Shontelle

Last updated

Shontelle
Shontelle 1 2010.jpg
Shontelle in 2010
Background information
Birth nameShontelle Delia Layne [1]
Born (1985-10-04) 4 October 1985 (age 38)
Saint James, Barbados
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active2008–present
Labels
Website shontelleonline.com

Shontelle Delia Layne (born 4 October 1985), [3] known mononymously as Shontelle, is a Barbadian singer and songwriter. She released her debut album Shontelligence in 2008. Her second album, No Gravity , was released in 2010. Her singles "T-Shirt" and "Impossible" achieved international success. In 2020, Shontelle released "Remember Me".

Contents

Career

2008–2009: Shontelligence

Shontelle began work on her debut studio album in early 2008, and completed the album in six months. The album's title was given to her by the album's engineer who used the word "shontelligence" as a joke after Shontelle and her producers were playing a game that involved making up words from her name. [4] "T-Shirt", Shontelle's debut single, was released in July 2008 and reached number thirty-six on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming a moderate hit. However, it peaked within the top ten of the charts in Belgium and the United Kingdom. [4]

Shontelle's debut album, Shontelligence , was released on 18 November 2008. The album reached number 115 on the US Billboard 200, [5] selling 6,200 records in its first week, [6] and reached number twenty-four on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. [5] It was re-released on 10 March 2009, and has since sold 30,000 records in the US. [6]

The second single from the album, "Stuck with Each Other", featuring Akon, was released in February 2009 in the US and May 2009 in the UK. The single failed to chart in the US, but reached number 23 in the United Kingdom. Shontelle toured as a supporting act for the UK leg of the New Kids on the Block World Tour in January 2009. Shontelle was also Beyoncé's opening act for her I Am... World Tour from May to June 2009 during the British leg. [7] Shontelle Also began writing songs for many artists in Barbados including the 2007 crop over hit Roll It Gyal for the Queen of Soca Alison Hinds and the 2018 crop over hit Winners for Shanta Prince. Shontelle was also the host of My Prom Style! and Universal Motown's 2009 Ultimate Prom fashion reality series. She performed at a high school prom in New York City in June 2009, but first she led three students in a competition to design the dress that singer Kat DeLuna, the headliner, would wear at the Ultimate Prom concert. [8] Shontelle As of 2012, Shontelligence has sold 50,000 copies in the US.

2009–2010: No Gravity

Shontelle performing in 2008 Shontelle 2008-12-16 AdamBielawski.jpg
Shontelle performing in 2008

Shontelle's second album, No Gravity , was released in the US on 21 September 2010. [9] Shontelle stated that the album would be experimental and that she wanted to change her original sound for the record. [10] While the title 'No Gravity' symbolises a mantra, she stated that she has adapted to her life and to her career, to motivate herself to keep climbing higher and to have nothing hold her down or hold her back. [11] Shontelle collaborated with Bruno Mars, Tony Kanal and Darkchild among others for the record. [12] In the first week of release, No Gravity placed at number eighty-one on the Billboard 200, selling 7,000 copies. [13] Later that year Shontelle would co-write Rihanna's song "Man Down" from her fifth studio album, Loud (2010). [14] The two had met in the army cadets, where Shontelle was Rihanna's drill sergeant. [15]

The lead single from the album, "Impossible", was released in February 2010 for digital download, but failed to garner success until May of that year, when it debuted on the Billboard Hot 100. It has since become her most successful single to date, reaching number thirteen on the Billboard Hot 100. [16] The second single from the album, "Perfect Nightmare", was released in August 2010. "Say Hello to Goodbye" was sent to pop radio on 15 March 2011, as the third single. [17] Both failed to chart on the Hot 100, but did make it onto the Pop songs chart. No Gravity has sold an estimated 150,000 copies in the US as of 2012.

2011–present: Move to Republic Records and upcoming third studio album

Shontelle played at GUMBO @ The Canal Room in New York City on 15 July 2011, where she revealed news about an upcoming single and third studio album. It was also revealed that she had departed from Universal Motown and had joined Universal Republic. The lead single from the upcoming album is called "Reflection" and it premiered on SoundCloud in September 2011. Songs from the album were expected to be previewed at Shontelle's birthday bash. Amongst those confirmed to be working on the album were Rockwilder, Tony Kanal, and The Runners. [18] A restructure at Universal Music Group meant that Motown Records was separated from Universal Motown Republic Group and merged with The Island Def Jam Music Group. Universal Republic was shut down and all of the artists on the label were transferred to the newly revived Republic Records. Shontelle is now recording for Republic Records. [19] In December 2012, Shontelle confirmed that "Put Me on Blast" would be the lead single from her upcoming third studio album, and that she had already filmed the music video for the single in Los Angeles. Her third album was scheduled for release in 2013, but never materialized, and no future dates have been announced. [20]

On 4 November 2017, she performed and was a guest judge in Miss Earth 2017 held in Manila. In 2021, Shontelle will co-star in the Amazon Prime film Joseph and also signed with Shakir Entertainment Management in New York City for television and film.

