Deja Vu: “We’re Peak Living Right Now”

Deja Vu are feeling very much on top of the world. The British-Venezuelan girl group – Elle Botterill, Carolina Diaz and Tyrece Lewis – admit that their current run of success feels surreal, particularly as they are touring alongside one of their biggest influences, the Pussycat Dolls.

“We just can’t believe what’s actually going on. It’s insane,” they say. “It’s surreal, definitely. Especially seeing them go on after us as well, the Pussycat Dolls. It’s just like, how are we even here? It’s crazy.” The group describe themselves as being at “peak living” and say they are “extremely grateful” and “very, very happy” to be there. For Deja Vu, sharing a tour with the Pussycat Dolls is particularly meaningful because they have been fans of the group since long before they found themselves on the same bill.

The Pussycat Dolls remain a major influence on Deja Vu, with the group revealing that they are frequently referenced in their music sessions. “Every time I go into a session, I’m like, referencing the Pussycat Dolls immediately,” one member says. Their admiration is not simply a consequence of the tour, either. They have consistently described the Pussycat Dolls as a huge inspiration and say that, when the opportunity to tour with them arose, it felt like an almost unbelievable match. “We do feel like we manifested it because they are our favourites,” they say.

Their musical tastes, however, extend well beyond one girl group. Asked to guess one another’s favourite songs, the members reveal just how varied their playlists can be. At the moment, Tyla’s That Girl is a favourite, while Go Down There has become a regular dressing-room hype song. Elle’s current choices include After Hours and Cheryl’s Fight For This Love, demonstrating the range of genres that can appear on the group’s playlist. “I’m all over the shop,” Elle admits. “I’m listening to whatever I feel like on the day.” The others agree that their playlist can give people “a bit of whiplash”, but they see that variety as a positive. None of them particularly likes having to choose a single favourite, preferring to “share the love” between different artists and songs.

That same sense of fun carries into their imagined group dinner. If the three of them were responsible for preparing a meal together, Carolina would take care of the starter, Tyrece would make the main course and Elle would handle dessert. Tyrece is the designated cook in the group and would prepare a roast dinner, while Elle, who admits to having a weakness for sweet treats, is currently obsessed with sticky toffee pudding. For the starter, they suggest a selection of things to nibble on, including cheese, salads and edamame – although they quickly realise that edamame followed by a roast dinner and sticky toffee pudding is perhaps an unconventional combination.

Their personalities also lend themselves to a Spice Girls comparison. Elle is immediately identified as Posh Spice, while Tyrece claims Scary Spice. Carolina chooses Ginger Spice, largely because, as she points out, she is ginger. The decision, they agree, is therefore settled.

Their excitement reaches another level when they talk about seeing the Pussycat Dolls perform live. Among the songs they were most looking forward to hearing were Buttons, Don’t Cha and When I Grow Up. The latter carries particular significance because it is the song associated with the tour and the group say they never tire of watching the show, even after seeing it several times.

The opening of the Pussycat Dolls’ show is especially emotional for Deja Vu. Seeing images of the members as children reminds them of their own younger selves and of watching the group on MTV. “When I grew up, I wanted to be the Pussycat Dolls. Now I’m on tour with them,” they say. Having once danced along to their music as children, finding themselves performing on the same tour now feels like “magic”.

Deja Vu also see themselves as part of a wider resurgence of girl groups and boy bands. They believe the appeal of being in a group goes beyond the music itself, encompassing the fashion, choreography, personality and sense of unity that comes with it. Social media, they argue, has created an environment in which groups can thrive, giving audiences the opportunity to connect with their style and personalities as well as their songs. After what they describe as a period in which there was a “heavy drought” of new groups, they feel that gap has now been filled.

Their latest single, No Better Than A Man, is rooted in something the three members say to each other regularly. Whenever they see a woman they think looks particularly good, they joke that they are “no better than a man”. That can mean admiring everything from someone’s outfit and make-up to the overall look. When they went into the studio, they already knew they wanted to turn the phrase into a song.

The track came together quickly, and the group say they knew almost immediately that they wanted to release it. “We loved it. We fell in love with it the second we wrote it,” they explain. As soon as the chorus came together, they knew the song captured the energy and personality of Deja Vu. At its heart is the idea of girls supporting girls, with no room for rivalry or “girl-to-girl hate”. The members are enthusiastic about sharing fashion and beauty tips rather than keeping them secret. “There’s no gatekeeping around here,” they say.

That supportive relationship between the three members is also central to their live performances. After five years together, they have developed a closeness that makes performing on stage feel increasingly natural. Although they are focused on choreography and putting on a show, they now have moments where they can look at one another and instantly feel happy, calm and comfortable.

They describe that connection as a completely different experience from anything they have had before. Performing together night after night allows them to share something that the audience can see, but only the three of them can fully understand. They have also been delighted by the response from audiences on tour, particularly seeing people react to their songs, cheer them on and embrace the energy of their performance.

Ultimately, Deja Vu want people to leave their shows feeling good. Their energetic songs are designed to get the crowd moving, but the group also want audiences to feel confident, happy and ready to embrace their own inner “baddie”. If people walk away having had a good time and a “good little boogie”, they feel they have done their job.

As for what comes next, Deja Vu are continuing to write and have a substantial amount of unreleased music that they are eager for people to hear. They are also enjoying performing more than ever and would love to have their own headline show in the future. Touring is particularly exciting because it is giving them the opportunity to perform their own songs live on stage for the first time.

“We are on this high of performing right now and we just do not want it to stop,” they say. They are keen to take every opportunity to perform, get their music heard and continue building their connection with audiences. With the tour moving quickly, they are determined to make the most of every moment and to keep the experience going for as long as possible.

As an independent group, Deja Vu also enjoy having the freedom to make their own decisions. Rather than following a prescribed path, they can decide when a song feels right to release and simply put it out into the world. For now, their focus is clear: keep writing, keep releasing music, keep performing live and, most importantly, keep having fun together.

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