
| September 1, 2010 |
VIDEO: Shontelle on FuseTV (Full Interview)Posted by Kedrew | Categories: Interviews, Latest News, Shontelle Videos, TV Appearances
Finally, the full interview from Shontelle’s recent appearance on FuseTV has surfaced. Watch the above 3 part video to find out the story behind her hit single “Impossible”, it’s success, songwriting and more! If you missed the photos from this day, click here to check them out. |
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| August 30, 2010 |
Shontelle @ Hot 107.9 Concert (Fort Wayne)Posted by Kedrew | Categories: Interviews, Latest News, Performances, Radio Stations, Shontelle Videos
WJFX-FM / HOT 107.9 recently held their second annual “Downtown Street Party” free concert event which took place in Downtown Fort Wayne, this past Saturday (August 28th). Watch the performance clips of “No Gravity”, “Perfect Nightmare” and “Impossible”, below. Interviews & pictures coming soon! |
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| August 24, 2010 |
Beatweek Magazine: Shontelle Interview (August 2010)Posted by Kedrew | Categories: Interviews, Latest News, Magazines
Shontelle Layne’s new album is less than a month away from release, and yet she’s been in the studio working on it as recently as the day before we speak – something of a surprise, seeing as how the not-yet-finished album entitled No Gravity has already generated the biggest hit single of her career. The artist who had until this year been best known for her early hit “T-Shirt“ is now even more closely associated with the ballad “Impossible.” The song’s overwhelming success over the past several months makes it seem like an obvious choice for a single in hindsight, but that decision wasn’t so clear at the time. “To tell you the truth,” Shontelle says as her pet dog Bubbles enters the room, “Impossible for us was a big gamble because when we released it everything on the radio was just up tempo four on the floor stuff, a lot of dance type stuff. And we were like, there’s a high possibility that this song will get swallowed up by all that. And so we were just hoping that the opposite would happen where it just stood out as a very strong song with a real message.” As it turns out, the gamble has paid off, as the song still sits among the top twenty pop songs in iTunes nearly half a year after its release. But that hasn’t stopped the overachiever in her from continuing to try to improve No Gravity right up until the point where “you have to, today, submit a tracklisting.” The late sessions with producer Rodney Jerkins, whom she says she “always wanted to work with,” ultimately generate what is about to become the album’s next single, Perfect Nightmare. The song threatens to be a ballad for its first minute, but ultimately explodes into a dance-friendly number. |
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| August 24, 2010 |
DigitalSpy: Shontelle Interview (August 2010)Posted by Kedrew | Categories: Album News, Interviews, Latest News, United Kingdom
Shaking off the T-Shirt tag may be as much of a struggle for Shontelle as proving that she and countrywoman Rihanna are actually friends, but with the 24-year-old’s new single ‘Impossible’ a certified hit across the pond, we gave her a call to find out how she fancies her chances of repeating the feat over here. Congratulations on your success with ‘Impossible’ in the US. Did you know the song would be a hit when you first heard it? Have you heard rumours that it was turned down by both Leona and Rihanna’s teams? What’s the inspiration behind the song? Can you relate to it personally? And the video – it tells that story really well. Of course, Lady GaGa is a big fan of the mini-movie style videos you mention. Would you be keen to make your own nine-minute promo? |
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| August 18, 2010 |
Shontelle featured in ‘LA Ink’ Episode (VIDEO)Posted by Kedrew | Categories: Interviews, Latest News, Shontelle Blog, Shontelle Videos
The Impossible singer made a little trip to famous tattoo artist Kat Von D’s High Voltage Tattoo shop to have a new tattoo done earlier this year and it was all captured on TLC’s LA Ink. Shon’s tattoo of choice was the broken trident seen on the flag of her home island, Barbados. The singer also uses the trident in her logo and says it is important and special to her. “I’ve had to move away from Barbados and I really miss home,” Shontelle said while explaining her artwork decision. “So I kind of just wanted to get a tattoo that is paying homage to my home.” Watch Shontelle’s feature in L.A Ink below Special thanks to Neonlimelight & of course Trelly! |
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| August 9, 2010 |
Shontelle’s “Impossible” Resembles Real LifePosted by Kedrew | Categories: Interviews, Latest News
“I’m literally living the lyrics right now,” said Ms. Layne at Cosmopolitan’s Summer Friday Party. “I had the best boyfriend ever growing up in Barbados. We were together forever and we were like, ‘This is it, we know that there is nobody else better.’ We tried to make it work but, less than two months ago, what we thought was impossible was going to have to happen. Because of the distance we went our separate ways.” Ms. Layne, who lives in Westchester, to get “as much of an island life as possible,” went on, “Sometimes I get little moments when I’m performing it, but so many fans tell me on Twitter and Facebook that they can personally relate, so it’s therapeutic.” “Impossible” has been an unexpected success for Ms. Layne. “I thought that I was probably going to get swallowed up on the radio. I hoped that it would touch people, and it has,” she said. “You know not everyone out there is happy. Some people are really sad.” Source: WallStreetJournal |