On 14 March 2020, Shontelle released her promo single "Remember Me" as an introduction into her new era. On 9 April 2021, Shontelle collaborated on the single "Let You Go" with Supasoaka and Arpad.

On 29 October 2021, Shontelle released the lead single "Sanctify" off her upcoming untilted EP. On 14 January 2022, Shontelle released the single "Be the One" as the second single from the EP. Shontelle released the promotional single "No More" as the Metheors Theme Song, on 14 March 2022. On 27 May 2022, Shontelle released her EP titled "Boomerang" which includes the new songs "Boomerang" and "Live It Up" as well as remixes and acoustic mixes.

Philanthropy

Shontelle is also known for her involvement in charity work. She used her talent to help raise funds for patients with Alzheimer's through the Together for Care concert, [21] girl's education for She's the First, [22] VH1 Save the Music Foundation, [23] and breast cancer research charities. [24]

Discography

Studio albums

Tours

Other performances

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rihanna</span> Barbadian singer, actress, and ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary (born 1988)

Robyn Rihanna Fenty is a Barbadian singer, businesswoman, actress, and songwriter. She is widely regarded as one of the most prominent recording artists of the 21st century. Signed with Def Jam Recordings in 2005, she gained mainstream recognition following the release of her first two studio albums, Music of the Sun (2005) and A Girl Like Me (2006), influenced by Caribbean music, both peaking in the top ten on the US Billboard 200 chart. Her third album, Good Girl Gone Bad (2007), incorporated elements of dance-pop and established her as a major icon in the music industry. Its lead single, "Umbrella" peaked the US Billboard Hot 100, won her first Grammy Award, and ushered her into global stardom.

<i>A Girl Like Me</i> (Rihanna album) 2006 studio album by Rihanna

A Girl Like Me is the second studio album by Barbadian singer Rihanna. It was released on April 10, 2006, by Def Jam Recordings. For the production of the album, Rihanna worked with Evan Rogers, Carl Sturken, Stargate, J. R. Rotem, and label-mate Ne-Yo, who wrote the album's second single. A Girl Like Me is a pop and reggae album influenced by Rihanna's Caribbean roots. The album also incorporates elements of dancehall and rock, as well as ballads, which music critics were ambivalent towards.

SRC was an American record label created by former Loud Records CEO Steve Rifkind. It was a subsidiary of Universal Music Group and was distributed through Republic Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roll It Gal</span>

"Roll It Gal" is a song written by Shontelle Layne and Sheldon Benjamin, and originally recorded by soca singer Alison Hinds, taken from her debut album Soca Queen. The single was released by Hinds in 2005 in Barbados and in the United Kingdom in 2007. A music video was produced for Hinds' version of the song in 2005. The Hinds version of "Roll It Gal" shot to the top of the charts in Barbados, Trinidad and throughout the Caribbean. The song contains a sample of Benjamin's "Big Love".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chrisette Michele</span> American singer from New York

Chrisette Michele Payne is an American R&B and soul singer. She won a Grammy Award for Best Urban/Alternative Performance in 2009 for her song "Be OK".

Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers are New York–based songwriters and record producers. They have produced hits for Ruben Studdard, Wild Orchid, Christina Aguilera and Evelyn Champagne King and helped build the career of Rihanna. In addition to being principals of Rihanna's production company SRP Music Group, they have achieved more than twenty top 40 hits, twelve top 5 hits and six BMI Awards. Their songs have sold more than 60 million albums around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kat DeLuna</span> American singer

Kathleen Emperatriz DeLuna is an American singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disturbia (song)</span> 2008 single by Rihanna

"Disturbia" is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna for Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded (2008), a re-release of her third studio album Good Girl Gone Bad (2007). It was written by Andre Merritt, Chris Brown, Brian Kennedy and Rob. A!, with the production of the song helmed by Kennedy. The song was released as the third single from the reloaded edition of the album, and seventh overall. "Disturbia" was sent to US contemporary hit radio on June 17, 2008, and was released as a CD single in the United Kingdom on July 22, 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T-Shirt (Shontelle song)</span> 2008 single by Shontelle

