3LW

There is strength in numbers. No one knows this better than the indelible 3LW (Three Little Women), the platinum award-winning triad that embodies the perseverance of the heroines of the 19th century classic novel Little Women; and the artistry of historical trios such as Destiny’s Child, TLC, and SWV. Although many of today’s female, R&B groups suffer from a deficiency of these key artistic elements, 3LW’s divine musical unity prevails.

After a four-year hiatus, Kiely Williams (19), Adrienne Bailon (21), and Jessica Benson (18), are getting reacquainted with their loyalists with their third album, Point of No Return, a light-hearted, party starter that signifies the genesis of their young adulthood. Although 3LW fans have been fortunate to witness Kiely and Adrienne growing up on the small screen as Aqua and Chanel in Disney’s The Cheetah Girls series, it’s the group’s latest musical effort that offers a glimpse into their evolution as artists and women. “The album’s title also speaks to our personal growth in our careers,” says Adrienne. “We’re no longer teenagers and our decision to return to music is challenging and unpredictable, but there’s no turning back.”

Moving forward, the ladies enlisted a cadre of hit-making producers including Jermaine “J.D.” Dupri (Mariah Carey), Rich Harrison (Beyonce, Amerie), Dre and Vidal (Ciara, Chris Brown) as well as ATL newcomer Maestro (David Banner, Dem Franchize Boyz) to bring Return to life. The confessional party starter “Feelin’ You” featuring JD expresses a woman’s innermost sentiments about that special someone while the bounce-heavy “Do Ya” begs the questions whether a potential beau’s compatibility will measure up to her needs. However, it’s more seductive paens such as the mid-tempo “Hot” that encourages one to succumb to physical attraction and the title track produced by Philly’s Dre and Vidal that addresses the climax of an intimate relationship when an emotional nirvana has been achieved. However, it’s the rock-infused anthem “Throwback,” about seductively woman-handling a man that shows another side of their budding womanhood. “It’s hot to see that a new generation of young women being forward,” says Adrienne. “Not in a disrespectful way, but just being strong and confident in knowing what we want.” 3LW’s humanity is unveiled on the introspective tone “It’s Not All About Me,” which promotes the old adage that one should learn to recognize and count their blessings because someone else is always is a worst predicament than you are. “When I first sang this song I started crying,” admits Keily. “It’s such an amazing message that reminds you that when all these other things are happening around us, you need to focus on the little things that we take for granted everyday like walking and talking.”

Although the triple threat admits that they share the same musical philosophy when it comes to selecting songs: the decency of the lyrics (“It can’t be too forward or too young”) and the production (“If we can’t get the beat or lyrics out of head, it’s a keeper”), their backgrounds vary. Kiely, a New Jersey-native by way of Virginia, infiltrated the industry as a five-year-old toddler co-starring with Laurence Fishburne in a TV pilot directed by Robert Dinero. Adrienne, who is of Puerto Rican and Ecuadorian descent, was first exposed to music by her singer/songwriter father. At the tender age of 5, Adrienne recalls her house being filled with the sound of Latin legends such as Celia Cruz and La Lupe as well as new jacks Marc Anthony and La India. By the time she was 14 yrs old, Adrienne was handpicked to by Latin sensation Ricky Martin to sing back up for his evening performance at New York’s Madison Square Garden, after he heard her sing for her church choir during a conference held earlier that day in the arena. Jessica, the final addition to the trinity, joined the group three years ago. She credits her love of singing to the time she spent singing in church on Sundays with her family. On a whim and with the encouragement of her mother, she went to an open audition held in D.C. and became the No. 1 choice to replace an original member. Although it will be her first album as a member of 3LW, her excitement mirrors that of Adrienne and Kiely. “I’m so excited for our fans because they’ve supported us by creating websites for us during these last four years,” says Jess. “I can’t wait to give them something new and allow them to experience the new stage of our lives and I hope they enjoy it.” Spoken, like three mature women.