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| August 6, 2010 |
VIDEO: Shontelle: Uncovered (Part 3 of 3)Posted by Kedrew | Categories: Interviews, Latest News, Shontelle Blog, Shontelle Videos
In the final installment (Part 3) of Shontelle’s mini series called ‘Uncovered’, she talks about “Say Hello To Goodbye”, her love for Alicia Keys and meaning behind the title of her new album NO GRAVITY (due to release September 14th). |
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| August 6, 2010 |
TeenVogue interviews Shontelle (July 2010)Posted by Kedrew | Categories: Interviews, Latest News, Magazines
Last year I had the honor of getting lunch with singer Shontelle Layne to talk about her big song “Stuck With Each Other” (featuring Akon). Since then, the Barbados-born beauty has hit the top of the charts again with the uberballad “Impossible.” (It’s been on my ‘Walk to Work” playlist for the past few months, which may have resulted in some really scared tourists in Times Square the other day.) Shontelle’s second album, No Gravity, is due out at the end of this month. When we first met in 2009, I was impressed by her dedication/obsession with Twitter. And she’s still going strong. I asked Shontelle to give me a crash course in tweeting. Here’s what she had to say: How long have you been on Twitter? How many tweets do you generally send out each day? Who are some of the people you follow? What’s the secret to a coming up with a good Tweet? What’s your favorite abbreviation (like LOL or OMG or BTW . . .)? Do you feel closer to your fans thanks to Twitter? Source: TeenVogue |
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| August 5, 2010 |
Cosmogirl Interviews Shontelle (Seventeen Mag)Posted by Kedrew | Categories: Interviews, Latest News, Magazines
Looking for music to pump you up, inspire you and sing along to? That’s the kind of music that R&B star Shontelle makes and her new album No Gravity will make you feel lighter than air. Seventeen Magazinecaught up with Shontelle to find out all about growing up in Barbados, her first big heartbreak and the celebrity crush you’ll surely relate to! Cosmogirl: When did you start singing? Shontelle: I started singing right out of the womb! My mom and aunt are singers as well. My entire family is very musical. Almost all the kids play some kind of instrument, sing, dance or write. I was always around my aunt’s band growing up and I always knew I wanted to do the same thing. But it was when my grandmother starting showing me documentaries about Michael Jackson growing up, that I really knew I wanted to do that. I wanted to be just like him. Make people so happy they cry. Give them hope. Make them think. I always wanted to heal the world… CG: Who do you consider your first big influence? Shontelle: I really do think Michael Jackson was the first star to really hit me in a major way, where I saw myself doing what he was doing. Thanks Gran Gran! But after watching Disney’s The Little Mermaid, I really more than ever before, wanted to be “part of that world.” I really wanted to be Ariel, tail and all. But I also grew up watching my aunt perform and all the other local acts from Barbados as well. I always listened to my parents’ Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder albums and they listened to a lot of Motown music like Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye and legends like Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, Prince, Madonna, Donny Hathaway, my favorite voice ever, and Ella Fitzgerald. We also loved Bob Marley and The Beatles. Stuff like that. My first record was – well actually I got two at the same time as a gift from my aunt. Usher “My Way” and Brandy “Never Say Never.” The first album I ever bought was The Fugees “The Score.” Good stuff right? CG: What was growing up in Barbados like? Shontelle: Growing up Barbados isn’t much different than growing up anywhere in America, except that Barbados is a tropical paradise in the Caribbean. We do all the same things that kids anywhere else do. We live on MySpace and Facebook, text like maniacs, go to the movies, play the latest video games, watch MTV, FUSE and BET, go clubbing, have barbecues, beach parties, go to school, go to concerts, go on dates, get into trouble, obsess over celebrities and fashion. We love sports and probably know just as much about the NBA as kids in America. |
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| August 2, 2010 |
FuseTV BTS: Allison Hagendorf chats with ShontellePosted by Kedrew | Categories: Backstage, Interviews, Latest News, Shontelle Videos
Check out these videos above and below of Allison Hagendorf’s (host on Fuse TV) thoughts on R&B/Pop songstress Shontelle as an “empowering woman” – making her FuseTV’s “Pick of the Week” and their brief behind the scenes interview before filming a Fuse Top 20 episode. Find out Shontelle’s favorite music and watch her singing a bit of “System of a Down” for fun!
