The future was bright for girlband G.R.L. in September of last year. Their debut single Ugly Heart had just hit Europe's top ten, after a great start in the US and Australian charts too.

However when the news emerged that one of the band's five members, Simone Battle, had been found dead in her West Hollywood apartment, the group's remaining four members struggled to cope.

Now, almost a year on, the band have announced they are splitting for good.

"Nearly 9 months following the tragic death of band member Simone Battle, girl group G.R.L. announces today that they are disbanding," the girls' record label said in a statement via Billboard. "We wish them continued success in each of their next creative endeavours."

Simone's untimely death by suicide not only shook her bandmates Emmalyn Estrada, Lauren Bennett, Paula Van Oppen and Natasha Slayton, but the music industry as a whole.

Simon Cowell was just one of the many people who took to social media to pay tribute to the 25-year-old singer when news of her death emerged.

"I am so sad to hear about the news Simone Battle has passed away. She was such a fun nice person. It's such a loss. Rest in peace Simone," he wrote on Twitter at the time, having met Simone when she competed in the US X Factor in 2011.

Earlier this year, the band said they were determined to carry on making music out of respect for their late bandmate.

"I think it would be the wrong message for the band to give up now, especially to people who are suffering from something like this. You have to be strong and move forward no matter what happens in your life," Lauren Bennett told The Sun, adding that Simone's mum had given them her blessing to move on with their music.

Depsite their good intentions, G.R.L.'s most recent single, Lighthouse, did not live up to the commercial expectations set by Ugly Heart, and  peaked at number 59 in the Irish charts.

It's unclear why the band have split – or if it's even their choice – but we are certainly sad to see them go.