(EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW) full circle boys: “The name Full Circle can constantly be reimagined and still feel fresh.”
For those of us who grew up with boybands, the 1990s and 2000s were perhaps our golden years. Although we can’t forget the classics like the Jackson Five, Bay City Rollers, and Osmond brothers were a launchpad from the 70’s onwards.
But it was the resurgence in the 1990s with groups like The Backstreet Boys and NSYNC. Then came the 2000s, which saw the rise of emo, and the boys became the stars of those years. It was cool to love boys in makeup and skinny, full of angst and poetry-riddled lyrics.
One group are aiming to bring back the boygroup. The five members – Jagger, Dossan, James, Sean, and Oliver – are an independent group that have soared with a community of fans who are cheering for them. Each member, as you can see in our chat, brings something new, fresh, and exciting to their group, with incredible dance skills which I recommend watching in music videos such as "CGI".
Their newest single, "Fresh99", showcases those skills wonderfully. I spoke to the members, and each one has different yet unified outlooks with each other. We spoke about the boy groups making a comeback, their newest single, and who inspires them.
SpinVybe: You formed in 2021. Was there a moment that made you realise this had grown into something bigger than a casual collaboration?
Jagger: When I eventually ended up no longer going back to Utah.
James: Yeah, probably when we moved to Florida or shot our first music video. That’s when it hit me that this wasn’t just something casual anymore, it was turning into something real. Seeing everything come together visually just made it all click.
Sean: I think watching the music landscape around us change has made our bond as a collective stronger. When we formed, I didn’t know what kind of creative direction we would go in. Only recently I’ve noticed that we are truly forging an original story.
SV: The name itself, Full Circle Boys, is quite a strong name; it feels positive and full of meaning. Was that an intentional idea from the start? A way to cement your ideas and attitude, what does “full circle” mean to all of you, either personally or artistically?
Oliver: To me, the name Full Circle means that everything happens for a reason. Life has a way of it all coming full circle.
Dossan: The name 'Full Circle Boys' itself is quite a strong name. As it feels positive and full of meaning.
Jagger: I mean, the name Full Circle is something everyone can relate to. Especially everyone in this project. This whole journey has been full of moments and experiences that are coming back around in such weird and beautiful ways.
And especially the way the five of us are connected. We weren’t formed together by a label or a company; we’ve been part of each other’s lives since we were kids. We’ve been dancing, performing, and singing for as long as we can remember. It really has all come full circle. And we’re not giving up on our gifts, our talents, or each other.
James: The name “Full Circle” comes from the fact that all of us have deep connected roots in dance. We’ve kind of come full circle from where we began as dancers to where we are now as artists. It represents growth but also staying true to our roots.
Sean: When selecting a name for the project, I wanted something that wouldn’t fade with the trends. The name Full Circle can constantly be reimagined and still feel fresh. In the beginning, Full Circle meant growth, from humble beginnings in dance studios to exploring other creative avenues.
SV: With five of you creating together, there must be a lot of ideas bouncing around. How do you find balancing your individual influence styles while keeping to a sound that you’re all happy with?
Oliver: All of us have very different music tastes, but when it comes to the band, I think we all know what we wanted Full Circle to sound like.
Dossan: Yes, creating with five unique individual brains can definitely be a challenge. But we have found a really productive way to make it work, and that’s through Jack Newsome. He is a phenomenal writer and just an insane musician. Jack has helped us create the best music possible. We have a lot of respect for him and trust his ability to use all of our ideas to lead and guide us when we’re writing together.
Jagger: We all definitely have different tastes, that’s for sure. I think right now it’s very fluid. We’re in a phase where we want to experiment with everything. If someone’s inspired and creates something that they’re inspired by, AND it’s good… Then we’ll go for it. Full Circle is Dossan Bell. Full Circle is James Herron, it’s Sean Garrity, and it’s Ollie Hincy. Hell, it's even Jagger Moon. And it’s honestly beautiful that it gets to be all of those things.
James: We have a majority-rules philosophy. If more people agree on something, we’ll lead with that idea. It keeps things fair and helps us move forward without overthinking.
Sean: We all have very different tastes and preferences when it comes to music listening, but when it comes to creating music, we all are aligned on the FCB sonic palette. In sessions it usually feels like the best ideas win, and when something is good, we are usually in agreement.
SV: Over the years, what have you learnt from each other? Who is the one that you all look to in the group who naturally takes the lead, and do you feel you all have a unique role to support one another?
