Ex-member of Union J worked as a barista: how the creation of a new band changed his life.

George Shelley's journey

According to The Sun: George Shelley, a former member of the popular boy band Union J, became famous ten years ago thanks to the show 'I'm A Celebrity'. Unfortunately, the money he earned from music quickly ran out, and last year he had to work as a barista in a cafe.

New project

Despite his tough experience, it became a catalyst for George's most successful project in his career. In July, he announced the creation of a new group called Lightlines and released his first single 'Wasted', which introduces a more rock-oriented style than Union J. Today the guys presented their second single 'Animal'.

George noted that he met Lightlines members, Alex Potekari and Will Jackson, while working at the Chi Chi's cafe in North London.

“Last year I worked a lot, doing social media for others, editing videos, and working in a cafe. I worked four shifts there.”

George added that sometimes he was quite energetic at work:

“I always knocked everything over and often fell. I was already thinking that I was done with music.”

When he met Alex, it turned out that he had a master's degree in music composition, and they started playing and recording together.

Eventually, George met Will at another cafe, leading to the formation of their trio.

Moving away from 'boy bands'

“I wanted to step away from the concept of boy bands. The songs I write myself are very deep and intuitive. And when I realized that these guys could play guitar and drums, I felt that everything was going in the right direction.”

In his debut song 'Wasted', George talks about 'pills and bars' and 'drinking'. He admits to facing difficulties.

“I was very naive when I came to London, and it overwhelmed me.”

The loss of his sister, who died in a car accident, only deepened his struggles:

“It was tough, and my coping mechanisms were toxic.”

New life

Now George chooses periods of full sobriety to focus on his creativity. The band has recorded a debut album in six months and is preparing for an independent release.

“A big part of returning to music is ensuring that I don't give up my autonomy and can control my life and my creative decisions.”

George noted that he has nothing against returning to a 'decent' job if needed:

“If in a month I need to earn some money, I'm ready to work at night or even do gardening.”

George has no shame in working if it becomes necessary, and his willingness to tackle new challenges reflects the maturity and resilience he has gained during tough times. Against this background, his new project Lightlines opens new horizons in his career, which is particularly exciting for his fans.