01x04 - Episode 4

[bunniefuu]

This programme contains some
strong language

Jay, you've been dropped.
Previously on Project Icon...

Now we're down to five.

..five artists remain,

competing to land a life-changing
record deal.

Whoever wins this deal, their lives
will never be the same.

But as the competition
has gone up in tempo...

..so has the tension,

especially between
Nnenna and Emelle.

Maybe it wasn't working,
me after you

or you before me.
She's stressing all of us out.

This week, with only four places
in the semifinal and Mia's

position feeling precarious...

Sorry. Can I start again?

..who will survive and be one
step closer to stardom?

Now...sh*t is about to get real.

Only two weeks remain
before the final...

Here we go.

..and Jason and Frank are about to
drop their biggest challenge yet

on the artists.

It's very important to me
that the artist that we choose

has the range and the versatility
as an artist.

I need to be sure that they're

the right person to invest in.

This challenge is really about them

showing off their pop-star quality.

Now it's a five-horse race,

how are you all feeling?

Apprehensive and also excited.

You can't be too confident.

It's going to get down to, like,
who they can see working

Yeah.

At the moment, Nnenna
is my biggest competition.

You can sort of just feel it
in the air.

There is this, ooh, energy of, like,
this is getting serious now

and people are probably
going to start to become

a bit more cut-throat.

We are looking for longevity.

Stormzy, Lady Gaga, Beyonce.

Huge artists who've been able
to stand the test of time,

so it's important that they
don't just do one thing well.

Hello, hello, hello.
Here comes trouble.

Hello. What's up, guys?

What's up, beautiful people?

Becky is away on tour,

so it's up to Jason and Frank
to set this week's challenge

with the help of a fellow pop icon.

Are we ready for the next challenge?
Let's find out what it is.

Yeah, let's find out
what it is first!

For your next challenge, we want you
to create an iconic music video.

To make a popping video,
you need a popping song,

so we asked pop sensation
Olly Alexander to help us

with this challenge.

Hey, everyone. Hope you're having
a blast on Project Icon.

With two hit number-one albums
and six Brit Award nominations,

actor and electropop superstar
Olly Alexander has been at the top

of the game for over a decade.

Music videos are a really beautiful
way to bring a song's lyrics

and emotions to life.

So, for this challenge,
I am lending you two songs

from my back catalogue

to sh**t completely
brand-new music videos to.

I really can't wait to see
what you come up with.

Have fun.

It's wicked to have music
gifted to us by Olly Alexander.

Great writer. Great performer.

I am a big fan of Years & Years.
I really, really like their music.

Yeah, I'm really excited.

What the artists don't know
is that they will be playing

their finished videos
to Olly in person,

so doing his songs justice
will be essential.

# I wouldn't do

# Just to get up next to you... #

Sometimes a song can be doing
pretty well in the marketplace

and the music video comes out
and takes it to the next level.

It's really important to take
this quite seriously.

People are watching music videos
to invest in you as an artist.

Some artists will shine
and some aren't going to.

# Crazy what love can do... #

We're going to be splitting
you guys into two groups.

You obviously have different styles.

Put those together to make
something that truly pops.

Today they'll be recording
Olly's track, but this challenge

is all about the video.

This challenge is about creating
an amazing video concept

and making sure that
you look great on screen.

Emelle, we loved what you did
with the last challenge,

so you're going to
be picking the groups.

You can put yourself
in a group of three or two.

So, who do you want and why?

I think I would rather work in
So there's

less ideas to kind of sift through.

Dylan. I pick Dylan.

I really thought hard
about the O2 challenge,

and I definitely took note of,
like, Nnenna was very difficult

to work with, very out for herself.

We kind of need to give them
a bit of a performance.

I think that they would rather have
the pure talent on the stage.

Come out your comfort zone, I think.

Let them see you
without your guitar.

I'm not really fussed that
Emelle didn't really pick me.

I kind of didn't really want
to be in her group in the first

place, so good luck to them.

That means Nnenna, Mia and Barry

are in the other group.

The three of us, we just have
a similar performance style.

We have the energy, we have
the movement, whereas the other team

are kind of kumbaya,
sit by a guitar, sing a song.

Emelle, your group is going
Banger.

