Personnel: Lidell Townsell, lead vocals; Martell, vocals; Silk E, rapper. Formed: Townsell, Martell and Silk E have been friends for about eight years and officially formed their group last year. M.T.F. stands for More Than Friends.
Sound: Townsell calls it ”street harmony.” The dance-oriented music draws on house, hip-hop and soul.
Background: South Side native Townsell used to hang out at the Warehouse or the Powerplant listening to Frankie Knuckles. He and Knuckles collaborated on ”Like This” in 1985, leading to deals with Trax and Club House Records. Townsell`s house anthem ”Nu Nu” was an underground club hit for a year before he was signed to Mercury Records.
Influences: Besides Frankie Knuckles, Quincy Jones has been Townsell`s main influence. Martell has named Stevie Wonder and Martha Wash as influences. Songwriting: Townsell, Martell and Silk E all contribute to the group`s repertoire, which is all-original.
Recordings: The group`s debut album for Mercury, ”Harmony,” was released in early May. ”Nu Nu,” released by Mercury as a single, has spent more than three months on Billboard`s singles-sales dance-music chart.
Local viewpoint: ”Everything is really picking up here,” says Townsell, who is still based in Chicago although he and the group spent the last six months on the road. ”Chicago artists and producers have graduated to a point where a lot of the in-fighting has ceased. The scene is becoming more professional. People are seeing that you can go a long way if you apply yourself.”
Goals: Townsell says he`s in the enviable position of ”doing exactly what I`ve always wanted to be doing, right now. I couldn`t ask for more.”
Words of wisdom: Townsell offers this advice to aspiring Chicago musicians: ”Stay with it, don`t give up and be prepared for all the hard stuff that comes along with the good stuff-for instance, the long hours on the road. And be prepared to watch your money. Invest wisely so you won`t be broke tomorrow.”
