Catching My Eye: Ruff Diamondz

With the UK currently awash with tawdry pop tack, RD are a nod back to the glory days when sassy girl groups - En Vogue, Salt ‘N’ Pepa, TLC and the like - ruled the roost.

The London-based trio are bringing some much needed kick and snare to the urban scene. But what’s making RD - so named because it sums up what the girls feel they are - stand head and shoulders above the competition are the sultry vocals of Troy, 22, and Martika, 18, coupled with the fast paced emceeing delivered by Chronz, 21.

RD started life when Chronz met songwriter Carla-Marie Williams in 2008 . Writing sessions between the pair led to Carla suggesting Chronz should form a group. An east end lass through and through, Chronz is the grime fan you’ll find in an Indian restaurant eating the spiciest meal possible. A fan of skinny jeans and baggy tops, she takes inspiration from grime scene stalwarts Ghetts, D Double E, Dizzee Rascal and fellow female MC, Shystie. Having honed her skills on the pirate radio circuit, doing cleaning jobs for her mum in order to pay her subs, she could also be found giving performances outside Costcutter with her former crew, Doin’ A lot. A red bull addict, she worked on perfecting her flow and slowing down her raps whilst juggling reception jobs and bar work.

Chronz and Carla-Marie searched out Lewisham native Troy and kickboxing singer Martika on MySpace which led to the birth of the group now known as RD. With a revival and rare groove-loving father who works in A&R, Troy was involved in performance from a young age, eventually going on to study dance at Brit School. A massive fan of 90s R&B, TLC and Xscape being personal favourites, between stints working in retail and being on Job Seekers Allowance, Troy got her first taste of singing when funky house became the music du jour and she featured on a host of club bangers. Known as the mummy of the group, Troy is also a fitness freak and member of Supreme Skaters Elite.

Making up the trio, baby of the group Martika’s princess look is thanks to her Greek, Ghanaian, Dominican and English mixed heritage. Hailing from a strict family in Tottenham (her first tube journey by herself was to audition for RD), with a producer for a dad and a mum who’s sung backing vocals for Sting, it was no surprise when Martika, whose influences include Sade and Alicia Keys, ended up studying music at City & Islington Academy. Despite her petit appearance, she’s also a purple belt at kickboxing (ask the last boy who tried to grab her bottom what happened) and, having previously expected to go into a career as a stylist, is in charge of making sure the group’s fashion is on lock.

The four decided to take on the scene together, Carla decided to manage the group full time, whilst writing and mentoring them in all creative areas. The girls soon took to the stage and, RD were born with Chronz, Martika and Troy.

The girls, who now, argue like sisters on a daily basis and boast an array of catchphrases (their favourite being “if you don’t know/ get to know/ later”). In the last year, they’ve also realised they have a shared hatred of sandwiches.

“We HATE sandwiches,” explains Troy, “It’s that bad that when we were in Wales I had to get my auntie, who lived locally, to cook up a Caribbean selection and drop it in.”

Since uniting, the three inseparables have endured boot camp style trips to Terminal, in South London, where they spend up to a month at a time working religiously on their vocal, dance and performance skills, all of which came in handy when they were called up to support JLS, whose arena tour they’ll be joining in January. Terminal is also where they bumped into N Dubz, a meeting that led to the girls being asked to join the band on a national tour. Now firm friends, the girls look to N Dubz as mentors.

Following their street heater, ‘Alrite Stillll’, which dropped in February, the girls were the result of a bidding war. Splitting time between hitting the roads and recording their debut album that they describe as “more universal”, featuring production from Naughty Boy (Chipmunk) and guests like Roll Deep, they’re now preparing for their stint on the MOBO tour. Not ones to rest on their laurels, they’ve also unveiled a mixtape, available for free download on their website, to give fans an introduction to their world. Starring some of their own UK favourites, guests on the nine-tracker include Wretch32, Marvell, Selah and Baby Blue.

Their debut single, the Dead Prez sampling ‘Do It Like Me’, should prove a worthy middle finger to anyone still doubting the stranglehold they’re about to put the game into. Tracks already been laid down for the album, due in 2011, further seal RD ability to deliver poignant tales with an urban twist.

‘Stuck On You’, a soulful R&B love song with a distinct UK flavour while the piano-driven ‘Life Changes’ is a heartfelt street-pop cut that anyone who’s seen their fair share of hard times will relate to.

“The equation is simple; we’re individual but we fit together like a jigsaw. Take soul, add R&B, add a bit of grime and you’ve got RD…”