# Oh-oh-oh

# I was a king
under your control... #

I've always loved Years & Years,
especially this song.

King was in my playlist, so I was
really happy to get this song.

And the other group is going to
be taking on another huge song -

Shine.

# It's shaking the sky

# And I'm following lightning

# I'll recover
if you keep me alight... #

For this challenge,

they cannot change
the original song,

so this is more about looking
and seeing who turns up

when the camera's on them.

This isn't a remake.

It's important that they come up
with a unique and fresh concept

to go along with the song.

To help you out, get moving
in the right direction,

I brought my choreographer
and creative director.

Now he's worked with the likes
of Justin Bieber, Usher, Ciara,

David Guetta, the biggest
and the best in the world.

It's Jeremy Strong.

Hi.

What's up, guys?

I've asked Jeremy to come down
to be my eyes and ears on set.

These artists are about to be thrown
in the reality of a record label

spending thousands and thousands
of dollars per minute.

So, as an artist, you've got
to be able to hit the mark

and turn the hell up.

It's very crucial
to create movement. Right?

Performance is not
all about just dance.

It's also about just your
presence.

Remember, anyone of you can still be
dropped from Project Icon.

We're all expecting
something special.

Good luck.

The only real worry
I've got is dancing.

I dance like a dad.

Actually, even my dad can probably
dance better than me.

Today is about the video's concept,
and each song will be sung

in their original arrangement.

This means for Emelle and Dylan,
they'll be ditching their guitars.

I'm buzzing for this now.
This is going to be great.

I've made a few of my own music
videos before, but I've done a lot

of the filming, the editing.

So, having the help
of a creative director

and someone to do movement with,

and doing it with Emelle,
like, I'm really excited

about this challenge.

Dylan and Nnenna have created music
videos before.

For Emelle, Mia and Barry,

this will be their first time
on set ever.

I think it's a good
little trio going on.

But because this is a competition
and I want to win, I need to go,

"Boop, boop, boop.
Excellent."

Right. We have Shine.

In the last challenge
the judges said

that I need to
up my confidence a bit

and I feel like I can definitely
do that in this challenge.

There's going to be lights, cameras,
hundreds of thousands of dollars

worth of time on these stages.

So their minds are going
to be blown away.

Who can handle the pressure?

The song is all about you feel
under someone's thumb.

Yeah. We've all been there. We've
all had a job that we didn't like.

You and I work at the bar.

And we whack on the radio,
and this song comes on.

Then our life starts
to get better cos we're, like,

washing the glasses.
We're mopping the floor.

Working with Emelle has been a dream
because we have very aligning ideas

on what we want, and how
we want to come across.

We're always having a laugh.

It'd be nice to actually show that
and I think that's where

we'll have the edge
on the other guys

who maybe
Yeah.

In the artist holding area
is Nnenna, Mia and Barry.

OK, so this is our storyline.
Yeah.

So we're going out to a party.

I bump into a guy, and then I end up
kind of falling in love with him.

But with creative differences,

cracks are showing.

I think it would be, like,
quite nice to have smoke machines

and it being quite haunting.

I'm not sure.
Honestly, I'm not bothered.

Is there anything
that's speaking to you?

My biggest threat is Barry
not letting me contribute.

It was very much like,
"No, we're not going to have that."

And I'm like, "Oh, sorry,
Barry, I didn't realise

"it was The Barry Show."

Cos as much as this is,
like, a group challenge,

we do have to show individuality.
Yeah, absolutely.

How are you getting on?
Really good.

Mm.

Is that why you picked Dylan?

Because obviously you're on the same
level when it comes to dancing.

I knew for a fact I didn't want to
work with Nnenna, and I think Barry

would be difficult to work with

cos he's such
a strong character, as well.

But then I also thought
they get on really well,

so I couldn't leave them alone.

So I thought throw Mia
in and then I'm happy,

because I've got me best mate Dylan
and we get on really well.

So, really what she was doing
was this - muh-ha-ha-ha!

Hey, you all right? I'm Dylan.

Jeremy.
Hi, nice to meet you.

Dylan and Emelle don't have long
to work out their choreo.

We're excited, actually.

Yeah, bit nervous.

Today, every move counts,
as Jeremy's notes to the judges

could cost them their spot
in the competition.

