SISTERS are doing it for themselves! We've had a number of new boy bands -- think Triple Eight, D-Side and One True Voice -- and it's now time to let the girls take centre stage.

On one side, there is Tommi. The London-based urban girl crew comprises of five funkily-named individuals -- there's Stylus, 22, the bona fide pirate DJ, Peekaboo, 19, the Scottish rapper with unhinged rhyming skills, Lil Chill, 19, the merry prankster, Bambi, 18, the gold jewellery clad Bling Bling girl, and Mi Thang, 23, the Queen styler.

Forget skimpy outfits and sexy struts, the Tommi girls are all tomboys and proud of it. They got together after meeting their producer BJ (who has also worked with Big Brovaz and Beverly Knight) by chance with Stylus, the group's resident scratch DJ, being the first and the doe-eyed Bambi being the final member.

Stylus explains: "I got introduced to BJ at a club because my friend had told him I was a DJ. I'd been thrown out of my flat the night before and was homeless, and I think it kind of intrigued him. He called me up a couple of days later. I loved his ideas and we went from there."

As soon as the group was complete, the girls went into the studio to record some tracks with a view to coming up with a totally fresh, new Tommi sound. After spending time together with each other, they soon discovered their musical style.

"We're all very different but we've all got a common interest, which is the kind of music we like," said Peekaboo.

Bambi adds: "Our style came really naturally to us. Luckily we were found by someone who wanted us to be real, and that shows in our music."

Their debut album is due for release later this year, and the girls describe it as being unique.

"The album has got loads of different sounds on it. It's got a couple of slower tunes, and there are loads of issues which we've dealt with like homelessness and safe sex," continues Peekaboo.

On the other side, it's four-piece girl band Dragonheart.

Unlike Tommi, Cardiff-born and bred Niki, Tara, Vicci (all 15) and Casey (16) got together with a little help from ex-footballer and TV host Ian Wright and a very devoted dad. They won the opportunity of a lifetime when Niki's father appeared on Ian Wright's BBC1 TV show, I'd Do Anything. He was successful in completing a challenge to make Niki's dream of making a pop video come true -- and soon, the dream became a reality.

Reaction to the song and video was so positive that the decision was made to release the single, Hey Mr Radio, and the girls' dreams of pop stardom seems to be coming true. They have already been invited to perform with chart-topping bands Blue, Atomic Kitten and Liberty X -- all of whom they met on Wright's show.

Ian Wright wishes them all the best: "It's great that the Dragonheart single is being released. The girls deserve it with all the hard work they put into it."

Tommi's first single, Like What, is out on June 16 while Hey Mr Radio is released on July 21. Dragonheart will also be appearing on I'd Do Anything on June 14.