"T-Shirt" is the first solo single released by Barbadian singer Shontelle from her album Shontelligence (2008). It is her second official single following the release of 2007's "Roll It" which was released only in select European countries. A remix, featuring The-Dream, is included on her second album, No Gravity (2010). The single peaked at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and number 41 on the Canadian Hot 100 in Canada. Outside of North America, "T-Shirt" peaked within the top ten of the charts in Belgium and the United Kingdom. In the latter country, "T-Shirt" was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry.

<i>Shontelligence</i> 2008 studio album by Shontelle

Shontelligence is the debut studio album of Barbadian R&B/pop singer Shontelle. It was released on November 18, 2008. The album was re-released featuring the new single "Stuck with Each Other", on March 10, 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuck with Each Other</span> 2009 single by Shontelle

"Stuck with Each Other" is the second solo single released by Barbadian singer Shontelle. It was released to radio in the United States on February 10, 2009, and May 21, 2009 as a single in the United Kingdom. It features R&B singer Akon and is the first single from the re-release of her debut album, Shontelligence. It is also featured on the Confessions of a Shopaholic soundtrack. The song was the second single from Shontelligence in the UK, being added to BBC Radio 1's C-list playlist on April 22, 2009, and has since reached the B-List. "Stuck with Each Other" also reached the A-List of BBC Radio 2's playlist. It became her second top 30 hit in the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shontelle discography</span>

The discography of Barbadian R&B and pop singer Shontelle contains two studio albums, five singles and ten music videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hard (song)</span> 2009 single by Rihanna

"Hard" is a song by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna from her fourth studio album, Rated R (2009). The song features a guest verse from American rapper Young Jeezy, credited only as "Jeezy" on the album. The artists co-wrote the song with its producers, The-Dream and Tricky Stewart. "Hard" was sent to radio by Def Jam Recordings on November 10, 2009, as the second United States single from Rated R. It is a hip hop song and features military horns, hissing synthesizers, sharp beats and piano chords.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Impossible (Shontelle song)</span> 2010 single by Shontelle

"Impossible" is a song by Barbadian singer Shontelle. It is the lead single from her second studio album, No Gravity (2010). The song was written by Arnthor Birgisson and Ina Wroldsen, and produced by Birgisson. It was released digitally on February 9, 2010. "Impossible" peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, number 33 in Canada, number nine in the United Kingdom and number five in Denmark.

<i>No Gravity</i> (Shontelle album) 2010 studio album by Shontelle

No Gravity is the second and most recent studio album by Barbadian recording artist Shontelle, released on September 21, 2010 by SRC Records in the United States. The album was later released on October 18, 2010 in the United Kingdom. Initially scheduled for an August 2010 release the album had been in production since August 2009 and was pushed back by one month to include additional recording sessions with Rodney Jerkins.

"Raining Men" is a song by Barbadian singer Rihanna from her fifth studio album, Loud (2010). Written by Melvin Hough II, Rivelino Wouter, Timothy Thomas, Theron Thomas and Onika Maraj, and produced by Mel & Mus, the song was sent to urban radio on December 7, 2010, as the album's third single in the United States, and was re-sent to urban radio on January 25, 2011. A hip hop song, it features rap vocals by Nicki Minaj and instrumentation consisting of sirens, bass, and hip hop drums. The song's lyrics revolve around how there is an endless supply of men available in the world. The song garnered a mixed response from music critics; some praised the chemistry between Rihanna and Minaj, while others commented that it bore strong resemblances to Beyoncé's song "Diva" with regard to its composition, and were critical of the notion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fly (Nicki Minaj song)</span> 2011 single by Nicki Minaj featuring Rihanna

"Fly" is a song by rapper Nicki Minaj, featuring Barbadian singer Rihanna. It was released on August 30, 2011 by Young Money, Cash Money, Universal Motown and Universal Republic as the eighth and final single from Minaj's debut studio album, Pink Friday (2010). The song was released as the eighth and final single from the album on August 30, 2011. The track was written by Kevin Hissink, Will Jordan, J.R. Rotem, Clemm Rishad and Minaj herself, while production was helped by Rotem and Hissink. The song is inspired by the emotion of soaring above and overcoming all stereotypes and negativity, to come out victorious.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Man Down (song)</span> 2011 single by Rihanna

