Bars and Melody, the British pop duo that captured hearts across the nation, has built an impressive career since their unforgettable Britain’s Got Talent audition. As of 2025, the pair—comprising Leondre Devries (“Bars”) and Charlie Lenehan (“Melody”)—accumulated an estimated combined net worth of £5 million throughout their active years.
Their success story spans music sales, touring revenue, YouTube earnings, and brand partnerships, making them one of the most recognisable acts to emerge from the BGT stage.
Who Are Bars and Melody?
Bars and Melody, commonly known as BAM, brought together two remarkably talented individuals whose paths crossed in the digital age. Leondre Antonio Devries, born October 6, 2000, in Port Talbot, Wales, discovered his gift for crafting compelling rap verses at just 10 years old. That early creative spark would eventually ignite a career that reached millions. Before finding fame, he performed solo under the stage name ‘Little Dre’, honing his skills and developing the distinctive style that would later define half of BAM’s sound.
Charlie Joe Lenehan-Green, born on October 27, 1998, in Frampton Cotterell, Gloucestershire, discovered his voice in music at the age of 11 when schoolmates invited him to join a band. His natural talent for harmonious vocals complemented Leondre’s rhythmic prowess perfectly. The two first connected through social media in September 2013, after Leondre stumbled across Charlie’s videos online. Their chemistry was immediate. By January 2014, they’d met in person and decided to form Bars and Melody.
Family Background
Leondre grew up in a large, creative family. His father, Antonio Devries, worked as a stonemason (though he later described himself as a music promoter), whilst his mother, Victoria Lee, built her career as a personal trainer.
He’s one of five siblings, sharing his childhood with three older brothers—Ben Lee, Jacob Lee, and Joseph Devries (also known as Joey)—and a younger sister, Matilda. Tragically, in December 2023, Leondre revealed on Instagram that his brother Jacob had passed away earlier that month.
Music runs in the family; Joey was part of the boy band Overload Generation, who competed in the eleventh series of The X Factor.
Charlie’s family includes his mother, Karen James, who works as a cook at Gillingstool and New Siblands schools in Thornbury, and his stepfather, a businessman. He has a younger sister named Brooke and grew up in England before eventually moving to London.
In June 2022, Charlie welcomed his daughter, Delilah, marking a new chapter in his personal life.
Britain’s Got Talent
Everything changed on February 8, 2014, when Bars and Melody auditioned in Manchester for the eighth series of Britain’s Got Talent. Their performance of “Hopeful”—a reimagined version of Twista and Faith Evans’ “Hope”—featured original verses written by Leondre addressing bullying and its devastating impact.
The heartfelt message resonated so powerfully that Simon Cowell pressed the golden buzzer, sending them straight through to the live semifinals without having to face further preliminary rounds.
Their BGT performance captivated the nation. Before the semifinals even aired, the duo appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in the United States. In their semi-final performance on May 29, they delivered an emotional rendition of Puff Daddy and Faith Evans’ “I’ll Be Missing You”, complete with new verses about losing a friend.
The audience waved candles during the performance, creating an unforgettable moment. They won their semi-final convincingly and progressed to the final, where they finished third behind Lucy Kay and the winner Collabro.
According to Billboard magazine, their audition video ranked sixth in the top ten trending videos of 2014. Pretty impressive for two teenagers who’d only just met months earlier.
Record Deal and Early Success
Despite not winning BGT, Bars and Melody’s talent didn’t go unnoticed. Simon Cowell signed them to a £500,000 record deal with his label, Syco Music, launching their professional career. Their debut single, “Hopeful”, was released in July 2014 and immediately shot straight to number five on the UK Singles Chart, achieving platinum certification. The music video, released on YouTube on July 7, 2014, garnered millions of views and introduced them to a global audience.
To promote “Hopeful”, the duo appeared on major television programmes including Good Morning Britain, This Morning, and The Official Chart on BBC Radio 1. They also participated in their first HMV signing tour, meeting fans face-to-face and building the dedicated community they’d affectionately call “Bambinos” (or the “Bamfam”).
Bars and Melody didn’t rest on their initial success. They followed “Hopeful” with a string of singles:
- “Keep Smiling” (February 28, 2015) peaked at number 52 on the Official Charts
- “Stay Strong” (April 18, 2015) reached number 53, with physical CDs featuring individual images of each member
- “Beautiful” (June 2015) continued their streak with another top 40 hit
Their debut album, “143”, was released on August 21, 2015, and debuted at number four on the UK Albums Chart. The record featured their previous singles alongside new material.
To support the album, they embarked on extensive tours across the UK, the Netherlands, and Poland, where “143” achieved platinum status.
