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The Clique
The Clique photoshoot to announce their new name in May 2014
Background information
Also known as	Third Degree
Genres	Pop
Years active	2013–2015
Labels	Sony (2013)
Past members	Jacinta Gulisano Jordan Rodrigues Kelebek

The Clique were an Australian pop duo consisting of members Jacinta Gulisano and Jordan Rodrigues. They were formed in 2013 originally as the trio Third Degree, who competed in the fifth season of The X Factor Australia and were the tenth contestant eliminated. The group subsequently signed with Sony Music Australia and released their debut single "Different Kind of Love", which peaked at number 22 on the ARIA Singles Chart. Following the departure of Kelebek in 2014, Third Degree changed their name to The Clique and were no longer signed to Sony Music. The group disbanded in 2015 to pursue solo careers.

History

2013: Third Degree

Third Degree was formed in 2013 on the fifth season of The X Factor Australia by judges Ronan Keating, Dannii Minogue and Redfoo. Their initial line-up included Kelebek, Jacinta Gulisano and Jordan Rodrigues. All three members originally auditioned on the show as solo contestants and progressed to the super bootcamp stage, where they got eliminated. However, the judges called them back to form a mixed group for the Groups category. All three members were notably unhappy at first about being put in a group, stating that it was an "odd trio". Third Degree entered in the third day of bootcamp, where they sang "No Diggity" by Blackstreet to the judges and a live audience of one thousand. They received a standing ovation, and subsequently progressed to the home visits stage. During home visits, Third Degree sang "Can't Hold Us" by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis in front of their mentor Natalie Bassingthwaighte and guest mentor Guy Sebastian. Bassingthwaighte later selected Third Degree, along with JTR and Adira-Belle, for the live finals—a series of ten weekly live shows in which contestants are progressively eliminated by public vote.

For the Judges' Choice-themed first live show, Third Degree sang "thatPower" by will.i.am and received positive feedback from the judges. In week six of the live shows, Third Degree fell into the bottom two alongside JTR but was saved after Keating, Minogue and Redfoo all opted to eliminate JTR. Following the eliminations of Adira-Belle and JTR, Third Degree became the only remaining act in the Groups category. In week eight of the live shows, Third Degree fell into the bottom two alongside Jiordan Tolli. The judges' vote went to deadlock, and Tolli was eliminated after it was revealed she received the fewest votes. In the semi-finals, Third Degree sang "Give Me Everything" by Pitbull and "Pound the Alarm" by Nicki Minaj, gaining positive reviews from the judges. Despite this, they fell into the bottom two alongside Taylor Henderson. The judges' vote went to deadlock, and Henderson advanced to the grand final after it was revealed he received the most public votes, leading to Third Degree being eliminated.

Performances on The X Factor

After The X Factor ended, Third Degree received a recording contract with Sony Music Australia and released their debut single "Different Kind of Love" on 1 November 2013. "Different Kind of Love" debuted and peaked at number 22 on the ARIA Singles Chart. On 23 November 2013, Third Degree toured alongside Henderson, Tolli, Dami Im and Jai Waetford for The X Factor Live Tour, which ended on 2 December 2013. On 7 March 2014, it was announced that Kelebek had left the group to pursue a solo career, leaving Gulisano and Rodrigues as a duo.

2014: The Clique

On 22 May 2014, Gulisano and Rodrigues announced in a video posted to their YouTube and Facebook accounts that they changed the group's name to The Clique. Their first song as The Clique, titled "Live the Life", was released independently on 12 June 2014.

The group disbanded in 2015 to pursue solo careers.

Members

Jacinta Gulisano

Jacinta Gulisano, born (1993-10-23) 23 October 1993 (age 31), is from Sydney. She was a student at Aquinas College in Menai, New South Wales. In 2009, Gulisano was a semi-finalist in the third series of Australia's Got Talent, as a member of the singing trio Soundcheck. In 2013, it was revealed she had been dating Dance Academy actor Jordan Rodrigues. Gulisano auditioned for The X Factor singing "LaserLight" by Jessie J, and progressed to the super bootcamp stage of the competition. During bootcamp, she sang a mash-up of "Who's Lovin' You" by the Jackson 5 and "Telephone" by Lady Gaga. Prior to entering The X Factor, she was a vocal coach and a dance teacher. Gulisano cites Beyoncé, Jessie J, Michael Jackson and The Black Eyed Peas as her musical influences.

Jordan Rodrigues

Jordan Rodrigues, born (1995-07-11) 11 July 1995 (age 29), is from Melbourne. He auditioned for The X Factor singing "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love" by Usher, and progressed to the super bootcamp stage. During bootcamp, Rodrigues sang "Lately" by Stevie Wonder. He cites Michael Jackson, Usher and Chris Brown as his musical influences.

Kelebek

Vanessa "Kelebek" Skrypczak, born (1995-05-29) 29 May 1995 (age 29), is from Albury, New South Wales. Kelebek is of Filipino and German descent. She previously auditioned for the fourth season of The X Factor, under her birth name Vanessa Skrypczak, and made it to the top 24. She auditioned for the fifth season singing "Good Feeling" by Flo Rida, and progressed to the super bootcamp stage. During bootcamp, Kelebek sang "Change Your Life" by Little Mix. Kelebek cites Michael Jackson, Eve, Beyoncé, Jessie J, Amy Winehouse, Missy Elliott, Slaughterhouse and The Black Eyed Peas as her musical influences.