I think an artist shines in this
scenario by connection,

through that lens,
through that camera, so...

I think sometimes we get so
wrapped around doing too many

things, but the connection is
going to help people understand

who you are.

So, you guys aren't opposed
to dancing?

We're not opposed.
We don't like dancing.

We don't have much
experience in dance.

Have you guys got some plans?

Yeah. Our idea was that we work at
this bar and we're starting

to clean down the bar,

you know, we get the mops
and we mop at the same time.

I'm just going to play the song
and let you be you.

Like, when I go out and I dance,
like, I'll do like the most...

See. You guys have
to put that in there.

You know, we thought we were taking
the mick when we started doing

these dance moves and he was like,
"No, that is your essence, but let's

"finesse it and make it something
like, you know, palatable

"for the music video." So I thought
that was really good advice.

# Tonight... #

Dyl and Emelle's concept of
one day dreaming to be an icon,

I think it works well.

I think, as an artist, it is
important to have a clear vision

of what you want.

I've often been told that
I was too big to do dancing,

I didn't look right.

My shape wasn't right, so I've
kind of been put off dancing.

Having Dylan next to me, as well,
is really helpful,

and he's going through the same
thing and he doesn't look stupid.

I think it's going to be great.
Yeah, it's cool.

At the recording studio, Nnenna,
Barry and Mia have limited time

to put their vocals on guest judge
Olly Alexander's track Shine.

We're going to just get
levels first.

The lyrics have been divided up
by vocal director Michael Hough,

who's worked with Stormzy,
Mabel and Years & Years.

My job as a vocal director
is really bringing out the best

in an artist's voice.

In the studio, getting them
warmed up, making sure

that they're ready to record, making
sure that they're using the correct

breathing techniques to help
them reach the note.

# Don't leave me behind.

# Can you see me?
I'm shining... #

# It's shaking the sky

# And I'm following lightning... #

Mia?
Yeah?

I need you to feel it more, babe.

Barry is 100% going to try
and be more dominant,

even though he's never done
a music video before, either.

So I guess we'll just see
when we get there,

who can actually do it right.

# Don't you feel that hunger?

# I've got so many secrets
to show... #

Nope, one more time.
I'll do it again.

This is the challenge that I
need to shine, because everyone

has been told at some point
in the competition,

"You're a front runner, you look
like a star. De-de-de, de-de-de."

I haven't had that yet.

# Following lightning... #

The track now laid down,

it's time for Nnenna, Barry and Mia
to reveal their concept to Jeremy

and choreograph their video.

Three friends, and we're going on
a night out,

but we each kind of lose track

of each other during this event,
and we kind of have our own separate

scenes going on.

Barry, Nnenna and Mia, their concept
is a little all over the place.

I can tell that they didn't have,
like, a clear vision.

OK.

Paint this picture for me.

"Oh, my God,
have you seen this guy?"

And then the chorus is coming up.

And then we all do
Seven, eight.

Your face
is not giving anything away.

You guys have a lot to build. Right?

And we don't have that much
time together,

so I would suggest doing
less dancing and more acting.

OK.

I'm not sure we've taken on more
than we can chew, but maybe

we didn't think it out.

I'm getting a bit anxious,
but I think we can do it.

It's just a case of actually
getting those ideas done,

cos we ain't got long.

Dance rehearsals done,

Dylan and Emelle need to lay down
their vocals to King.

# I was a king
under your control... #

I lost my King tuning.

Keep that. Let's go again.

So let's just go
until we get it right.

I think he's stressing himself out.

He doesn't need to.
He's really talented.

I feel like you're in your head
saying, "This song isn't for me."

It's not that. I haven't been
using falsetto recently

cos of all the transition stuff.
It's right at that point that...

..I'm not using
my voice often.

# And now I pray and still... #

Something I struggled with
as a child was the difference

between my reality and the outside
world in the fact that I knew

I was a boy, but I was born
in a female body.

I sort of suppressed this idea for
a long time, until more recently,

and I came out as transgender

and now here I am,
living my authentic life.

# Gonna fight 'em off... #

During my transition, my voice
was changing and now I've started

to record duets with myself...

