Louise Setara
Encyclopedia
Louise Setara, born Louise Smith (Reading, Berkshire
, England
, 1988) is an English
singer-songwriter. Her first album, Still Waters, was released by Manhattan Records/EMI in February 2007.
Setara decided to become a singer at the age of seven, after performing at a wedding party with a member of The Drifters
. When she was fifteen years old, she signed a management contract with Kwame Kwaten, who had worked with Mick Jagger
and Seal
. She chose the name Setara, from sithara, meaning "little star" in Punjabi
.
, England
, where she was homeschooled by her mother, Lorraine. She decided at the age of seven that she wanted to become a professional singer, when a member of The Drifters
performed at a wedding she was attending and invited her on stage to sing "My Girl" with him.
and gospel
. She wrote her first song, "Wrong Again," with composers Peter Gordeno and Chris Porter. Another of the tracks on Still Waters is performed with the South African group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo
, and "Can't Stop the River" was written by Seal
. The album was chosen as "Album of the Week" by the BBC's Radio 2 in January 2007.
Setara released her debut single, an EP, "Can't Stop the River" in the UK on 27 November 2006 without a music video. Unknown to her, it was also given to Duncan James
and Guy Sebastian
to record. She eventually released her original recording of the song after both artists had released their versions of "Can't Stop the River", re-titled "Can't Stop a River".
Louise supported Lionel Richie on his UK tour in 2007.
A download-only single, "Wrong Again," was released on 29 January 2007 and as a full single later in 2007.
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, 1988) is an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
singer-songwriter. Her first album, Still Waters, was released by Manhattan Records/EMI in February 2007.
Setara decided to become a singer at the age of seven, after performing at a wedding party with a member of The Drifters
The Drifters
The Drifters are a long-lived American doo-wop and R&B/soul vocal group with a peak in popularity from 1953 to 1963, though several splinter Drifters continue to perform today. They were originally formed to serve as Clyde McPhatter's backing group in 1953...
. When she was fifteen years old, she signed a management contract with Kwame Kwaten, who had worked with Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
and Seal
Seal (musician)
Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel , known simply as Seal, is a British soul and R&B singer-songwriter, of Nigerian and Brazilian background. Seal has won numerous music awards throughout his career, including three Brit Awards—winning Best British Male in 1992, four Grammy Awards, and an...
. She chose the name Setara, from sithara, meaning "little star" in Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
.
Early life
Setara was born in ReadingReading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, where she was homeschooled by her mother, Lorraine. She decided at the age of seven that she wanted to become a professional singer, when a member of The Drifters
The Drifters
The Drifters are a long-lived American doo-wop and R&B/soul vocal group with a peak in popularity from 1953 to 1963, though several splinter Drifters continue to perform today. They were originally formed to serve as Clyde McPhatter's backing group in 1953...
performed at a wedding she was attending and invited her on stage to sing "My Girl" with him.
"Still Waters"
Setara was signed up at the age of 15 by producer Kwame Kwaten, who spotted her at a talent contest. Her singing style is described as a mixture of soulSoul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
and gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
. She wrote her first song, "Wrong Again," with composers Peter Gordeno and Chris Porter. Another of the tracks on Still Waters is performed with the South African group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a male choral group from South Africa that sings in the vocal styles of isicathamiya and mbube. They rose to worldwide prominence as a result of singing with Paul Simon on his album, Graceland and have won multiple awards, including three Grammy Awards...
, and "Can't Stop the River" was written by Seal
Seal (musician)
Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel , known simply as Seal, is a British soul and R&B singer-songwriter, of Nigerian and Brazilian background. Seal has won numerous music awards throughout his career, including three Brit Awards—winning Best British Male in 1992, four Grammy Awards, and an...
. The album was chosen as "Album of the Week" by the BBC's Radio 2 in January 2007.
Setara released her debut single, an EP, "Can't Stop the River" in the UK on 27 November 2006 without a music video. Unknown to her, it was also given to Duncan James
Duncan James
Duncan Matthew James Inglis is an English singer, actor and television presenter. He is best known as a member of the boyband Blue.-Early life:...
and Guy Sebastian
Guy Sebastian
Guy Theodore Sebastian is an Australian pop, R&B, and soul singer-songwriter who was the first winner of Australian Idol in 2003. He is currently a judge on the Australian version of The X Factor. Sebastian has released six top ten platinum/multi platinum albums, including a number-one and...
to record. She eventually released her original recording of the song after both artists had released their versions of "Can't Stop the River", re-titled "Can't Stop a River".
Louise supported Lionel Richie on his UK tour in 2007.
A download-only single, "Wrong Again," was released on 29 January 2007 and as a full single later in 2007.
Singles
- "Can't Stop the River" (2006)
- "Love Me Still" (April 2007)
- "Wrong Again" (June 2007)
External links
- Louise Setara, MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- A second Louise Setara MySpace page
- Louise Setara's website
- "Louise Setara", Manhattan Records, accessed February 24, 2008.
- "Wrong Again", from Still Waters, YouTube, accessed February 24, 2008.