"Man Down" is a song by Bajan singer Rihanna from her fifth studio album, Loud (2010). Rihanna, fellow Bajan singer Shontelle, and production duo R. City wrote the song with its main producer, Sham. They wrote it during a writing camp, in Los Angeles of March 2010, held by Rihanna's record label to gather compositions for possible inclusion on the then-untitled album. Rock City were inspired by Bob Marley's 1973 song "I Shot the Sheriff" and set out to create a song which embodied the same feel, but from a female perspective. "Man Down" is a reggae song which incorporates elements of ragga and electronic music. Lyrically, Rihanna is a fugitive after she shoots a man, an action she later regrets. Several critics singled out "Man Down" as Loud's highlight, while others commented on her prominent West Indian accent and vocal agility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Havana Brown (musician)</span> Australian DJ, singer, and songwriter

Angelique Frances Meunier, known professionally as Havana Brown or DJ Havana Brown, is an Australian DJ, singer, songwriter, record producer, and dancer. In 2008, Brown signed with Island Records Australia as a DJ for the record company and began releasing her Crave compilation album series, which featured remixes of songs from other artists. This led to her touring with international artists, including Britney Spears, Rihanna, the Pussycat Dolls, Chris Brown, and Enrique Iglesias.

<i>Loud</i> (Rihanna album) 2010 studio album by Rihanna

Loud is the fifth studio album by Barbadian singer Rihanna. It was released on November 12, 2010, by Def Jam Recordings and SRP Records. The album was recorded between February and August 2010, during the singer's Last Girl on Earth tour and the filming of her first feature film Battleship (2012). Rihanna and L.A. Reid were the executive producers of Loud and worked with various record producers, including Stargate, Sandy Vee, The Runners, Tricky Stewart and Alex da Kid. The album features several guest vocalists, including rappers Drake, Nicki Minaj and Eminem, who is featured on the sequel to "Love the Way You Lie", titled "Love the Way You Lie ".

References

  1. "BLAZE IT UP". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  2. "Shontelle". Republic Records. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  3. "Shontelle". Discogs. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  4. 1 2 Pete Lewis Interviews Shontelle 'Blues & Soul', February 2009
  5. 1 2 "Shontelligence – Shontelle". Billboard.com. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  6. 1 2 "HITS Daily Double: Upcoming Releases". HITS Daily Double. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  7. Shontelle going on UK tour with Beyonce Shonetelle Online.
  8. "Prom Ideas 2014 – Hair Makeup and Dress Inspiration for Prom – Seventeen". Seventeen.
  9. "No Gravity: Shontelle: Music". Amazon. 9 September 2009. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  10. Balls, David (18 August 2009). "Shontelle 'plans new music direction'". Digital Spy.
  11. Lewis, Pete (February 2010). "Shontelle: Show & telle". Blues & Soul.
  12. "Shontelle Talks New Album, Dream Collabo & Rihanna | This is RnB – Hot Music News, Latest R&B Videos, Hip Hop Charts". This is RnB. 12 April 2010. Retrieved 18 March 2011.
  13. "Shontelle 'No Gravity' Debuts At…". 29 September 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  14. "Rihanna loves 'Man Down' (co-written by Shontelle)". Shontelleonline.com. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  15. "Talking Shop: Shontelle". BBC News. BBC . 5 March 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2009.
  16. "Impossible [Main] – Shontelle". Billboard.com.
  17. "Shontelle – Say Hello to Goodbye Lyrics and Video". musicloversgroup.com. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  18. "Exclusive: Shontelle reveals new album details + New single 'Reflection'". Shontelleonline.com. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  19. "Shontelle moves to Republic Records" . Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  20. "Star Trident – Entertainment News, Interviews, and Fashion. – Shontelle Announces New Single 'Put Me on Blast'".
  21. "Actor aids fight against Alzheimer's". The Tampa Tribune . 3 December 2010. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  22. "Rising Pop Stars Jam at Girls Who Rock Benefit Concert". NBC New York. Retrieved 18 March 2011.
  23. "Vangarde Girl Nelle with Fashion Guru Phillip Bloch". Vangarde Girls. 1 September 2010. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  24. "Asher Roth, Melanie Fiona, Ray J, and Shontelle, along with Pitbull, 50 Cent, Nelly, Flo Rida and DJ Cassidy to Perform at the Third Annual Think Pink Rocks Concert on 9 October to Benefit Breast Cancer Research Charities". Premier Guide Miami. Retrieved 18 March 2011.