Just a few more days until Shontelle’s infectious new single “Battle Cry” is officially released in the UK (August 10th, 2009). Already it’s making a splash currently sitting at #55 and rising on the iTunes Top 100 UK chart!
It is one of her most uplifting songs from her debut album, Shontelligence. The song’s message struck such a powerful, positive message that it was used on President Barack Obama’s campaign compilation CD “Yes We Can: Voices of Grass Roots Movement.”
If there’s one thing you need to know about Barbados-born beauty Shontelle, it’s that she’s all about unity. Make sure you also check out the all new video directed by Jessy Terrero. The video was shot in Los Angeles last March. Check it!
Less than 2 years ago, Bajan born and raised Shontelle Layne was studying media law at her local university, representing her country internationally as a pro swimmer and writing songs for a range of Caribbean artists, such as the Queen of Soca, Alison Hinds.
Although Shontelle, (23), stopped swimming for Barbados and finished studying at University in 2008, she spent the year successfully adding a number of extra strings to her creative and professional bow. Using her knowledge of the law and following in the entrepreneurial footsteps of her father (who runs the biggest sports chain in the Caribbean), Shontelle founded her own Bajan based publishing company. Meanwhile she was picked up as both a songwriter and a singer in her own right by the management company of her childhood friend Rihanna and signed a recording deal with SRC, the Island Def Jam imprint run by the legendary music industry mogul Steve Rifkin (of Loud and Wu Tang fame).
Fast forward to 2009, and already Shontelle has blown crowds away when supporting both New Kids on the Block and Beyonce on the European legs of their tours, has had over 50 Millions plays on her myspace, and has scored an international hit with her Wayne Wilkins produced debut single T-Shirt which remained in the top ten of the UK i-tunes and/or sales chart for just under a month.
Now Shontelle is gearing up to release the third cut from her debut album Shontelligence. Battle Cry is not only an anthem, but a future classic. As rousing and inspiring as it is radio-friendly and infectious, it is unsurprising that when Barack Obama heard Battle Cry he asked Shontelle for her permission to include the song on his Campaign Trail compilation album Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots.
Battle Cry is produced by Wayne Wilkins, the UK born Chart topping producer responsible for hits from Natasha Bedingfield and Leona Lewis. It is released through Island Records, available from the 10th August 2009.
Barbadian singer/songwriter Shontelle Layne is currently recording tracks for her upcoming as-yet-untitled sophomore album on SRC / Universal Motown Records. The follow-up to “Shontelligence” is confirmed to have productions from Jonas Jeberg (Kylie Minogue, Amerie Rogers) and Quiz & Larossi: Andreas Romdhane & Josef Larossi (Kelly Clarkson, Jade Ewen)…. just to name a few.
Today was “super amazing”- and I quote that because that seems to be the only phrase that pops into my head repeatedly when thinking about today.
Initially I did not know that to expect from this day because it truly was just a really random thing to happen. I NEVER win contests. When I walked in I was unsure of how to feel because I was so comfortable and I didn’t know if that was good or bad lol. Shontelle is SO SWEET! She was just very “chill”-one of her favorite words- and welcoming. Within the first fifteen minutes both Shontelle and her stylist, Alisha, had me laughing because they were so silly!
We talked about so much and Shontelle was just so open and honest about everything that I forgot I was talking to a PLATINUM RECORDING ARTIST! lol, she is a really funny girl. I found out that we BOTH have an insane obsession with SHADES and me, her and Alisha all shared a first, we’ve never gotten MINX before. That was really cool. We talked about fashion and her love for great designers, like her love ‘Louis V.’, and good music. I learned a lot about her back ground, how she got to her current position, and I even got advice as an aspiring artist.
Once I finished my nails, two more contest winners arrived and I thought it was over but nope! She signed posters and gave me a goodie bag (which had 2 of my favorite things in the world, make-up and scented oils!) and then Shontelle took us to dinner at Negril where the day got even better! We laughed and joked around the table and she had some great stories about back in Barbados. I don’t know many people with a life such as hers that would take time to really spend six hours up close and personal with three really random fans lol.
To offer up her time like that is a really beautiful thing because i think sometimes artists forget that it’s there fans who help make them but Ms.Layne really cares about her fans. It’s hard to even become star struck once you hang out with her because she treats you like anyone else. I really am glad that i won and i got to experience this day with Shontelle because it brought me a whole new level of respect for her. I really liked her personality before but now, i LOVE her personality! I am definitely riding the “Sho Lay” train, CHOO CHOO!!!!
TED LAWRENCE – EXPERIENCE STORY
My day with Shontelle Layne was amazing!!! So I got to the hotel a bit late, checked with the reception desk and made my way to Suite 303 of the Chelsea Hotel. While going up the elevator I was so nervous, and towards the door Shontelle and her stylist were on the way out to come back shortly with campaign and she gave me a hug!
I went inside and greeted Shontelle and everyone, including the other winners. We hung out in the suite for a while getting to know each other, taking lots of pictures and met this AMAZING sunglass designer Kerin Rose, her custom designs are sick! Shontelle was jus in mixed emotions…. she was both in awe and was freaking out at Kerin’s sunglasses, particularly a black spiked pair that looked Gaga inspired which was epic! Shontelle joked relating them to Lady Gaga and T-Pain lol.