..and it's such a unique experience
to be able to listen and hear both

of my voices at the same time
in harmony

and sort of recognise that they
are both me...

# At night cos I can't forget... #

..but, you know, one is more true
to who I am

and one of them was just someone
I was for the time being.

# All through my mind

# Had a secret... #

Having gone through this transition,
now I'm sort of working back to get

the falsetto notes
and to get my range back.

I probably CAN reach those notes,
but in my mind, I'm thinking,

"Oh, you know, I don't want to F up
in front of other people as well."

I'm really just proud of him.

Like, I've never met such
a beautiful human being.

# I was a king
under your control... #

Yes!

It's the morning of the music
video sh**t and crunch time

for the artists to nail
their concepts.

On set, they will work with dancers,
a camera crew

and get styled.

Time is money and there's
little time for second takes.

Mia, if you do... Mia!

Would you stop flirting
Sorry.

I was Mia's age when I made
my first music video.

I had never really been in front
of a camera before.

I was absolutely terrified.

But it's something that
you have to learn quite quickly

and it's a really good tool
to harness to promote your brand.

In the dressing room
of the bar location,

Emelle and Dylan are being made up.

Good.

We're getting dolled up,
as you can see.

We'll let the penguin dancers
get their make-up done.

See ya.
Have fun.

Don't die. Don't break a leg.

I don't know what he means
by penguin dancing. How do...

Penguins don't even dance, man.

The bitchy side of me enjoys
the boat being rocked

cos it means that,
if other people are worried,

I can be more focused.

I'm so happy I've chosen Dylan

because I do not need that energy.

Clap, two, three, two. Clap...
With their make-up done,

Dylan and Emelle's rehearsals
are over and it's time to shine

in front of Jeremy.

King, it's like you're under control
of someone else.

So, we both work in this bar.

Deep down, we're not happy
where we are in our lives,

but we're trying to make
the best of the situation.

Showtime!

# Oh-oh-ohhh

# I wanna feel like you let me go

# So let me go... #

I feel, like, in my element a bit.

As a trans girl, I've spent
a lot of my life not liking

the way I looked, so now that I have
the opportunity to express myself

and enjoy my body and enjoy
interacting with myself

and a camera, I really like
to push that boundary.

Unfortunately, it's a different
story for Emelle.

I'm so scared of being, like,
so exposed.

It is probably a reason why
I always have my guitar.

I like it when I'm singing
cos I can get in a bubble

and I don't need to think
about people looking at me.

They're listening to my voice.

Emelle watches on as Dylan
performs his solo.

God, you look so good.

# I was a king under your control

# So let me go. #

Yeah, I am a little bit worried
about being outshined.

As you should.

I know you guys are friends,
but you're going to have to think

Hm.

We've had some hiccups.

I think that incorporating dance
to someone that doesn't dance,

like Emelle, is a challenge.

On your solo stuff, you're going
Yeah.

As an artist, you got to pay
attention to the positives.

You know, the negatives are going
to come, you've got to take them

in stride, but you have to be
able to move forward and keep

performing at your best.

Hey, I just saw you crying
from over there.

What's wrong?

I just get, like, really in my head
about body image issues and stuff.

I feel like being on camera
really elevates it.

I'm gutted to see Emelle like this
because she's such a beautiful soul

and she doesn't deserve to feel
this...this sort of anxiety

about herself cos she's great.

Just let it go, let it go.

Use all this, embody this emotion
right here,

and you got to put it in that.

Give us a big cuddle.

You're so good. You're so good.

You're so good.
I've ruined all my make-up.

No. You still look hot.
Yeah, yeah.

With three hours left to film
the videos, Jason and Frank arrive

to find out who's living up
to expectation and who isn't.

I just left with Dylan
and Emelle right now.

Who surprised me, really, was Dylan.

Dylan started literally turning up.
I'm like, "I didn't even see

"this guy yesterday in rehearsal."
I was like, "Who is this guy?"

It made Emelle... She kind of
started crying, got overwhelmed.

So, she just doubts
herself.

I'm going to go past camera this
way. Nnenna's going that way...

Downstairs in the nightclub,

it's time for Barry, Mia and Nnenna
to show

their concept won't fall flat.

And...action.

Our concept is three mates,

we're going out on the town.

