Everything happens for a reason. Just ask the members of Eden's Crush. Less than a year ago, five talented vocalists from distant points in the U.S. were doing their own thing, chasing their dreams, when they decided to audition for a new reality series on The WB Network called "Popstars." A few months and several high-pressure and tear-filled auditions later, fate threw them together - with a national television audience watching their every step.

Yet that was only the beginning for the five chosen ones. Ana Maria Lombo, Maile Misajon, Nicole Scherzinger, Ivette Sosa, and Rosanna Tavarez were now a group. But the quintet barely had time to unpack their belongings in their shared Los Angeles-area home before they were dispatched into the recording studio to cut their debut album, Popstars.

The disc is out in May 2001 on London-Sire/143 Records, (both Warner Music Group companies). Despite a razor's-edge deadline of only a few months, the women rose to the occasion, emerging with a collection of state-of-the-art R&B-infused pop songs that soar with the kind of assurance, grace, and attitude many vocal groups can only hope to achieve after several years, let alone months.

As they say, that which does not kill you makes you stronger, and the group made a pact early on to face their adversity together. It proved a wise decision, as each member, a talented solo vocalist in her own right, shifted unselfishly into a group mindset. The young women found strength in unity, which helped them get through the stressful recording process. "We all pulled together. It won't succeed if you don't think it's a group, and we knew that," says Maile, 24, a Long Beach, California, native. Adds Nicole, 22, who has group experience singing with rockers Days of the New: "When it's a group, it's important to be a team player."

Eden's Crush is a group in the truest sense, with each member given a chance to shine vocally. "A lot of groups just have one or two lead singers," Maile says. "We thought, 'why does it have to be that way for us?' We all feel that we're strong singers and that we have something to contribute. Why not make it a five-part effort?"

That five-part effort is heard loud and clear on Popstars. Though time was tight in the studio, the group was shepherded by a veritable all-star team of writers and producers, including, David Foster, Matthew Gerrard, and the team of ChakDaddy, SoL Survivor and E. Dawk. "We worked with a different producer on every song," says 22-year-old Ana Maria, born in Colombia but more recently a resident of Scottsdale, Arizona. "It was difficult not knowing in advance what that producers were looking for or how they work exactly. We had to adjust to that and it was a challenge. At the same time we were trying to learn about ourselves in the studio."

In spite of the learning curve and the variety of creative cooks in the kitchen, Popstars sounds remarkably cohesive, each song showcasing an element of the group's vocal versatility. The first single, "Get Over Yourself," produced by Matthew Gerrard, exemplifies the all-for-one vibe. Like a professional relay team, Nicole, Ana Maria, and Maile swap leads, while soaring group harmonies provide an exclamation point at chorus' end. Sure, there are individual parts, but added up it equals an infectious, groove-driven whole. The sexy, in-your-face "You Know I Can," is another harmonic tour de force. Amid the frantic bounce of keyboards, the group explodes in harmony on the Riprock 'n' Alex G. production.

"Musically, we create a great blend," Ivette says. She, Rosanna, and Ana Maria all share lower harmonies, while Nicole and Maile handle the middle to high vocal range.

Elsewhere, "Let Me Know" features slinky, soulful, R&B, as they deliver an ultimatum to their man. "It Wasn't Me," with its spicy flamenco guitar and shimmering horns, nods to Ivette, Rosanna, and Ana Maria's Latin roots, while "Mil Palabras," the Spanish-language version of "1000 Words," is beautiful pop en Espaņol.

While there is no denying that Eden's Crush is oh, so 21st century, they also indulge in a candy-coated blast from the past, underlining the timeless quality of Sheila E's funk classic "Glamorous Life." Ivette was especially excited about recording the song, as it brought back some good-footin' memories. "Hello! I did a dance to Sheila E. in the 7th grade. I loved it," she says.

Though the songs on "Popstars" were written before the creation of Eden's Crush, they contain a common theme of strength and empowerment that fits the group like a glove. "We're all in our early 20s, we're all very strong and independent," explains Rosanna. "Anything that was too sweet, we were all like, no way. We're not bubblegum."

Still, the group does have a tender side, which explains their fondness for "Love This Way," the album's one full-on ballad. It's a gentle, unabashedly romantic fairy tale, sung with sweet passion and vulnerability. Nicole, whose background includes musical theater, finds special emotional resonance in the Trina Harman / Franne Golde / Kasia Livingston tune that was produced by Gerrard and David Foster. "I've always been taught that you don't sing a song unless you connect with it, and I could really relate to 'Love This Way,'" she says.

Ana Maria prefers the edgier songs on Popstars, such as "I Wanna Be Free," "Let Me Know," and "Good 4 the Goose," because it gives the mild-mannered singer a chance to act out. "I've always liked songs with a lot of attitude, even though I'm not like that in real life," she says.

Their stylistic hop-scotching isn't surprising, judging by the artists blaring from the CD players in their home. The eclectic list includes Whitney Houston, No Doubt, Coldplay, Bjork, Madonna, Bette Midler, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holliday, Pat Benatar, Roberta Flack, Stevie Wonder, Moby, Jeff Buckley, and Guided By Voices.

And when it came to choosing a name, the women sought something that embodied the yin and yang of their musical personality. "We wanted something feminine and something strong," says Rosanna. However, it wasn't an easy process. After nixing monikers such as Bella and Crash, they combined Eden with Crush, suggestions they had come up with separately.

When Eden's Crush was decided, no one knew it was actually a type of flower. "It's true, but we were looking at flowers for names," Maile says. "We talked about names of exotic flowers but nothing sounded right."

The litmus test was how the name flowed in conversation or out of a deejay's mouth. Ana Maria gives an example: "We can't wait to go to the Eden's Crush concert. We heard they were really cool."

True. What's also cool is that, unlike some other made-for-television groups to whom they've been compared, the women got creative control over their name. Still, the members of Eden's Crush are pleased with comparisons to the prefab four. "Whenever people talk about us, the first thing they associate us to is the Monkees," Maile says.

"That they compare us to the Monkees is such a wonderful compliment," adds Rosanna. "I think that's cool. I love Mickey Dolenz."

Hey, hey, they're Eden's Crush. Kind of has a ring to it, don't you think?