When it was time to take pictures she was HILARIOUS! She went all Tyra Banks on us! raising her eyebrows up and down, eye squinting, throwing up the deuce… posing like a real star on the red carpet! Everyone in the room was laughing! Afterwards we made our way to the incredible Caribbean restaurant Negril, where I had their mango and goat cheese salad, and their rasta pasta…amazing!!! We talked and laughed the entire evening, about tv shows, music etc. When we were getting ready to leave, the waiter and manager came over to ask if she was really Shontelle and if they could take a picture for the their website.
This experience was one I will always remember. Shontelle Layne is am amazing artiste and person on the whole. I am a fan for life. Love ya Shontelle, hope to see you again
Check out all the photos below! (Thanks Everyone!)
SHONTELLE – SHONTELLIGENCE
Many people have compared this new Barbados singer to Rihanna, probably because they have a similar style of music and they are from the same hood. It should be mentioned that Rihanna is no match when compared to Shontelle, vocally. One of the songs “T-Shirt” has already been getting major airplay, making her a good contender in the R&B world. Most of the songs are very reggae-influenced. I look forward to hearing her follow up album as this one has a handful of great tracks.
Shontelle shot a brand new music video with director Jessy Terrero, for her next official U.K single “Battle Cry” in Los Angeles on March 19, 2009 [Videoshoot Photos]. The last “Battle Cry” music video which most of you would have already seen was an Obama Tribute version for having her on his “Yes We Can: Voices of Grass Roots Movement” compilation album.
The music video has a quite simple concept, but most importantly without a doubt it has a very moving, glossy and glamorous effect, with a powerful message shining through about people uniting as one, and togetherness. Shontelle looks gorgeous. This is our Battle Cry.
Watch the music video above and then leave a comment tell us what you think!
There is a new kind of female soul sound. It is really an off-shoot of the old but mellower, less embellished and first made itself felt a year ago. I see it as a combination of Mary J. Blige and Amy Winehouse or of Beyoncé and Buffy. The result is soul but with none of the saccharine sweetness of Motown, remember the Supremes, or the big, hard edged vocals of the later years as in Aguilera. This soul is actually the sort that John Legend makes and among the females, I think that this album best exemplify the evolving genre.
Shontelligence by Shontelle. Rihanna comes from the Barbados in the Caribbean. So an enterprising producer hied off to the place to check if there are more Rihannas down there just waiting to be discovered. And there are. The result of that search was Shontelle, who was studying to be a lawyer when music came calling. And it looks like she will also make it big, thanks to that opening salvo that gave us the ubiquitous T-Shirt.
I think Shontelligence was produced as a mix of R&B and island pop hence some reggae tunes like Life is Not An Easy Road and Roll It are keeping company with T-Shirt and Superwoman. Just take those to the clubs though, because it is in new soul where this girl really excels. Shontelle who is, in fact, an even better singer than Rihanna, has expressive winners in Battle Cry, Cold Cold Summer and Ghetto Lullabye. Focus Pon Me, Plastic People, I Crave You, and Flesh and Bone are the rest of the CD.
If you were expecting candy floss that sets your teeth on edge after all the hits have been served, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Despite being known primarily for channeling the pop diva through hits like ‘T-shirt’ and ‘Stuck on you’ (featuring Akon) Shontelle has more than a few scraps of intelligence going for her. Once her anthems to ‘love’ and ‘longing’ are over, she gets down to sharing some cool Shontelligence. That she is a Miss with a message is clear.
The underlying thread to her music is about working hard, struggling to make it work and not giving up. These themes made her third hit, ‘Battle Cry’, so appealing it was used in Barack Obama’s Yes We Can campaign. The resulting album placed her amongst music greats like Stevie Wonder and stars like Kanye West.
And what’s not to like about ‘Battle Cry’? It’s about standing up for what you believe, fighting for something you care about – it might be your relationship or your rights as a citizen. Shontelle skips genres like she’s playing musical Double Dutch and this is what makes her album a good listen. She switches from ‘Superwoman’ with its disco vibe and message of female upliftment to ‘Cold Cold Summer’ with its deliciously bluesy and retro funk edge.
Then nods to her Bajan roots with reggae flavored ‘Roll it Gal’ and ‘Life is not an easy road’. The songstress ‘keeps it real’ preferring to be critical of the ‘Nation of the Plastic people’ which is somewhat ironic given her own celeb status, styling and role as a performer. While ‘Naughty’ featuring Beenie Man has that butt wriggling appeal Rihanna is best known for and has club classic written all over it.
If you have stack of CDs you flick over and avoid then this probably won’t be one of them. It snaps, crackles and pops with something for everyone, from the divalicious for those who like Mariah and Beyonce to songs with social messages for those who prefer to ‘Roll with it’ and some dance tracks for those who prefer to shake booty and get ‘Naughty’. Shontelle may have dropped out of anonymity into the female pop galaxy but she could end up being one of its brightest stars.
Welcome to the first and best Shontelle fansite on the web, Shontelle Online.com. Here we will provide you with daily updates on the Barbadian songstress, Shontelle Layne.
The website features high quality photos, exclusive multimedia, the latest news, and much more! We are currently in our beginning stages and hope that you will join us on our journey with Shontelle to the top! Thanks for visiting the website and make sure you return soon for the latest.
Site Information
Site Name: Shontelle Online
Opened: November 2008
Website Hits: 6,000,000+
Design & Network: 'Beyond Gravity' by KeDrew
Best viewed: Firefox/Chrome/Safari/Opera
SHERINE COOPER – EXPERIENCE STORY
TED LAWRENCE – EXPERIENCE STORY
SHONTELLE – SHONTELLIGENCE