Me, Nnenna, we're just vibing,
looking for someone to love on,

and Mia is going through a break-up.

By the end of the video, we all
come together.

Yeah, I'm excited.

I wish I was wearing heels.

If Barry wants to come top
in the task,

now is his moment to shine.

# Don't leave me behind

# Can you see me?
I'm shining

# It's you that I've been
waiting to find... #

Being in front of camera is
something that I'm not used to.

I've never done a music video
before. We're five people now.

There's no chance to hide.

There's no place to kind of hide
behind someone else and hope

that they do worse.

# Oh-oh, ohhhhh... #

Every single person has to bring
their A-game or you're going

to be dropped.

Sometimes I wonder if Barry's
too confident, and I never say

someone is too confident. Only time
I think someone is too confident

if you feel like, "I'm so confident,
I know what's going on,

"so you don't really have to tell me
Hm.

And sometimes that can be a problem.

Emelle, if you go some to camera,

make a real strong connection with
Yeah.

Not keen to dance, Emelle has chosen
the ball pit for her solo moment.

And roll playback.

# I was a king
under your control... #

I want this so bad.

I think it's just the pressure
of knowing that it's going

to be judged and criticised,
possibly,

that's made me get in my head
about it.

# Let go of everything... #

Emelle and Dylan, they had the more
clear-cut concept,

but because Emelle got into her head
a little bit, it took time.

We're going to see if that is going
to hinder them from actually getting

the shots that we need to get.

For Nnenna, she is feeling
the pressure to perform.

Oh, yeah.
Can you?

I can tell you're nervous.

Breathe.

Breathe.

Nnenna today, she's very,
very nervous.

Do you think she's nervous
because the entire competition

is starting to get to her?

I think that she just wants
to do so amazing,

Yeah.

Your essence, your eyes,

you're just being inside of this.

That's what's going to take you
a long way, inside of this

competition, outside of
this competition, everywhere.

That's what I really want to see.

I can do that.

Thank you.
Let's do it.

Whenever you're ready. She's ready!

You kind of need to be
in the moment, enjoy it,

and I was struggling a little bit
to get in the moment.

Let's go!

# I was biting my tongue

# I was trying to hide... #

Towards the end, I feel like
I was able to come out of myself.

# I'm following lightning

Invade my space!

# I'll recover if you keep me
alive... #

Yeah.

With Emelle's ball-pit scene
in the can,

I'm checking in to see how
her and Dylan feel their music video

is coming together.

Hello, trouble!

That looked great!
We're hard at work.

How are you getting on with it all,
I got a little bit emotional

Really?

I'm OK when it comes to my music
and being judged on that.

But when I feel like I'm being
judged on the way I look,

then I get, like, quite a lot
of self-confidence issues.

So, your insecurities all come out?
Yeah. I forgot who I am

She forgot
who she was for a moment.

Now she remembers again.

Competition's definitely ramping up
with the other team as well.

They said a few comments about how
we're going to look awkward

on camera and, like, they said
we'll look like a pair of penguins.

A pair of penguins.

The vibe has shifted.

They're trying to tear the rest
of the competition down.

Last to perform is music video
first-timer Mia.

You can go straight down and then,
from there, allow yourself to turn

and be inside of that world.

I don't think I can do it
as gracefully as that, but...

OK.

I feel a bit awkward. There's bright
lights on in a nightclub,

there's no music
and they're expecting me to dance.

OK. Here we go.

But I'm going to embrace who I am
as an artist,

bring my confident side out,
because even though I'm quite

a shy person naturally,

when it comes to things
like sh**ting videos or TikToks

or music videos, I feel like
a different person.

Let's go!

# I was biting my tongue

# I was trying to hide... #

Three friends in a bar concept,
it is very vague,

but they're shining
through their performances.

# Can you see me?
I'm shining... #

Today Mia came through with
this...just this womanly wiles

and just... It was honestly
incredible.

Mia is, to me, the biggest star
here.

Whoa! What's that...?!

Let me tell you.

Throughout her performance,
she excelled inside of everything

that I gave her,
and I was like, "Wow."

Well, let me get back.
Let me get back in here.

I got to do this last little dance.
For sure.

Doing your
Got you all the time.

Overall, it's going to be
hard for y'all to decide.