Oliver: I have learnt that there is no rule book for this. When I first joined, I thought I had to sing, dance,or act a certain way, and that is not true whatsoever. When it comes to looking up to one of my bandmates, I don’t look up to just one of them. I look up to all four for different reasons.
Dossan: One thing that we’ve all learnt from each other since becoming a band is that everything is always better when we do it together, no matter what it is. When it comes to leadership, each of us brings something unique. We all step up when it’s needed, and trust each other to follow and support each other’s ideas. It's a collaborative process in every aspect; there’s not one person leading the whole ship; it’s a team effort.
Jagger: That’s a great question. I’ve learnt so much, and I look to all four of them for different things. At the beginning of the band with Sean, I learnt about how determined he was to make this work and how serious he was about the project and the potential it has to be something huge. This is so much bigger than all of us individually and together. He really inspired me to take it seriously and not get in my own way.He’s definitely the most realistic and logical out of all of us, and I really look to him to be real and honest. He doesn’t act on impulse; he acts out of logic and strategy, which is something we definitely need. Without him, I honestly don’t know where we’d be.
From James I’ve learnt how powerful being quiet can be. You don’t have to be the loudest in the room to be the most noticeable. He’s definitely the quietest out of all of us, but he has this undeniable presence that everyone gravitates towards. He’s calm but all bark and all bite. I really admire that about him. James is definitely my comfort person, and I think he’s that for all of us. He just has this energy that makes you feel safe around him.
With Oliver, I’ve learnt that it’s always better to say what’s on your mind than to sugarcoat things. Beating around the bush doesn’t help anyone; honesty does. Oliver somehow keeps me both young and old at the same time, which is kind of trippy. There’s a big age gap, but sometimes it feels like we’re the same age. Then he’ll do something that reminds me I’m not that age anymore. And that’s okay, I can’t relive the past, and I definitely don’t have the same energy he and Dossan do anymore.
Speaking of Dossan, Dossan’s my baby. I’m very protective of him. I’ve known him the longest and watched him grow up. I sometimes forget that he’s the same little boy that I used to dance with. What I’ve learnt from Dossan is that no matter what, no matter the circumstance, you should always lead with love. The world is full of hate; why would you add more to it? He’s always led his life with love, since he was a kid. When I need a good time, I will definitely go to Dossan. He's always down for anything.
James: I think we all lead in different ways. There’s no single “leader”. We each bring something unique to the table, and I look up to all my bandmates for inspiration.
Sean: My bandmates feel more like brothers than friends. We live together; there’s no off switch. I think we rely on each other's strengths.
SV: Being an independent boy group, how has that shaped your identity in an industry that can be dominated by major-label acts?
Oliver: It feels like people judge what you are doing without them allowing you to show your art for better or for worse.
Dossan: It’s definitely not the easiest route to take, but in the long run I believe it actually is, as it gives us the freedom to have a very big say in what we do and the art we create. It is honestly such a blessing to have an independent label that believes in us, supports us, and goes to bat for us. We couldn’t be more grateful.
Jagger: It’s really shaped our identity, as we have the freedom to be ourselves. We don’t have to be what anyone wants us to be. We can do whatever we want, however we want, and whenever we want.
James: Having an independent label has definitely empowered us to be creative in any way we want. There really aren’t any limitations. As long as we put our minds to something, we’re golden.
Sean: The best part of being an independent group is the creative freedom. We get to decide what kind of music we want to make and who we want to work with, and we can change course when something doesn’t feel right. It’s hard to compare us to the groups coming out of the label system because what we’ve built has been done without the pressure of a major label.
SV: Compared to, say, the 2000s and late 90s, it feels like we see fewer big boy groups today. Perhaps because of stereotypes or an automatic label. What made you guys happily lean into that and embrace the identity instead of shying away from it?
Oliver: Because I want to change the meaning of the label boyband.
Dossan: Yeah, like you said, it’s been a while since boy groups have really shone in the industry, especially American boy groups, I should say. But we are more than happy and excited to embrace the fact that we are an imperfect, funny American boy band that loves what we do. We’re dancers, we’re artists, and we’re just excited to share our art with everyone.
Jagger: I mean, when in Rome. We’re a boyband, maybe a different type of boyband, but a boyband nonetheless.
James: At the end of the day, a boy group is just what we naturally are. Of course, I see us as artists first, but if we’re putting a label on it, yeah, we’re boys in a group who create together. And I think there’s something powerful about owning that.
Sean: I actually have a possible connotation of the label boyband. Growing up, One Direction was a big source of positivity, and I thought they were so cool. To me, 'boy band' represents a certain kind of community that forms around the band which we love. It is so cool seeing people connect over a shared love of our music.