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| August 2, 2010 |
VIDEO: Shontelle: Uncovered (Part 2 of 3)Posted by Kedrew | Categories: Interviews, Latest News, Shontelle Blog, Shontelle Videos
In this second of a three-part series called ‘Uncovered’, Shontelle shares advice on how to chase your dreams and talks about her single “Impossible“, stardom and the future. If you missed Part 1, CLICK HERE to watch it! |
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| August 2, 2010 |
Team HIV/AIDS interviews Shontelle (July 2010)Posted by Kedrew | Categories: Interviews, Latest News
These young teenager AIDS activists are the founders of their own movement called “T.E.A.M” (Teens Empowering Awareness Movement) just trying to make a difference, encouraging people all over the world to get tested and take care of themselves. GET TESTED. TELL A FRIEND. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. |
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| August 2, 2010 |
Neonlimelight interviews Shontelle (July 2010)Posted by Kedrew | Categories: Album News, Interviews, Latest News
But don’t go thinking Shontelle is a copy cat. Turns out, as we learned when we chatted with her last week, the cover was in the works long before Miley thought of it — and long before Shon even had a name for her album. With a title picked out and a chart-scorcher of a single in the form of the strikingly gorgeous pop ballad “Impossible,” Shontelle is ready to break free and show the world what she has to offer. See what Shon told Neon Limelight about shooting the album cover, not being afraid that her album comes out the same day as Katy Perry’s, and the “unbelievable” success of “Impossible” in their exclusive interview below. Neon Limelight: Tell me about this hot album cover! What was the concept? Shontelle: The concept is pretty interesting because when we were — I didn’t even have a name for my album yet when we did the photoshoot. NL: Oh wow. Shontelle: It was kind of like, [SRC Records head] Steve Rifkind and [Universal Motown's] Sylvia Rhone, they were like ‘you need to start shooting something now because we know when we want to get your album out, we gotta package it,’ blah blah blah and I’m like I don’t know what I’m doing! [laughs] And they’re like ‘just think of something!’ So I just thought about how I want to portray myself or what is it that I want people to see. I thought OK, it’s cool for people to just see me and see photos of me, but I sort of know that fans want a lot more than that. They want you to be creative for them, they want you to spark their imagination or something. They want you to provoke them in some way, you know. They want to feel something when they look at photos of you. So I thought, what do I want to feel like? Then I thought about the song I have, “Superwoman,” and said, you know what, let’s just do a photoshoot that makes me look like a superhero. I just thought, I don’t know how we’re going to do this, but don’t be cheesy and don’t make it obvious. Like, I don’t want to be in a cape or in spandex or anything. [laughs] But I was just like just make me look like I could be an action figure or something, so that was sort of what we were going for. We just did a photo shoot to portray me almost as if I was different types of action figures or like heros or characters or different sides of me. I chose the photo that’s on the cover because I just felt that…I know the label was pressuring me, they wanted me to have an image that had my face in it, and to me, that was just seemed like, even though it looked like I was in a cage, it almost looks like the cage is floating and there’s like no gravity. The look on my face and my body language is like ‘I’m still coming for you, world. Nothing’s gonna stop me. Not even these bars.’ That was just an amazing day. I was so excited. When I saw them bring out that cage I was like no way! This is so awesome! I was like no one’s done this, no one’s been in a cage…and along comes Miley [Cyrus]. [laughs] How dare you copy me, Miley! Oh well! It happens! NL: Cages are having the best year ever. Shontelle: Yeah! That’s what a lot of people have been saying. We realized cages have been kind of a thing. Maybe everyone is feeling trapped in some way and everyone’s just trying to break out. |
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| July 10, 2010 |
J14 Magazine interviews Shontelle (Q&A / T&D)Posted by Kedrew | Categories: Interviews, Latest News, Magazines, Shontelle Videos