All right!

Cool.
It's the last scene of the day

and the artists have got half an
hour to finish their music videos.

Ultimately, tomorrow,
someone is going home.

I'm going to make sure it's not me
and I'm also going to try and make

sure it's not Emelle because I don't
think she deserves to go yet either.

I hope I brought enough.
I really do believe.

I feel like... I feel like
I've been pushed today.

I feel like I've really got to just,
like, show my true colours

and who I am as an artist.

Obviously, we know someone's going
home. Someone's getting dropped.

I would hate for it to be someone
in my group.

If I had to guess, I couldn't.

And that's a wrap!

You guys haven't seen it yet,

but when you see what this b*tch
was doing up on the bar...

I've heard about it.

The woman came out of her.

Why, hello there, kids!

Back at Icon Studios, the artists
are waiting to show their videos

and find out who has performed well
in the eyes of the judges.

You think the competition's
ramping up now?

Yeah.

One of yous will be dropped today.

To go out on a challenge
Yeah.

To be honest, if I went home
on this challenge, I feel

like it would really annoy me
because this challenge

didn't represent me as an artist.

Everyone's in a similar
kind of boat.

Like, I didn't even know the two
damn songs.

As much as people can say X, Y and Z
and talk a whole bunch of crap,

it's like a lot of excuses.

The artists head upstairs
to watch their videos in front of

the judges AND a special guest.

I can't tell you guys how excited
I am to see what music video

And we're not
the only ones who can't wait

to see your music videos.

Blimey!

Olly Alexander is in the building
and he is going

to be watching our videos.

I cannot wait to see what you've all
brought to the songs.

And, yeah, I can't wait to watch.

These are Olly's songs and I can
imagine they're going to be quite

precious to him, so they'd better
not f*ck it up.

So, Emelle, Dylan, you worked
on Olly's track King.

Tell me your creative
vision behind the video.

We were under control of this job
that we really don't like,

when really what we
want to be is icons.

I cannot wait to see this.

Hopefully, it lives up!

# I caught you watching me
under the light

# Can I realign?

# All that I've compromised

# To feel another high

# I've got to keep it down tonight

# Oh, oh, oh

# I was a king under your control

# And, oh, oh, oh

# I want to feel like you let me go

# So let me go

# Let go, let go

# Let go of everything

# Let go, let go

# Let go of everything

# Let go, let go

# Let go of everything. #

Yay!

Oh, yes!

Olly, what did you think?
I'm so impressed.

I got the concept.
I got the story.

Got this idea that you're both
breaking free.

Thank you.

I think I wanted a little bit
more seriousness to it.

I also wanted more of the kind of,
like, shiny pop-star stuff

against the juxtaposition
of you guys working in a bar.

I thought the choreography
was just enough. Dylan,

you having the shirt open,
you know I like to do that, too,

like, it was a whole vibe. Emelle,
I thought you looked beautiful.

I don't...I don't think that you
should be worried about anything

cos you looked fantastic on screen.
Thank you.

I know, you know, choreography,
dance and movement,

you know, that's not a strength
OK.

Frank, he didn't like the music
video, but, like, that was a massive

hurdle for me to overcome,
like, body-image wise.

I'm not shocked. I'm genuinely not
shocked, but their video was dead.

Like, no disrespect.
They looked awkward as f*ck.

I'm just being real.

You guys created a music video
for Olly's song Shine.

So, tell me your concepts
around what you created.

Just a good night out
with your friends and we kind of

each have our own little thing
Let's watch it.

# I remember us alone

# Waiting for the light to go

# Don't you feel that hunger?

# I've got so many secrets to show

# When I saw you on that stage

# I shiver with the look you gave

# Don't you hear that rhythm?

# Can you show me how we can escape?

# Ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh

# Ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh

# I'll forget what I've done

# I will be redefined... #

Yes!

# It's shaking the sky

# And I'm following lightning

# I'll recover if you keep me alive

# I'm holding it all tonight

# Unfolding it all tonight

# You know that you make it shine

# It's you that I've been
waiting to find. #

I loved it. I loved it.

I really felt like I was getting
bits of your personality.

I wanted to be there at the bar
with you.

You were really giving it, so, yeah,
I just... I really enjoyed it.