SV:You’re redefining what it means to be a boy group. Were there any specific groups that influenced you growing up? And do you feel pressure to fit into certain “boy group” expectations, or are you consciously redefining what that means?
Oliver: I grew up listening to Brockhampton, and I definitely still look up to them because of their approach to being in a boy group.
Dossan: There are lots of boy groups from the past that we look up to and admire for different reasons. But as we move forward, our goal is to just be us and to create something new that truly represents who we are as a band, rather than trying to replicate what has already been done.
Jagger: Growing up, One Direction was my boyband. So I was heavily influenced by their personalities and the way they acted. Same with 5SOS. But besides that, I wouldn't say I was influenced directly by any other boy bands. I love and admire a lot of them, though. NSYNC, I really, really love NSYNC, Bel Biv Devoe, BTS – the list goes on. I mean, I don’t necessarily feel pressured, but I do think it’s much harder for us. People nowadays are very used to the cookie-cutter boyband or the massive K-pop groups. We’re neither of those. We’re not trying to be different; we just ARE different. We dance, sing, harmonise, perform, and make music videos. But no one is doing it how we’re doing it. And I think it can be a little bit scary for people. We might be better received right now if we fit a mould, but we wouldn’t last long because we wouldn’t be true to ourselves. Once it clicks for people, it’s game over.
James: I grew up listening to a lot of soul and R&B, specifically artists like Adele and Sade. But when it comes to groups, I definitely take inspiration from NSYNC and BTS. They both bring such strong artistry and performance energy to everything they do.
Sean: I was five when One Direction came onto the scene, and I did a lot of dance competitions to their records. I’ve been inspired by the vocals of groups like The Jackson 5, New Kids On The Block, and NSYNC. I think I’d probably feel more pressure to fit the traditional boyband mould if we had a mentor group guiding us, but since we don’t, we’ve been free to find our own way.
SV:Your new single “FREE99” is now out, and it was the first track you all wrote together. What was the creative process like on this one compared to past songs? How did you all come together in terms of writing to decide how the final version came together?
Oliver: From the jump, everyone has always had amazing ideas. The boys are incredible songwriters. There is no doubt that we just needed a sixth person to glue all the ideas together, and that is our friend Jack Newsome.
Dossan: This was the first time that we all wrote together in the same room, and the reason it worked so well was because of our co-writer Jack Newsome. ”FREE99” also came together so well thanks to the producer, Max Levin, who was able to create the track on the spot for us and set the vibe. We were really looking forward to “FREE99”.
Jagger: I mean, I can’t really compare “FREE99” to past songs because it was the first one we did all together. The methods we used on that track have stuck, and now it’s what we do to create all of our songs. Get in with a producer and another writer (99% of the time that’s Jack Newsome). Make a beat, catch a vibe, do some melody passes, and then follow whatever serves the song best. For “FREE99” there were no rewrites; what we wrote that day was final.
James: “FREE99” was the first song we all fully wrote together. We’d tried before, but it never flowed because no one wanted to step on each other’s toes. This time, with Jack Newsome, who acted as a mediator and connected all of our ideas. It just clicked.
Sean: Having 7 people in one session is hectic – so many ideas and so many opinions. When writing “FREE99”, we started with a melody after brainstorming the initial idea. The best ideas were clear, and together we refined lyrics. After a few rounds of notes, we recorded the final version.
SV:When new listeners hear a Full Circle Boys track, what do you hope they instantly feel or recognise about you as artists?
Oliver: I hope our listeners feel inspired to create and recognise that we are just some boys doing what we love.
Dossan: I hope that they feel joy when they hear the music, and I feel like they want to get up and move. And when it’s not the songs that are super danceable, they can relate and connect on an emotional level.
Jagger: Pardon my French, but I want them to say, “Oh shit, they’re actually good.”
James: I just want people to feel something—whether it’s happiness, sadness, nostalgia… anything. As long as it makes them feel, I know we’re doing our job.
Sean: I hope that we bring joy to our listeners. I would implore new listeners to watch the accompanying visuals and experience this group at its fullest potential. I hope people appreciate the entertainment value we strive for.
SV:Besides writing and singing, your performance skills are fantastic! Especially in the music video for the track “CGI”. Have all of you grown up with a love of performing, or was that a gradual progression?
Oliver: I have always performed when I danced, it's another great trait dance gave me.
Dossan: We all grew up as dancers, so naturally we were on the competition stage performing, whether that be in a hip-hop, musical theatre or lyrical routine. So performance has come pretty naturally to us. But as we start to film music videos, there’s another layer of performance we’re learning to master, and obviously there’s always room for growth.
