‘BET Presents: The Encore’ Cast on House Challenges, Their Music, and More (Exclusive)
BET Presents: The Encore became a TV obsession when it premiered in June. Created by Carlos King, the show follows the creation of a supergroup made up of singers from the ’90s and 2000s. The band featuring Kiely Williams (3LW), Pamela Long (Total), Shamari DeVoe (Blaque), and Felisha and Fallon King (Cherish) will finally have its first performance in the next episode. The road was not easy, but the group has started to find its way.
The cast of ‘BET Presents: The Encore’ lost 4 but gained 1
Encore presented the ladies an opportunity for a music comeback, but not everyone stayed until the end. Over the course of the show, Nivea, Aubrey O’Day (Danity Kane), and Irish and LeMisha Grinstead (702) all quit the group. Williams, who had been vocal about not wanting to be in the group, was asked to step up as a replacement in their absence — and she ultimately did.
“Duty calls,” Williams said of joining Bluprint. “No, it’s not even that. I’m honored that I was asked, and also, I do feel like when the vibe and chemistry is right, and you feel like working with these people isn’t work when it’s more fun and play, then that’s the good stuff in life. That’s what everyone should strive for.”
“And it really wasn’t hard, as much as TV may make it look like, it wasn’t hard working with these women,” she added. “It was not hard working with Shamari or Fallon or Felisha. I understood where they were coming from, even if it wasn’t taken the way that I took it on the viewership. I understood it, and I think that’s what’s most important about a girl group. That there’s understanding and that there’s trust, and I feel like we have that.”
The music from ‘BET Presents: The Encore’ is complete
After those cast departures, the group was tasked with recutting the songs from their EP. That meant people had to take on more parts and sing in ranges that were atypical of their usual style. DeVoe notably redid some of LeMisha’s parts in the soprano register, which was a big challenge for her at first.
“My group Blaque, we didn’t really harmonize like that, so one of my challenges was actually being a part of a group where we’re harmonizing,” DeVoe explained, laughing.
“And when we did that women empowerment record, I was like, ‘Oh my god, I’m so tone-deaf, guys. Help me, Fallon and Felisha!'” she continued. “I mean just that harmonizing part; I’ve always struggled with it because we didn’t do it, and I didn’t do it enough, so that was definitely challenging, but I’m always up for a challenge, and at the end of the day I did it.”
“Killed it,” added the King sisters.
The finale of ‘BET Presents: The Encore’ will chronicle their performance
In the Aug. 11 episode, the ladies will come together to put on the show viewers have been waiting for since the start of the series. It’s unclear if the group will continue when Encore ends, but either way, the experience is something they’ll forever treasure.
“Forming this sisterhood with the girls that are left on the show was an amazing experience, and I’m taking that away from this,” Felisha stated. “Everyone needs to know that we can work together as women, and I’m taking that away from the show, [as well as] this amazing music and Bluprint.”
Bluprint’s EP will hit streaming services after the finale airs.
“Download this! You will not regret it. It’s really good,” Williams added.