The duo released several more albums throughout their career:
- “Teen Spirit” (August 2016) marked their second major release under Syco
- “Generation Z” (September 1, 2017) featured standout tracks like “Thousand Years”, “Fast Car”, and “Not A Love Song”
- “Sadboi” (March 27, 2020) arrived on Universal Music, with a more mature sound, with tracks including “Love to See Me Fail”, “Waiting for the Sun”, and “Lighthouse”
- “Carpe Diem” (January 15, 2021) signalled a shift in their musical direction, featuring songs like “Own Ways”, “Santorini”, “Oriental”, and “Russian Model”
Their Japanese fan base prompted special releases, including “Hopeful” (August 2016) and “Never Give Up” (February 2017), which were distributed by Avex Music Creative specifically for Asian markets.
Songs and Performances
Several tracks became defining moments in BAM’s career:
“Hopeful” remains their signature song, the track that launched everything. Its anti-bullying message continues to resonate with young people worldwide.
“Thousand Years” (released May 27, 2017) has garnered over 28 million YouTube views.
“Waiting for the Sun” (July 26, 2019) showed their evolution as artists and songwriters.
They also contributed to anime culture, performing the third ending theme “Unite (Live Forever)” for Future Card Buddyfight Triple D, and collaborated with German YouTubers Die Lochis on “Killa” (released on September 13, 2019).
Television and Media Appearances
Beyond music, Bars and Melody expanded their presence across various media platforms. They participated in the CBBC film “Up All Night,” connected to Friday Download, made red-carpet appearances at industry events, and appeared on BBC’s Newsround during a week-long series about bullying in February 2015.
Their talent earned them return invitations to the Got Talent franchise. In late August 2019, they competed on Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions, performing “Waiting for the Sun” in the fifth week. They advanced through the audience vote to the final, where they performed “Lighthouse”. On January 27, 2020, they appeared on America’s Got Talent: The Champions, introducing their music to an entirely new American audience.
Awards and Recognition
The duo’s impact earned them several accolades throughout their career:
- 2014: Simon Cowell’s golden buzzer on Britain’s Got Talent
- 2015: “Best British Single” for “Hopeful” at the BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards
- 2016: Nomination for “Best British Breakthrough Act” at the Brit Awards
- 2018: “Best Music Video” award at the International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema for “Love to See Me Fail”
- YMA Best British Duo award (year unspecified in sources)
In 2016, they became ambassadors for the Anti-Bullying Charity campaign, using their platform to advocate for causes they genuinely care about.
Tours and International Success
Bars and Melody performed across Europe extensively, including:
- UK tours supporting their albums (summer and winter 2015, spring 2017, 2019’s Choke Tour, and the Lighthouse Tour from October to November 2019)
- A five-city UK tour with X Factor contestant Kiera Weathers in early 2016
- Opening for dance troupe Diversity across ten UK cities in April 2017
- A 13-city tour across Austria, Germany, and Switzerland in late 2016, opening for German teen singer Lukas Rieger
- Multiple shows in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka, Japan (December 2018 and January 2020)
- The Generation Z Tour across Europe in early 2018
- Their planned Sadboi World Tour (2020), which was postponed and cancelled due to COVID-19
Personal Relationships
Leondre Devries has had several public relationships. He previously dated Carla Broker (2018) and Eloise Lindsay (from 2015). According to recent information, he has been single, focusing on his music and personal growth.
Charlie Lenehan began dating Instagram star Ana Lisa in 2018, following his relationship with Chloe Lindsay. His life took a beautiful turn in June 2022 when he became a father to his daughter, Delilah.
Legal Challenges
The duo faced controversy in March 2016 when Leondre’s father, Antonio Devries, threatened legal action against them. He claimed authorship of “Hopeful”, citing personal troubles as his inspiration, and expressed concerns about the boys’ management, believing they were overworked and straying from their anti-bullying message. He temporarily took control of the duo’s social media accounts, posting music from his son, Joey, and other artists he represented, until management regained access.
The management team firmly stated that Bars and Melody wrote “Hopeful” themselves. A spokesperson confirmed the boys were happy with their career trajectory and management, feeling neither exploited nor overworked. The duo’s official statement expressed hope the matter would be “resolved quickly and amicably”, and Antonio clarified he had no issues with Bars and Melody personally, only with their management team.
End of Bars and Melody
In July 2024, Bars and Melody made the bittersweet announcement that they would part ways as a duo following a farewell tour. On March 14, 2025, they performed their final concert together at VooDoo Club in Warsaw, Poland. The date held special significance—14.03 referenced their debut album “143”—creating a poetic full-circle moment for both the duo and their devoted Bambinos. After over a decade of making music together, two boys who met on Facebook had given their fans one last unforgettable performance.
Bars and Melody Net Worth
Beyond record sales and touring, they capitalised on digital platforms, particularly their successful YouTube channel, where they uploaded music videos and connected with fans. Sponsorships, merchandise sales through their official website, and brand partnerships contributed to their estimated £5 million combined net worth.
The duo also established Bars and Melody Limited (Company number 09051806), with both Leondre and Charlie serving as directors from 6 April 2017.