On 7 March 2014, Third Degree's X Factor mentor Natalie Bassingthwaighte announced on her Twitter account that Kelebek had left the group. Kelebek stated that she wanted to re-pursue her solo career, saying: "I began as a soloist but it has been hard splitting from the group."

Concert tours

Headlining

• The X Factor Live Tour (2013)

Discography

Third Degree

Singles

Other charted songs

The Clique

Singles

Awards and nominations

References

1. ^ "Third D3gree". The X Factor Australia. Yahoo!7. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
2. ^ "The X Factor reveals the Top 12 ahead of live shows". The X Factor Australia. Yahoo!7. Archived from the original on 23 August 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
3. "The X Factor Australia Premiere Recap – Is Jai Waetford The Next Justin Bieber?". Take 40 Australia. MCM Entertainment. 29 July 2013. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
4. "The X Factor Australia Bootcamp Recap – Georgie Bannard Stuns With Adele!". Take 40 Australia. MCM Entertainment. 12 August 2013. Archived from the original on 1 December 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
5. "The X Factor Australia Bootcamp Recap – Jiordan Tolli Stuns With Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill". Take 40 Australia. MCM Entertainment. 13 August 2013. Archived from the original on 8 October 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
6. "The X Factor Australia Recap – Dami Im Returns As Matt Gresham Pulls Out of the Competition!". Take 40 Australia. MCM Entertainment. 19 August 2013. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
7. "The X Factor Australia Recap – Jai Waetford Makes It Through As Georgina Mastin and Riv Are Sent Home!". Take 40 Australia. MCM Entertainment. 20 August 2013. Archived from the original on 24 August 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
8. Hardie, Giles (26 August 2013). "The X Factor recap: Adira–Belle the first finalists sent home". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
9. ^ "The X Factor Australia 2013 – JTR Sent Home By All the Judges". Take 40 Australia. MCM Entertainment. 30 September 2013. Archived from the original on 3 October 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
10. "The X Factor Australia Live Shows – Adira–Belle Are Sent Home". Take 40 Australia. MCM Entertainment. 26 August 2013. Archived from the original on 1 September 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
11. "The X Factor Australia Recap – Jiordan Tolli Sent Home After Facing Off With Third D3gree!". Take 40 Australia. MCM Entertainment. 14 October 2013. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
12. "Song List: Power and Passion". The X Factor Australia. Yahoo!7. 18 October 2013. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
13. ^ "The X Factor Australia Live Decider – Third D3gree Are Eliminated Over Taylor Henderson!". Take 40 Australia. MCM Entertainment. 21 October 2013. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
14. "Song List: Top 10 Hits". The X Factor Australia. Yahoo!7. 6 September 2013. Archived from the original on 9 September 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
15. "Yahoo Australia | News, email and search". Archived from the original on 13 September 2013.
16. "Yahoo Australia | News, email and search". Archived from the original on 3 October 2013.
17. McCabe, Kathy (1 November 2013). "X Factor stars Taylor, Jai and Third Degree to release singles today". news.com.au (News Limited). Retrieved 1 November 2013.
18. "Different Kind of Love - Single by Third D3gree". iTunes. November 2013.
19. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Discography Third Degree". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). Retrieved 10 November 2013.
20. ^ "The X Factor Live Tour 2013". The X Factor Australia. Yahoo!7. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013.
21. ^ Georgakopoulos, Chris (12 March 2014). "X Factor Australia group Third Degree disbands after Kelebek splits for solo career". Canterbury-Bankstown Express. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
22. Third Degree New Name Announcement. YouTube. 22 May 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
23. "Third Degree New Name Announcement". Facebook. 22 May 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
24. ^ "Archived copy". itunes.apple.com. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
25. ^ "Aquinas has got Talent!" (PDF). Aquinas College, Menai. 9 February 2009. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2009. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
26. "Claire McGuiness". StarNow. StarNow Limited. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
27. Giles, Amber (24–30 August 2013). "X Factor Romances". TV Week (34). Bauer Media Group: 6.
28. "Teachers". Famous Performing Arts. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
29. "Filipino-Australian Talents on Tour of the Philippines". Bayanihan News. 15 March 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
30. Mills, Tammy (15 April 2013). "Singing for headspace: $1K to charity". The Border Mail. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
31. Peak chart positions for other charted songs:
    • "Pump It": Ryan, Gavin (12 October 2013). "ARIA Singles: Katy Perry Is Still Roaring". Noise11. Noise Network. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
    • "Pound the Alarm": "ARIA Singles: It Is Still About Katy Perry". Noise11. Noise Network. 26 October 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
32. Manser, Robert (25 January 2014). "Poprepublic.tv Awards Nominations Announced". Poprepublic.tv. AKA Entertainment. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014.

External links

• Third Degree official website

• 2013 establishments in Australia
• Musical groups established in 2013
• The X Factor (Australian TV series) contestants
• Australian pop music groups
• Australian musical duos
• Pop music duos
• Male–female musical duos