So, I thought all three
of you looked great on camera.

I thought, Nnenna, you looked
elegant. I loved the movement.

I thought, Barry, your personality
shined. And, Mia, I guess you were

pretty upset that you were in
the bottom two last time

cos you came out here on fire.

I definitely took your feedback
Oh, man.

The camera loves you, Mia.

You made that bar look like it was
the best bar on the planet.

I thought you looked like a star.

Nnenna, when you came on, I was
like,

"Yes! I want to go clubbing
with HER."

Barry, these eyes to camera
I thought was amazing.

Well done, guys.
I thought you did great.

The other group's video looked like
Mia's music video with two backing

dancers at the end of the day,
like...

So, we are past the halfway point
and you guys all need to understand

we will take all of the challenges
into consideration as determine

who will be in the bottom two.

While the judges deliberate,

the artists wait in anticipation.

Jason said you were beautiful.

Jason said I was beautiful!

It was a big moment for me
yesterday.

Jason up there being like, you know,
"I have my shirt open in videos."

Like, I love that he said that
because it's so easy for him

to have done that all of his life.

He wouldn't have to think
twice about it.

And it wasn't like that for me, man.
Like...

..I thought a f*cking thousand
times about it. All the time.

All the time.

You smashed it. I'm so proud of you.

Now, we have to figure out who's
going to be in the bottom two.

I feel like Dylan has still
some of my favourite moments

when he's doing his own stuff.

Barry, he's had some pretty decent
up moments, so for me, he's safe.

Mia was in our bottom two
Yeah.

And I would say that she's the best
in this challenge here.

Emelle, she had a moment, but I feel
like, on this challenge

specifically, she struggled.

She's incredibly
under-confident

for where she needs to be.

She needs to work out who she is,
right?

I really don't envy you guys.
It's a tough choice.

With Olly gone, it's time for
the judges to reveal

who's in the bottom two.

This has been one of the toughest
deliberations that we've ever had,

and each one of you are
super talented.

That being said...

..we've decided our bottom two.

So, the first person in danger
of being dropped

from Project Icon is...

..Emelle.

Babe, you did so well,
given your insecurities.

I think when we take the guitar away
from you, we lose you as an artist,

so you need to show us
who that artist is.

My fear with Emelle is,
take away that guitar

and I'm not sure that you still see
a superstar.

The second person in our bottom two
is...

..Dylan.

So, Dylan, you were my favourite
after our first challenge

and so I need to see that spark
that we saw

in you from the very beginning.

Yeah, I understand that.

My boy Dylan got to step up.

He got to show us that magic
that he showed us in the beginning,

so that we know exactly
why he's here.

I'm confused.

I feel like, other than the O2,
where I was safe,

I feel like I've had good comments
every week.

And then, like,
I was top last week.

I'm confused that you took
everything into account

and I'm still in the bottom,
when there's some people

that have, like, coasted.
Well, there's, like...

..some people haven't got, like...
..the highs. Some people

Is that coasted?

The word coasting,
it rubbed me up the wrong way

and the fact that she wasn't even
saying anybody's name but looking

in my direction and doing it
in front of the judges, she tried

to throw me under the bus.

Nnenna had one moment at the O2
where they said she was good.

I mean, she should just be thankful
she's here.

Emelle, you've had one very high,
but you won the last challenge

and you've had more lows,

and that's where you fall
into the bottom.

So, Dylan, Emelle...

..please prepare for what could be
your last performance

on Project Icon.

I think that the most horrific part
of this whole bottom two

is that it is with Dylan.

I honestly would have rather
have gone up against anyone else.

So, yeah, it was a really
difficult one.

But I'm not going to dim down
my performance to save him.

As much as I might like people here,

you know, they are my competition,
at the end of the day,

and you've got to keep your eye
on the prize.

So, in the video, they struggled
without their guitars.

Now they have their guitars back,

they'd better blow me way away
with their performances

cos this is their comfort zone.

I feel like just being here,
being me, in this space,

is what's really special.

But, yeah, winning would absolutely
be the cherry on that,

that very, very nice, tasty cake.

Hi.

Can you tell us
what you're performing for us?

I'm going to do Youngblood
by 5 Seconds of Summer.