As if Shontelle’s catchy song “T-Shirt” wasn’t hard enough to get out of your head just two summers ago, her newest single, “Impossible,” is a ballad that’s worth singing along to as well. The singer stopped by the J-14 office where she chatted about her upcoming album, touring with Beyoncé, and her friendship with fellow Barbados native Rihanna. J-14: What’s the story behind your single “Impossible”? I know that a lot of people have a similar story and sometimes you need to feel like you’re not alone. I knew that I might have to tell embarrassing stories about myself, but I might help someone realize, ‘Okay, if Shontelle can figure it out, then I’ll be alright.’ It’s not the end of the world — you can move on, and this is song is going to help you find the strength somehow. J-14: When did you realize that you might have to break up with the boy you’re singing about in the song? You feel really stupid because you feel like here I am walking around like, ‘I have this hot boy and everything is all good,’ and then he’s really not there and you’re looking really stupid, giving everything to this person who really isn’t giving their all to you. It’s very embarrassing. J-14: Is it true that you wanted to go for more of a rock vibe on the new album? My album has a lot more drums and guitars now — the last one had a lot of piano. It’s a little known fact about me that I play the drums, so I really love rhythm and bass. I like messing around with “Empire State of Mind” or “Umbrella,” those sorts of beats where it’s very simple but so catchy and they just make you move and want to dance. |
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| July 8, 2010 |
MySpace Fashion: Interview with Shontelle (July 2010)Posted by Kedrew | Categories: Interviews, Latest News
You may have heard this ubiquitous song, “Impossible,” that is tearing up the Billboard charts, by the West Indian singer, Shontelle, who is a prolific songwriter and talented singer whose story is not a typical one. First, she attended a “Cadets” camp where she was a drill sergeant over someone you may have heard of, Rihanna. As a teenager, her family was not keen on her pursuing a career in the music industry and so Shontelle decided to attend the University of the West Indies where she pursued a degree in Entertainment law. Soon after, she started crafting songs for a number of top Caribbean artists, all while attending the University. Producers Evan Rogers and Carl Sturken of SRP Records , who had discovered Rihanna in Barbados and brought her to the world stage, heard one of her songs on a Bajan radio station and felt that it had international hit potential. Soon after, she signed with Universal Music. I had a chance to speak with Shontelle about impossible dreams, touring with BEYONCE (Yup, you read that right), her beauty/style secrets and her advice for anyone with a dream. I’m obsessed with your hit song “Impossible.” Congrats as its climbing the Billboard charts…tell us how this track came about. Also, “Licky,” is a really sexy song… both are really different so tell us how these songs came about. Well, I had the best teacher for 2 months because I had just toured with Beyonce and she’s amazing. “Licky” was the track I did with Sean Garrett and DJ Franky. I had so much fun touring since my first album that I just wanted to be risky, not crazy, just risky. The vibe is all about the summer, clubs, and singing a hook that’s catchy. I just was like..this is about having fun. We made an awesome video and we could be cliche and put this in an ice cream parlor or just rock out crazy outfits and go over the top. But we went being a Fierce Diva..snapping your fingers. Being fierce. Very cool. So..you toured with Beyonce. Do tell. Seriously. So, do you hate the constant comparisons to Rihanna or do you not mind it? It’s obviously because you’re both talented female artists from Barbados. What are your thoughts? |
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Owner Kedrew (Damien)

























May 06 | WFLY FLY 92.3 (Albany)



If things had gone a little differently, Shontelle might perhaps have been Beatweek’s attorney instead of our cover girl. The songwriter had almost finished law school when the music industry discovered she could sing too – and now that her hit song “Impossible” has spent most of 2010 near the top of the charts, her new album is set to drop next month. The Barbados native tells us all about where she came from and where she’s headed…
When pop singer Shontelle decided to get some new ink, she wanted to get something that would make her feel a little closer to home.
R&B songstress Shontelle Layne shares how her summer hit single “Impossible,” relates to the idea of heartbreak and in her own life.
Shontelle took time out of her busy schedule today offering to be a special guest on the TeamHIVAIDS‘ live radio blog show once again (previous appearance back in 2009), where listeners from anywhere in the world can call in and share their thoughts on HIV/AIDS.
Cages in album artwork are having the best year ever. Teen queen Miley Cyrus got trapped in one on the cover of her single, “Can’t Be Tamed,” and now pop star Shontelle is utilizing her own personal jail on the cover of her sophomore album, No Gravity, out August 24.
