Youth Asylum Info.

• Kevin
  Age: 16
  Hometown: Vancouver, B.C. Canada
  Astrological Sign: Scorpio
  Hobbies: dancing, singing and acting
  Favorite Artists: Celine Dion and Janet Jackson
  His Ideal YA Girl: has a great personality
  Best describes himself as Artsy, shy and fun.
  
  Kevin (age 16) has Asian roots and was in the Vancouver Goh ballet company. He recently relocated to Los Angeles to continue training and get his musical career going. He home schools and, in addition to his prodigious balletic abilities, performs in musical theatre and has acted in television and film.
  
  He’s happy to be part of Youth Asylum from a performance perspective, but thinks there are even more important considerations. "I was interested in this group because it really helps people. A member of Youth Asylum is somebody who is just sick of the negative stereotype of today’s youth across the world, not just specifically in America, and really just wants to send a positive message about hope and, hopefully, serve as a role model for people who are going astray in life. I don’t think it’s that hard at this point, because I think we’re all [the members of the group] just good kids."
  
  
• Leo
  Age: 13
  Hometown: Chico, CA
  Astrological Sign: Gemini
  Hobbies: singing and hanging out
  Favorite Artist: Prince
  His Ideal YA Girl: a pretty smile and a great sense of humor
  Best describes himself as a Young Casanova
  
  Leo (age 13) is used to performing live in front of standing-room-only crowds. He was a regular, singing and dancing, at the Santa Monica Promenade, where his friend’s mother has a shop. Nicknamed Casanova, "’cause all the girls at school love him," he’s the youngest in the group. Leo not only delivers smooth pop with finesse well beyond his years, but is also an amazing dancer.
  
  Leo concurs with the rest of the group about the opportunity to influence other kids in a positive way. He wraps up the overall feeling of everyone in Youth Asylum: "I’m really excited about touring." He adds, "Besides, before this, I’d never really been anywhere except to New York and Connecticut."
  
  
• Derek
  Age: 13
  Hometown: San Diego, CA
  Astrological Sign: Capricorn
  Hobbies: basketball, singing, playstation
  Favorite Artist: Michael Jackson
  His Ideal YA Girl: athletic and an out doors type
  Best describes himself as a great sense of humor with lots of energy.
  
  Derek who was 12 when he came to the group, just had a birthday and turned 13. From San Diego and out to break stereotypes, Derek proves that not only can white boys jump (he was the starting point guard for his junior high school team), but they also have soul to spare. A regular in school musical productions, Derek grew up hearing the classic Motown sounds of Smokey Robinson, Michael Jackson and Marvin Gaye.
  
  Asked about his recent tour with Tommy Hilfiger, Derek enthuses, "Most people have to wait until they blow up before they get an opportunity like this. The tour was fun. It was great experience and a good opportunity. We visited lots of places I’d never been before. My favorite place was Boston, because the show went well and the fans seemed to show us a lot of love. On tour, we wrote songs, visited radio stations and ate lots of different types of food from all over the U.S. I hope that we can go on tour with Tommy Hilfiger again."
  
  
• Jason
  Age: 16
  Hometown: Harrisburg, PA
  Astrological Sign: Gemini
  Hobbies: music and movies
  Favorite Artists: Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin
  His Ideal YA Girl: someone with a beautiful personality and love YA
  Best describes himself as Easy going and down-to-earth.
  
  Jason (age 16) is from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with Puerto Rican roots. He delivered one of the best performances ever on the famed series Live from the Apollo Theatre a few years back, when he was only eleven. It’s been rerunning ever since, building label interest and a following for the young singer. Jason elaborates about the experience of recording "One Choice": "I want to come from the technical point of view. I really enjoyed the song. I enjoyed the recording process as well, and for me, when a song records well and quickly, that means it’s going to be a smash. I believe this song is going to be a smash for us."
  
  
• Flash
  Age: 14
  Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
  Astrological Sign: Libra
  Hobbies: basketball, rapping and hanging out
  Favorite Artists: Jay Z, Eminem and YA
  His Ideal YA Girl: out going and great personality
  Best describes himself as One of a kind.
  
  Flashlight (age 14) was born and raised in Los Angeles. Youth Asylum’s number one rapper has exotic good looks, a charismatic onstage presence and an uncanny ability to mix words and beats. Although Flashlight sings, his number one love is definitely MC-ing.
  
  Flashlight is turned on and up about Youth Asylum’s song "One Choice," and lets it be known in no uncertain terms. "I think it’s real hot. It’s gonna be a hit." When asked about his performance on the song, his enthusiasm is positively electric. "It’s on fire!" he proclaims. "People are going to have to get on my level!"
  
  
• Donnell
  Age: 14
  Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
  Astrological Sign: Virgo
  Hobbies: basketball, football, singing
  Favorite Artist: Brian McKnight & Lauren Hill
  His Ideal YA Girl: pretty face, faithful and a great personality
  Best describes himself as a sure thing.
  
  Donnell (age 14) was raised in South Central Los Angeles and has pursued his love for gospel, r&b and pop singing for as long as he can remember. Donnell really believes that his music can impact the world for good. With a powerful voice that, according to producer St. Gian, "ripped down the whole studio," Donnell spans the gamut from urban to pop with style and power.
  
  Voicing his view on what it means to be a member of Youth Asylum, Donnell demonstrates his serious approach to life and his commitment to doing something that matters: "To me, a member of Youth Asylum is somebody who sends positive messages out to people, helping them understand that all this violence, drugs and negativity doesn’t need to be going on. People need to stop all this nonsense."

INDIVIDUAL PICTURES

*Kevin*



*Leo*



*Derek*



*Jason*



*Flash*



*Donnell*




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