LAX

Strap on your seatbelts and hang on, because LAX is cleared for take off.

The hot new trio is the latest sensation from Blackground Records, the same label that brought you pop greats like JoJo and Aaliyah. Not to be mistaken for the airport but equally airborne and international, LAX stands for "Los Angeles' Finest X-port." The group's members hail from Southern California, and they represent a rich ethnic diversity: Just as LA offers the world a colorful tapestry of races and cultures, so does LAX.

So who is LAX? They are…

Brianna (nickname "Breezy") This 16-year-old singer is the oldest and has the most performance experience of the bunch. She's been singing since she was 3, and appeared on America's Most Talented Kids. She's also sung the national anthem at numerous major sporting events. With her stylish clothes and blonde locks, Brianna represents the sophisticated side of the group. She puts the "lady" in LAX. "I'm all about poise and confidence," she says.

Cristina (nickname "Cricket") LAX's resident rocker provides the group with constant energy and comic relief. With her fiery red hair and funky fashion sense, Cristina, 15, is a rebel with a cause. She was raised in Anaheim, where she blew the socks off judges at local talent shows. Coming from a musical family of 7 brothers and sisters, she credits her sibs for keeping her tough both physically and mentally. "I had to be different to set myself apart," she says.

Jamie (nickname "?Who?") LAX's "attitude" girl. Growing up in the unforgiving desert of Joshua Tree, Jamie does everything to keep her mind from melting. By day, the 15 year old plays basketball, soccer, baseball, and tennis. By night, she' a hip hop dancer extraordinaire, appearing in videos by Three Doors Down and Yolanda. Her exotic looks (she's part Filipino and Irish) and her fearlessness (her dad's a Marine) make her LAX's most x-treme member. Says Jamie, "I've got four older brothers so I'm definitely a Tom Boy."

The group first met in Los Angeles, where they started working with songwriter/producer Alex Cantrall (JoJo, Fantasia, Vanessa Hudgens). He put them through a rigorous boot camp in hopes of making them the best of the best. "It was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life," recalls Brianna. After undergoing a punishing regimen of running, dancing, and singing, LAX was born. Says Cantrall, "I felt like the market place was filled with groups built around one singer. LAX is made up of 3 stars, each of who is the real deal."

Cantrall next brought LAX to the attention of Vincent Herbert, VP of A&R at Blackground, and a record deal was soon established. Herbert couldn't be more excited about the trio. "These girls fill a void that's been missing in pop music," he says. Jomo Hankerson, General Manager of Blackground Records, agrees. "They have the personality and talent to be a powerhouse in this industry. We couldn't be more excited to introduce them to the world."

LAX is currently taxiing on the runway, laying down more tracks for the much-anticipated lift off of their debut album due this spring. Their first single, "Forget You" is an upbeat pop anthem about love and loss. It's already getting heavy airplay on R&B and pop radio stations. "We're young and different because we do it all and don't look the same," says Jamie. "We're real teenagers."