. The reaction has been great. This is just the start for us and we want to be building the LuvBug message and sound.

Is the single a sign of things to come in terms of future material?

JKAY: We've got something in the region of up to 50 songs that we've worked on over the past 18 months to two years. So we've got a lot of music. After 'Resonance' there will be a few singles and then next year we hope to drop an album. We've got a lot of material that we can't wait for everyone to hear.

How did you keep the project secret for so long?

Humes: We've just been in the studio working away for months. No-one really needed to know and I particularly didn't want anybody to have any preconceptions of what my next musical move would be. People think I'm going to come out with a JLS sounding record, but it's completely different. It's great - I'm getting to make music that's similar to the stuff I'm playing when I DJ.

So was this bubbling away when you were in JLS?

Humes: Me and the boys gave each other lots of notice. We knew that we were going to be splitting up at the end of 2013, so for a long time we all knew it was on the cards. So once we knew that, I was working away on my next move.

I suppose it's pretty handy you've got a lot JLS fans on board already?

Humes: Not necessarily. I think times have moved very quickly. We started out in 2008 - six years ago now. If you took a 15-year-old girl in 2008 and she'll be 21 now. Between then, there's a big difference in your musical tastes. It doesn't mean that it will carry through to this. But the support is still there from hardcore fans who have stuck by me over the years.

What would you say is your target audience?

Humes: I think in terms of genres there is a lot of similar sounding stuff in the charts, like Disclosure, Gorgon City. [Music for people] aged between 18 through to the late 20s maybe.

What does each member bring to the table?

JKAY: We're obviously all from musical backgrounds, but our journeys have been different. I was part of a production team and worked in the UK and in America…and obviously Marvin has done everything, so from my point of view I'm coming from a production/creative background.

I think a lot of people might be surprised by how Marvin isn't singing?

Humes: Yeah, I'm not singing at all. I've retired and hung up my singing boots!

So is this the true Marvin Humes coming through?

Humes: I don't think so. I've always been true to myself, I've always done what I wanted to do. It's just sort of the next stage for me. Things change, you grow as a person over the years - I'll be 30 next year and I'm in a place now where I'm in all sorts of sounds and all sorts of music. It''s something that I've felt really passionate about for a long time and it's great that I can put that passion into the world. We're at a place now where we're about to release our first record and there's more songs coming. It's an exciting time for us all.

Marvin is good friends with One Direction's Niall Horan - do you think you could tempt him into singing on one of your tracks?

Humes: I think Niall wants to be a DJ…I could give him a couple of tips on the decks.

Here's a couple of questions from fans. Will you be doing any tours in the future? (via @BeddersJunior)

JKAY: Definitely, 100%. Next year we're looking to do festivals.

Where did the name LuvBug came from? (via @_emmaJLS_)

Humes: It was a mixture of things really. We're all big fans of old school garage from the 90s and there was a big single called 'Love Bug' by Ramsey and Fen. But it wasn't a direct influence. We just wanted something that was quite fun with a party vibe. It rolls off the tongue nicely.

Watch the video for LuvBug's 'Resonance' below: