Almost Amy

Almost Amy has become Ballas Hough Band

2009-01-21T15:14:00.000-08:00

Almost Amy has now become the Ballas Hough Band. Please visit our new blogsite and check out our new music!!

Ballas Hough Band blog site

Behind the Scences from Family Tribute on Ice

2008-12-09T11:00:00.000-08:00

Looks like they had a lot of fun..

Photo Shoot

2008-12-05T05:25:00.000-08:00

From our Photo Shoot on Wednesday!

Album Update

2008-11-30T19:54:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone!

Wanted to give you all an update as to what we are doing now. We just finished the final touches on our debut album and it is currently being mixed and mastered. We will be posting a new song or two this week and will be debuting our fist single "Do It For You" on a major National radio show this week on Tuesday or Wednesday morning (can't say which one yet- it's a secret).

We have been rehearsing all weekend for the DWTS Tour in Burbank and the band joins us starting tomorrow to begin rehearsing for our tour with the Ballas Hough Band at the same time. We will be pulling double shifts all next week to be able to rehearse for both shows. Literally 14 hour days, but hey we are used to it by now!!

Forgive us if we haven't responded to all of your e-mails and comments, but hopefully you can understand now. We are working 24/7 still, even though the show is over. We will try to get to all of your requests and e-mails as soon as we can

Love,
Mark & Derek

Mc Donalds Family Tribute on Ice

2008-11-17T16:34:00.000-08:00

Check out the great songs Almost Amy performed....

Waterworks

Break Through

Fall

Q & A from Almost Amy

2008-11-16T19:45:00.000-08:00

Since we have been getting so many e-mails asking the same questions, we thought we would just put a Blog up answering all of them at once.

1) Q- When is the album coming out? A- HOLLYWOOD RECORDS IS SETTING THE RELEASE DATE FOR SOMETIME IN MARCH

2) Q- When will new music be on your site? A- WE ARE GOING TO RADIO WITH OUT FIRST SINGLE SOMETIME IN THE NEXT 1-2 WEEKS. WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WE WILL POST AT LEAST 2-3 NEW SONGS FROM OUR UPCOMING RECORD.

3) Q- When will you guys be touring? A- MARK AND DEREK ARE ON THE DWTS TOUR THIS WINTER AND BEGINNING IN EARLY JANUARY THE BAND WILL BE TRAVELING WITH THEM DOING SHOWS AFTER THE DWTS SHOW IN SELECT CITIES. CHECK BACK SOON FOR DATES, VENUE AND TICKET INFORMATION

4) Q- Will some of the old songs be on the record? A- YES. WE DID KEEP A FEW OF THE OLD SONGS, BUT MADE THEM EVEN BETTER. WE ARE NOT AT LIBERTY TO SAY WHICH ONES YET, AS WE ARE STILL DECIDING WHAT IS GOING ON THE ALBUM, BUT WE WILL LET YOU KNOW NEXT WEEK SOMETIME

5) Q-Will you be shooting a music video for your first single? A- YES!!! WE ARE SOOTING A MUSIC VIDEO SOMETIME IN THE NEXT 2 WEEKS FOR OUR FIRST SINGLE!!

6) Q- When will new photos be up for us to see? A- WE ARE DOING A PHOTO SHOOT ON DECEMBER 3RD AND WILL BE POSTING NEW BAND SHOTS SHORTLY THEREAFTER

7) Q- Will you be launching a fan club for the band? A- YES! CHECK BACK SOON FOR DETAILS

8) Q- Will you have new merch for us to buy soon? A- YES! NEW T-SHIRTS, HOODIES, HATS, ETC ARE BEING DESIGNED NOW FOR OUR UPCOMING TOUR.

We love you guys! Hopefully this answers some of your questions!!

Love,
Mark, Derek, Harry, Sam and Emily

InConcert 2008

2008-10-13T23:24:00.001-07:00

Click here for more information. We hope to see you there!

InConcert 2008

2008-10-13T23:24:00.000-07:00

Click here for more information. We hope to see you there!

Almost Amy Studio Update

2008-10-06T09:08:00.000-07:00

From Almost Amy myspace today:

Hey Guys!

Just wanted to give you a quick update. We have been working very hard the past few weeks working on our debut album for Hollywood Records. We are working with a kick-ass bunch of Producers including John Fields, The Matrix and Adam & Andy. Things are going very well and we have already written and recorded 6 songs. This weekend we were in the studio with John Fields (Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato, Switchfoot) and did 3 songs! We hopefully will have some new material for you guys to hear very soon and hope we drop our first single and video by Christmas.

Keep checking back and we will be posting demo versions of new songs each week. Today we put "Fall" a new song we all wrote as a band (the first time we ever all co-wrote together). We will be recording the album version in the next 2 weeks. We hope you all like it, as the song is one of our favorites.

Also, we will be posting some new pictures of our writing and recording sessions in the next few days and will be launching our own YouTube and Myspace Video page with weekly webcasts/ videos from the studio so you can see us all at work. The first episode will be ready this week and will feature behind-the-scenes of us working in the studio this week and shooting our first Network TV special (which we shot last Friday).

Can't wait for you all to hear the new material and can't wait to start our first US Tour!

Mark, Derek, Emily, Harry and Sam
xoxoxoxo

Show Night!!!

2008-09-22T16:40:00.000-07:00

Vote Derek and Brooke and 1-800-868-3405 or online!

Vote Mark & Kim at 1-800-868-3410 or online!

Almost Amy signs Contract with Hollywood Records

2008-09-10T08:08:00.000-07:00

It was announced yesterday that Almost Amy (Mark Ballas, Derek Hough, Emily Grace, Sam Marder, Harry Sullivan) have signed their record contract with Hollywood Records. Here is the myspace message sent out:

IT"S OFFICIAL!! Current mood: accomplished

WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE ARE NOW OFFICIALLY SIGNED TO HOLLYWOOD RECORDS!! We signed our deal today around 4:30 here in LA. Check out the pictures from the signing in our photo gallery!

Mark, Derek, Emily, Sam & Harry

Congratulations to the band!!

Almost Amy Shirts Available

2008-09-05T14:14:00.000-07:00

For a limited time only, Almost Amy t-shirts are back in stock! These are ready-to-ship; NO WAITING!

Limited sizes and colors available. Click here to get yours today!

EDIT:
Size small is sold out in both black and red.
Size medium is sold out in black only.
Size XX-Large is sold out in red.

C&C

2008-08-27T08:20:00.000-07:00

Thank You!

2008-08-18T08:44:00.000-07:00

Hey guys,

We just wanted to thank everyone for their kind notes and well wishes, and for re-posting the bulletins. It has been a really tough few days for all of us... but the outpouring of love and support from you guys has been incredible!! We want you to know how much we truly appreciate your kindness. Still no news, but we are still offering a $5000 REWARD for any information that leads to the return of our stolen items.

In case you haven't already heard, our van was broken in to in Minneapolis. We stopped for lunch on our way to one of two cancer charity events this week, and when we came out someone had broken in and stolen all of our personal items. Everything from laptops, to cameras, wallets, visas and passports, purses, keys, basically everything you would bring on a carry on. Its not the cost of replacing ,as much as the pictures, and personal items that cant be replaced.

On a kind of cool note, Mark got swept up in a helicopter after our show at the Deer Creek Speedway tonight!!! He had to get to the airport for the last flight out, and the only way he could make it to the airport was to hop on a helicopter!!! It was quite a sight!! We shot video, and will put it up on YouTube as soon as we can....

Thanks again for your love and support!!!
xxx Almost Amy xxx

Please Help!

2008-08-17T05:26:00.000-07:00

Our van was broken into in Minneapolis!! :( $5000.00 REWARD offered to anyone with information leading to the return of our stuff.

We flew into Minnesota Saturday morning for some upcoming shows at Cancer Charities over the next week. We had a 2 hour drive ahead of us, so we decided to stop for lunch before the drive at Outback Steakhouse in Minneapolis. While inside eating, our band van was broken into and they took all of our personal items. Everything from Passports and Visas, wallets, IDs, laptops, ipods, cell phones, Emily's purse, cameras etc.

We are offering a $5000.00 reward for information leading to the return of our stuff... NO QUESTIONS ASKED!!! We just want our personal items back.

ABC news is airing a national news story about it. Click here to view.

Thanks for your help...
Almost Amy

Upcoming News !

2008-08-16T16:23:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone- our Minnesota shows are this week and we are all super excited. Both shows are for an amazing cause and we hope to see you all there! Harry, Sam and Emily all arrived in Minneapolis today from London and are now "official" with Work Visas!!! After the shows this week it is back to LA for DWTS Season 7 and the making of our record for Hollywood!!!!

Mark, Derek, Sam, Emily & Harry

Getting To Know Sam Marder

2008-08-03T11:46:00.001-07:00

A feature on Sam Marder, so fans of Almost Amy can get to know him a little better

L2DBlog: Where were you born?

Sam: I was born in Chichester, Sussex, South England.

L2DBlog: When did you first start playing instruments, singing and/or performing?

Sam: I started playing brass instruments at school at the age of about 7 I think, I was always involved in my schools concerts and productions up to to my teens. I started playing bass guitar at 14, I really fell in love with the instrument and instantly made it the most important thing in my life. I have been gigging and working hard ever since.

L2DBlog: How/when did you meet the other band members?

Sam: I got a phone call randomly from Derek when I was about 16, probably one of the first time's I had even spoken to someone with an American accent! He explained to me that he and Mark had rung up my music college (ACM) asking for a good bass player to play for Almost Amy, and they were given my number. I travelled up to london to check it out, met Derek first and than Mark turned up shortly after with his horrendously long big hair-do he had at the time. We jammed together and really kicked it off and I've played for Almost Amy ever since. I met Harry last summer and instantly had the type of connection a great rhythm section should have, and meeting Emily came just a few weeks later. Emily and I were both happy to find another half Chinese Brit with exactly the same chicken pox scar on our nose! strange huh?

L2DBlog: What has been your favorite vacation ?

Sam: A school ski trip to the Austrian Alps when I was 15. It was my first time skiing and being with that much snow! Being a hyper kid on holiday with a huge bus full of other hyper kids in a snowy environment without your parents like that is unbeatable. A absoloutely brillant week!

L2DBlog: What do you miss the most about London?

Sam : Well, my home is actually about an hour or so from London, and is an awful lot greener! I come from a small village in the countryside. I miss walking my dog with my girlfriend, and having draught cider in a English pub. Obviously I miss my parents and all my friends too, but I cant wait to show them what LA life is like for me!

L2DBlog: What is your favorite thing about LA/the US?

Sam: The rock and roll culture of the city is the best. Its the dream place for a young musician from the UK to make it too. I hope I never lose the excitement I have when I see the Morrison hotel gallery or the Guitar Center that Slash visits on Sunset.

L2DBlog: What is your favorite Almost Amy song and why?

Sam: My favourite Almost Amy song is a new one called waterworx, I think thats how we're going to spell it! It rocks and grooves so well, and I've been singing it to myself for weeks! It's one of those songs that evolved really quickly, and I think they're the best ones.

L2DBlog: Who are your favorite bands/musicians?

Sam: My favourite bands are Doves, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Muse, Jamiroquai, Radiohead, Mars Volta, The Streets, and so many more bands, I wont go on any further! My favourite bass players are James Jamerson, Jaco Pastorius and Jamiroquai's Stuart Zender.

L2DBlog: What are your favorite movies?

Sam: My favourite movies are Shawshank Redemption, Saving Private Ryan, Angus!! and Pulp Fiction.

L2DBlog: What is your favorite book?

Sam: I'll be honest now and say I dont really read any book books. So I'll have to say James Jamerson's signature bass licks or the best of Red Hot Chili Peppers play along bass book!

L2DBlog: What do you like to do in your spare time?

Sam: Jam and have some drinks with friends is probably my favourite thing to do. I love spending time with my girlfriend and I also love playing videogames.

L2DBlog: What is your favorite food(s)?

Sam: Coming from a Chinese house where I eat lots of rice based dishes, I really love having a well cooked roast dinner, turkey, lamb or beef, they're all good! Nothing beats it. I like Shepards pie and my mums Chickpea Curry. My favourite take out food is Mexican or Indian food, I'm into my spicy chilli's!

L2DBlog: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Sam: Hopefully still living the dream!!!

L2DBlog would like to say a HUGE thank-you to Sam for taking time to answer these questions !! He is extemely talented and a very nice guy too !

Almost Amy News

2008-07-26T07:17:00.000-07:00

Almost Amy had a 2 hour meeting with the publicist firm Rogers & Cowan. They will now be representing Almost Amy. A few of their other clients are Sylvester Stallone, Billy Bob T***nton, David and Victoria Beckham, and John Travolta.

Stay Tuned for more info...

