Biography

By now, KSM has grown used to the look of astonishment on peoples’ faces. It makes the band laugh to get the same old questions: How could five teenage girls possibly play so well? It’s gotta be a trick, right? Wrong. KSM is the real deal, and every time they take the stage, the L.A.-based quintet blows ‘em away. Now, with the impending release of their 2009 Buena Vista Records debut CD and their national summer tour opening for Demi Lovato, KSM is poised to show the world what girl power is all about.

This won’t be the first time they’ve shared the stage with Demi. They’ve opened for her, as well as Honor Society and Jonas Brothers recently. In fact, their Jonas Brothers date in Detroit led to MTV Buzzworthy praising KSM’s single, “Distracted,” adding “We’re thinking their LP may well be hyperventilation-worthy in its own right.” That single, which was featured on “Radio Disney Jams 11,” perched in the Radio Disney Top 30 for three months straight. But the girls earned all their success, touring clubs and high school campuses across the country over the past year (and even tearing the roof off L.A.’s Roxy nightclub before an audience of arm-crossed skeptics, who dropped the skepticism after one song).

Producers from ABC Family were so impressed they invited KSM to record their own rendition of the Cheap Trick classic “I Want You to Want Me,” which will appear in the new ABC Family summer original series, “10 Things I Hate About You” premiering Tuesday, July 7 (8:00 – 8:30 p.m. ET/PT).

They may not be the first all-girl rock band – The GoGo’s, The Runaways and The Bangles did it years ago – but KSM is different. They’re younger, looser and they rock so much harder. No wonder they grabbed the attention of Buena Vista Records and producer/songwriters Matthew Gerrard and Robbie Nevil.

When it comes to making music, Kate, Katie, Shae, Sophia and Shelby are a five-girl wrecking crew unto themselves. Sure, in songs like "Permission to Party" and "Saturdays Sundays," they sing of the world they know: boys, dating, texting, playing and partying. Yet they also bring a surprising measure of depth, especially in songs like "Don’t Come Crying" and "Every Time You Go." Says lead singer Shelby Cobra, "Being all girl, all teen, we’re usually pre-judged. People don’t expect that much but we usually convince the audience that we’re a legit rock band, and not just a chick band.”

The girls came up with the name KSM combining their first-name initials (all K’s and S’s) and the word "Music." It was a typically ingenuous thing for five teenage kids to do. But otherwise, there is nothing typical about the members of KSM. Each one has been on a collision course with rock stardom from an early age.

KSM got its start in 2006 when the original GoGo’s decided to mentor a new all-girl teen rock band with the same creative fire. That’s exactly what they got, starting with bassist Sophia Mellon. The 17-year-old grew up near the Santa Monica beaches, but spent her time playing music with a succession of bands. "I’ve gone through so many bands, but I always kept looking," she recalls. "The guys in my bands treated me with respect, but when I would perform, I got a lot of ‘Oh, she’s not a real musician.’ I always had to prove myself. My dream was to find an all-girl band, and I finally found it."

Growing up in Camarillo, CA, Kate Cabebe took violin and mandolin lessons as a child, but by the time she turned 13 she realized it was a lot more fun to bang on things. She started playing drums at her neighbor’s house, and became so obsessed, she ended up at a chiropractor’s office to treat tendonitis. "It was fun," she remembers. "The drums came easily." She did her time with a string of fledgling bands, but she outstripped them all until she found her KSM bandmates.

One of them, lead guitarist Shae Padilla, shares a similar story of obsession with music. Raised in Lancaster, north of L.A., she muscled her way into playing along with her brother, a drummer. She fell in love with alternative rock bands like Sum 41, teaching herself to play lead guitar riffs. Now 18, she feels she found the ideal setting to play music her way. "Personally we clicked right away," Shae says of KSM. "We feel complete, and it’s really cool to have that camaraderie."

Katie Ceil feels the same way. Originally from North Carolina, the 15-year-old guitarist/vocalist has tried her hand at acting, with roles on stage and television. But like her KSM band mates, music was and always will be No.1. Katie feels KSM is a dream come true. "We’re authentic," she says. "All that matters is that we do play everything on our own. People will find out for themselves, but until they do it pushes us to work even harder." After deciding to change the band’s direction from pop to rock, Shelby Cobra came on board. A native of Santa Clarita, CA, 15-year-old Shelby says singing has always been in her blood. With family encouragement she went out on auditions at an early age, gaining experience in musical theater. By 12 she stepped up the pace, studying voice and performance. "I’ve always been about my rock roots," she says. "I grew up listening to it. I was never into R&B or hip-hop." At a House of Blues showcase, she caught the eye of songwriter Robbie Nevil, who brought her to the label and introduced her to the rest of the band.

Though Gerrard and Nevil penned the songs on the debut CD, the girls want it known that all five of them write, and each predicts it won’t be long before KSM shows off that talent as well. "We write, we play and sing live, we are 100% true, genuine and real," says Shelby. Adds Kate, "Our new album is awesome, and came out rocking as hard as we intended it.”

Though 100 percent committed to the band, the members of KSM haven’t forgotten they’re still teens. Prankster Kate admits she once t.p.’d the car of their music director. Katie says all five are best friends and hang out together after rehearsals or shows. But now, with the release of the new CD looming, the members of KSM have their game face on. Young as they may be, the girls know their time is now. “We have our distinct personalities, but musically and emotionally we get along,” says Sophia. “It’s remarkable how all the hard work we’ve put in is finally paying off.”