Jagger: I don’t think I love anything more than performing. Being on stage, on any stage, is heaven on earth. I feel most comfortable on stage. I’m quite awkward off stage.
James: We all grew up in the competitive dance world, starting at a pretty young age. Performing has always felt second nature. But being in the group has deepened that passion. It’s made me fall even more in love with being on stage.
Sean: Performing is definitely our first love, growing up in dance competitions, we ruled the studio system as the token male dancer. I loved performing with the girls, but the guys I formed bonds with had so much comradery that ultimately led to the formation of this band.
SV:Which came first, wanting to sing or dance?
Oliver: For me, wanting to dance came first.
Dossan: Wanting to dance. But honestly, deep down in my heart, I think for me personally I needed to do dance to find my love for creating music.
Jagger: I wanted to dance first, BUT I was always singing while I danced.
James: Dancing, 100%. That’s how it all started for us.
Sean: Singing. I wanted a pair of tap shoes around the same time I started taking piano lessons.
SV:If each of you could recommend one Full Circle Boys song, which one would it be, and why?
Oliver: I would recommend “FREE99” because of the message it brings.
Dossan: Definitely “FREE99!”
Jagger: The next one, or the one after that, or maybe the one after that. Because they just keep getting better and better.
James: Either “M80” or “This Goes Out to You”. They’re on opposite sides of the spectrum, and that’s what I love about them. They really show our versatility.
Sean: “You Should Be Mine” is probably my favourite song we’ve released to date. I recommend this one because it shows listeners where we are going in the future. My favourite part is the bridge. That bass line is so funky.
SV:In this digital age, how do you balance creating content for platforms such as TikTok, where you have a very active platform, while protecting your artistic identity?
Jagger: I think there was a period where we weren’t balancing things for a while. Especially on TikTok. We got caught up in chasing the views and just doing dance trends. That’s fine if that’s what your goal is, but it started to feel like it was more about keeping views up instead of being musicians. We were becoming influencers instead of artists. There’s nothing wrong with being an influencer, but that wasn’t what we wanted. So we had to kind of regroup, start over and decide that no matter what, it’s about making music first. And if you make good art, the rest will follow as long as you stay at it and stay hungry.
James: Honestly, that’s still a work in progress. Social media is so complicated and oversaturated right now. We’re still figuring out how to showcase both our talent and our personalities. It’s definitely something we’re learning to balance.
Sean: It’s easy to get lost in posting easy trends. Now, I ask myself when posting, what purpose is this serving? In the past we would post for the sake of posting, but now we try to be intentional, hoping everything leads back to our artistry.
SV:Nowadays it seems that social media is measured on success not by the music but by the followers and engagement. How do you not focus on creating snippets in a fast-paced industry?
Oliver: Let me tell you it’s not easy, so we have to make sure that we are always pushing our brand and not just another trend.
Jagger: I remind myself that it’s all fake. The internet is not real. But making music and performing is real. Connecting with people – that’s real. It doesn’t matter how many followers I have, what matters is I’m being real and not trying to play into the numbers.
James: We just post what feels real to us. If it sticks with an audience, great. If it doesn’t, that’s okay too. At least we’re sharing things that are making us happy, not chasing quick views or trends.
Sean: I’ve never thought about creating music for snippets on social media. It’s always been an afterthought for us.
SV: Alongside the tight social media presence, you have a focus on creating a strong fan community with things like the “Text us” feature and the “Join our inner circle” platform for fans in the US and globally. What inspired that unique approach, and how important is that connection with fans?
Oliver: We love our fans, and we want them to feel connected and to know what’s going on with our releases and what's going on in our lives.
Jagger: Connection is very important. We’ve actually stopped using some of our old methods because they weren’t working the way we wanted. We're currently developing better ways that'll hopefully come out soon. We’ve always said that we don’t want fans; we want family. And that's the plan to keep pushing through with that mentality.
James: Right now we’re in our social media building phase, and online presence is super important. Those fan connections matter because that’s how we build a real community. If someone connects with us online, hopefully that means they’ll come out to a show someday.
SV:Having performed on major stages such as iHeartRadio Jingle Ball, America's Got Talent, and the Hollywood Bowl, what would be the dream stage to perform on?
Oliver: I always say the Sphere in Las Vegas. We could do some really cool stuff with the visuals.
Jagger: We’re going to sell out Madison Square Garden.
James: Oh, Coachella for sure. That’s the dream.
Sean: I would love to perform at a major music festival, somewhere like Rockin' Rio, as that has always been at the top of the list.
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