Getting to Know Emily Grace

2008-07-18T07:45:00.000-07:00

A feature on Emily Grace, so fans of Almost Amy can get to know her a little better.

L2DBlog: Where were you born?
Emily: I was born in Sutton.. a little town in Surrey, just outside of London, and grew up in a tiny village very close to there until I was 18.

L2DBlog: When did you first start playing instruments, singing and/or performing?
Emily: This'll take a while!! Well, I can't remember not being able to play the piano, so I think I literally was sitting at the piano before I could walk or talk! My mum's a piano teacher (although she never taught me) and she always
says that when she was pregnant with me she played piano all the time, so when I came along I was a natural!!! I started competing in music festivals on piano when I was about 4, all the way up until I went to college at 16. I started
having flute and violin lessons at 8 (although I was APPALLING at violin so I
soon gave that up!), classical singing lessons at 14 and alto and soprano
saxophone when I was about 18.

I've always performed.. I was always busy after school with dance classes and
gymnastics and music and exams and competitions... it was pretty hectic! I
started ballet when I was about 3, and I have the cutest little pair of ballet
shoes in a glass case in my bedroom back home!

L2DBlog: How/when did you meet the other band members?
Emily: When I was 16, I gained a place at The Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, London. During my first year there was a 2nd Year production of Lippa's "The Wild Party" in which they asked me to play in the live band for. That's where I met Mark. He was in the year above me and was playing drums in the band. Derek was also at Italia Conti, 2 years above me, and as Mark and I got to know each other, I inevitably got to know Derek too!

I met Sam and Harry through Mark, a little while after I'd left Conti's, and as
soon as we all started playing together it felt like I suddenly gained four big
brothers!

L2DBlog: Favorite vacation?
Emily: Vacation??? Oh... you mean holiday!! Um... I don't know!! St. Maartin in the Caribbean was stunning.. Tenerife with my boyfriend's entire family (including 4 kids!!) was SO much fun! I also love Hong Kong, because that's where my mum's from, and the culture is so different but so similar at the same time.. it's pretty bizarre... New York is one of my favourite places in the whole world.. it's like London but better!! I'm a huge shopaholic, so me in Bloomingdales is like a kid in a candy shop! There's so many!!

L2DBlog: What do you miss the most about London?
Emily: Aaahh.. London.. I miss my parents and my big brother. I'm so close to my mum and dad, they're like my best friends and I am so fortunate that I can talk to them about anything. Of course I went through those tough teenage years, but as I grew up we became really close. I miss them so much, but we've agreed to meet halfway in New York every so often!! My big brother's awesome too.. He's 6 years older than me, a proper big brother.. He's an awesome street skater with a degree in psychology (random combination I know!!), and he's just a really cool guy! I'm so lucky I've got such a cool family, and I love them all SO much!
Fingers crossed I'll get to see them soon...

There's also my best friend Chris, although he lives in Paris right now. We both
toured the UK together in "Return to the Forbidden Planet", and ever since he's been my closest friend. He's a complete nutter, but a really talented musician.

You know what else I miss?? You won't believe me but... RAIN. I miss snuggling up on the sofa with my boyfriend and my duvet, with the rain pelting down onto the windows. And driving around the wiggly country roads in my little Ford!!

Oooh.. And my mum's cooking!!!

L2DBlog: What is your favorite thing about LA/the US?
Emily: Shopping!!!! Well, obviously not just that. It's been a really exciting time in LA for us recently, there's been so much going on. I love the buzz of the place, Hollywood especially is full of budding actors/musicians/artists, and it just makes the place feel alive! I also love Venice Beach.. I love the sea.. and the rocks.. and all the little shops and stalls..

L2DBlog: What is your favorite Almost Amy song and why?
Emily: To be honest, I have a different favourite every week! Probably right now my two favourites are Running (which is up on our myspace - myspace.com/almostamy) and a new song called Waterworx. I get to play THE best keyboard and piano parts in that song, and sometimes I'm playing piano with one hand, keyboard with the other, and singing at the same time!! It's mad!!! We're writing all the time, so I've always got new faves. I love Silver Bullet too... I don't know.. they're ALL my favourite!