I want to show you that I can take
this song that is really pop

and make it me.

Emelle...it's showtime.

# Remember the words you told me

# You love me till the day I die

# You push and you push
and I'm pulling away

# Pulling away from you

# I give and I give and I give
and you take

# Give and you take

# Youngblood

# Say you want me
Say you want me out of your life

# And I'm just a dead man
walking tonight... #

I'm actually shocked at the idea
of one of them two going home...

..cos I saw both of them
Me too.

Well, I'm rooting for Dylan anyway,
so...

# Cos I need it, yeah, I need it
all of the time

# Yeah, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh

# Say you want me, say you want me

# Back in your life. #

All right.

All right. Thanks, Emelle.

I'm really proud of myself

and I think, no matter what happens
now, I can walk away

with my head held high.

I don't want to leave, so giving
the judges a great performance

from me is the most important thing.

What have you decided to perform
for us tonight?

I've chosen to perform a song called
All I Need To Hear by The 1975.

I've chosen that because I feel like
the only thing I haven't given you

so far is some emotion.

Thank you.

# I get out my records

# When you go away

# Cos it all means nothing

# My dear

# If I can't be holding you near

# Just tell me you love me

# Cos that's all that
I need to hear... #

I'm least confident about my voice
competing with other singers

because I know that it isn't
the strongest.

# So I don't care if
you're insincere

# Just tell me what I want to hear

# You know how to find me

# The place that we lived
all these years

# Yeah

# Just tell me you love me

# Cos that's all that
I need to hear. #

Wow.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right, Dylan, we appreciate
that. Thanks, buddy.

Thank you, Dylan.

Nothing is the same as when you're
truly performing and, like,

feeling the song.
It just felt so, like, transcendent.

Now the judges must decide
which artist is getting dropped.

Dylan is...is great.
I thought that was beautiful.

I thought that was an incredible
I thought the singing

You know, vocally,
it was a six, seven for me.

He was really telling me a story.

He emoted those lyrics
like no other.

Emelle did sound great.
She didn't miss a note.

I think that was
a great song choice. I really do.

I mean, she took a risk.

We've put them both in a situation
where it's been very uncertain

and they didn't necessarily adapt.

Time for the judges to tell Emelle
or Dylan who is going home.

Dylan, I felt like you really
spoke to me

and so I thought your performance
tonight was spot-on

and it's what I expected
from you from the very beginning.

Emelle, the performance
that you put on today was

a very good performance that I feel
like spoke to

who you are as an artist.

Someone needs to be dropped
from Project Icon...

..and that person is...

..Emelle.

I just want to thank you guys
so much for this opportunity

and I've genuinely, like,
met a friend for life.

I'm really proud of you.
That's awesome. I love that.

Sorry. I'm not crying cos I'm sad.

Like, I'm really thankful
for the whole situation.

It isn't going to take long,
but you just need to have

a bit more of a journey
before you can arrive.

It's been a pleasure having you
on Project Icon, Emelle.

You may get your mic and head home.

That is not the end for me.

There's more for me out there
and this is just the beginning.

Dylan, in every single challenge,
we always want to see you.

What we saw today is what we need
to see every single time.

Congratulations.

You've made it through
to the semifinals of Project Icon.

Thank you very much.

Emelle has gone. Now in the running
for the record deal, four remain.

The semi-effing-finals.

It's great. Like, I'm pumped.

I've been ignited to sort of, like,
power through and see it all the way

through to the end. Why not?

With the semis in sight, I've got
a surprise for our artists.

Now, you know we do love a bit
of a twist on Project Icon.

My stomach just
Please don't!

For the next challenge,
you're going to be coming

to my house.

You're going to be taking over
Radio 1.

Love that!

Also, you're going to be doing
a Live Lounge performance.

Oh, my days.

Next time...

Oh, this is so exciting.
Radio 1, baby.

..on the semifinals of
Project Icon...

I'm going to be real.
I'm a silent k*ller.

This is really bad.

..going live on radio...

Welcome to the Live Lounge!

A lot of pressure here.
I hated what he did with the vocals.

He also forgot the lyrics.
Oh, dear. Oh, dear.

..and one artist fails
to make the final.

One of you has to be dropped...

..and that person is...