L2DBlog: Who are your favorite bands/musicians?
Emily: When it comes to music... I'm a bit of an oddball! I grew up on classical music.. I love Chopin and Debussy.. and Rachmaninov's 2nd Piano Concerto.. All musical theatre, particularly Wicked, Rent, Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, Brooklyn.. But I love jazz too.. And when it comes to pop music - the girlier the better! Christina.. Girls Aloud.. Whitney.. and I LOVE McFly's song "5 Colors in Her Hair".. that's my driving song!! I always put it on really loud when I'm driving on the motorway and sing along!

L2DBlog: Favorite movie?
Emily: Center Stage. It's about a girl who goes to a Ballet school in New York. And High School Musical. Maybe I'm a little too old but I'm sorry! I love it!! We all went to see Wanted at the cinema a little while ago.. and that was awesome too.

L2DBlog: Favorite book?
Emily: I don't have a favourite!! I'm a complete bookworm.. my favourite authors are Jill Mansell (for the lovey girly stuff) and Jodi Picoult (for the stuff that makes you think).

L2DBlog: What do you like to do in your spare time?
Emily: Watch Friends!!! When I've been really busy, I love to have a day to myself in bed with a whole series of Friends. I'd love to say I went to the gym and worked out.. but that would be a lie. However, I still love dancing and I do
that as often as I can. That and swimming keeps me fit.. I'm not the kind of
person that can pound a treadmill for hours - I get bored!!

L2DBlog: Favorite food(s)?
Emily: Hmmm.. did I mention.. my mum's cooking!! It's mostly chinese food (yup.. I'm half chinese!), and it's SO good! I love Sushi too.. and there's a great English pub near Santa Monica Beach that does fabulous English breakfast fry ups!!!

L2DBlog: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Emily: Hopefully still making music with the band, playing live shows.. It's going to be a rollercoaster ride for the band from now on so I'm just going to live life as it comes, enjoy everything, and see what happens!

Emily Grace and Almost Amy singing "I Can't Help It"

L2DBlog would like to give a HUGE thank you to Emily for taking the time to answer these questions! She is not only extemely talented, but super nice!

Almost Amy CD's still Available

2008-07-14T19:17:00.000-07:00

July 15, 2008

Almost Amy has a limited quantity of their CD left. If you want to order the original CD from Derek Hough, Mark Ballas, Emily Grace, Sam Marder, and Harry Sullivan, follow the link below:

Almost Amy CD

This CD includes the songs Get Through, Millions, Rainfall, Love London, Been Waiting (with Faye Raye), and Dirty Blue Jeans. There is a limited supply left, so order your copy today!

While you are ordering your CD, be sure to look around the Learning2Dance site and take a free dance lesson. The site includes lots of dance lessons and dance merchandise. Check it out.

Help Almost Amy Move Up The Charts

2008-07-14T18:59:00.000-07:00

July 14, 2008

If you are a fan of Almost Amy featuring Derek Hough and Mark Ballas, please help them move up the charts! If you listen to these songs all the way through (you must listen to the whole song in order for it to count toward the totals), it could help them get their songs played on the radio! These links will take you to an auto reboot page which you can leave open and it will continue to replay the songs over and over for you.

Get Through

Millions

Almost Amy thanks you all!

New Photos of Almost Amy

2008-07-11T06:44:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys!

Check out the new pictures of Almost Amy and stay tuned for some BIG news!

Almost Amy

2008-07-10T22:04:00.000-07:00

Today Almost Amy, with Mark Ballas Derek Hough Sam Marder Emily Grace and Harry Sullivan met in Burbank California, with HollyWood Records and company. A very successful interesting meeting. Also present was Corky Ballas and Buck Ballas at the meeting.

If you want to learn to dance, check out my dad's website at Learning2dance.com, you can learn to dance for FREE by World Class Dancers.

Bob Cavallo President Hollywood Records. A salt of the earth kind of guy. Responsible for Prince, EW&F and many others. Seal played at his daughters wedding. He has acts he has never met before. He spent an hour with Almost Amy & Co. and asked them what they wanted and urged them to sign with Hollywood .

Hollywood Records Mark Ballas, Derek Hough of Almost Amy performing today at SRI studios in Hollywood California, stay tuned for more news. . ..

Here is the Disney Pass used to get into the Disney Complex at HollyWood Records, Almost Amy, Mark Ballas and Derek Hough in talks this week, stay tuned for good news.. . :)

Mark Ballas and Derek Hough of Almost Amy resume talks for a record deal.

July 17,2008
A deal was accepted with a major record label. Waiting for them to make the formal announcement. Keep checking back for more updates !