Miranda Chartrand
Encyclopedia
Miranda Chartrand is a Canadian singer who is currently based in London. Born and raised in Guelph
, Ontario
, Chartrand studied at the John F. Ross Collegiate Vocational Institute
and played on their open girls' rugby
team, before moving to the United Kingdom in 2009 to work as an au pair
. While working in the UK, she learnt about the BBC television series Chartjackers
, which was challenging the online community
to write, record and release a pop song through crowdsourcing
in 10 weeks.
After initially auditioning through a YouTube
video, Chartrand then successfully auditioned in person to provide vocals on the single with fellow singer Adam Nichols. She and Nichols recorded the song, entitled "I've Got Nothing
", at the University of Wales
in Newport
, South Wales
on October 7, 2009. The single was then released worldwide on November 9 through the iTunes Store
and went on to reach Number 36 on the UK Singles Chart
.
, Ontario
. She studied at the John F. Ross Collegiate Vocational Institute
, where she played on the open girls' rugby
team until 2009. At the age of 16, Chartrand registered the channel "mydogmaddie" on the video-sharing website YouTube
on June 25, 2006. She worked as a camp counselor at Camp Manitou
in 2009 and 2010 and has also worked in Toronto
.
, to work as an au pair
. While in the UK, she heard about Chartjackers
, a cross-platform documentary series being shown on BBC Two
. Chartjackers was documenting an attempt to write, record and release a Number One single through crowdsourcing
and was looking for vocalists to sing on their forthcoming single, "I've Got Nothing
". After submitting a video audition on her "mydogmaddie" YouTube channel, Chartrand was chosen as one of 10 finalists and was offered the chance to audition in person in Rochdale
. Her audition was successful, and she was selected to duet on the official release with fellow vocalist Adam Nichols.
Chartrand and Nichols recorded "I've Got Nothing" on October 7, 2009 at the University of Wales
in Newport
, South Wales
. She and Nichols also featured prominently in the single's official music video, which was shown nationwide on music channels such as 4Music
and Viva
. On November 4, Chartrand and Nichols performed "I've Got Nothing" at a gig at 93 Feet East
in London, which was headlined by former pop star Chesney Hawkes
. "I've Got Nothing" was officially released worldwide exclusively through the iTunes Store
at midnight on November 9, 2009 by independent record label Swinging Mantis—it reached Number 36 on the UK Singles Chart. Chartrand quit her job as an au pair to become more involved with the Chartjackers project, then moved to London shortly afterwards, where she currently lives with Nichols.
Guelph
Guelph is a city in Ontario, Canada.Guelph may also refer to:* Guelph , consisting of the City of Guelph, Ontario* Guelph , as the above* University of Guelph, in the same city...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Chartrand studied at the John F. Ross Collegiate Vocational Institute
John F. Ross Collegiate Vocational Institute
John F. Ross Collegiate Vocational Institute is a Grades 9-12 public secondary school in Guelph, Ontario, Canada and is part of the Upper Grand District School Board.-History:...
and played on their open girls' rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
team, before moving to the United Kingdom in 2009 to work as an au pair
Au pair
An au pair is a domestic assistant from a foreign country working for, and living as part of, a host family. Typically, au pairs take on a share of the family's responsibility for childcare as well as some housework, and receive a small monetary allowance for personal use...
. While working in the UK, she learnt about the BBC television series Chartjackers
Chartjackers
Chartjackers is a British documentary series, produced by Hat Trick Productions and commissioned by BBC Switch. It premièred in the United Kingdom on 12 September 2009 on BBC Two...
, which was challenging the online community
Online community
An online community is a virtual community that exists online and whose members enable its existence through taking part in membership ritual. An online community can take the form of an information system where anyone can post content, such as a Bulletin board system or one where only a restricted...
to write, record and release a pop song through crowdsourcing
Crowdsourcing
Crowdsourcing is the act of sourcing tasks traditionally performed by specific individuals to a group of people or community through an open call....
in 10 weeks.
After initially auditioning through a YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
video, Chartrand then successfully auditioned in person to provide vocals on the single with fellow singer Adam Nichols. She and Nichols recorded the song, entitled "I've Got Nothing
I've Got Nothing
"I've Got Nothing" is a song released by the participants of the BBC Two documentary series Chartjackers and is credited as such. The track was produced by university student Marc Dowding and its music video was filmed by YouTube user Charlie McDonnell. It was released by the record label Swinging...
", at the University of Wales
University of Wales, Newport
The University of Wales, Newport is a university based in Newport, South Wales. The university has two campuses; Caerleon on the northern outskirts of the city and a £35 million campus on the banks of the River Usk in Newport city centre opened in 2011...
in Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
on October 7, 2009. The single was then released worldwide on November 9 through the iTunes Store
ITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
and went on to reach Number 36 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
1990–2008: Early life
Chartrand was born on May 3, 1990, and was raised in GuelphGuelph
Guelph is a city in Ontario, Canada.Guelph may also refer to:* Guelph , consisting of the City of Guelph, Ontario* Guelph , as the above* University of Guelph, in the same city...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. She studied at the John F. Ross Collegiate Vocational Institute
John F. Ross Collegiate Vocational Institute
John F. Ross Collegiate Vocational Institute is a Grades 9-12 public secondary school in Guelph, Ontario, Canada and is part of the Upper Grand District School Board.-History:...
, where she played on the open girls' rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
team until 2009. At the age of 16, Chartrand registered the channel "mydogmaddie" on the video-sharing website YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
on June 25, 2006. She worked as a camp counselor at Camp Manitou
Camp Manitou
Camp Manitou is a camp for inner-city and underprivileged children located near Winnipeg, Manitoba. Camp Manitou was created in 1930 and run by six service clubs Rotary, Kiwanis, Kinsmen, Optimist, Lions, Cosmopolitan and the YMCA. The YMCA left in 1995. The camp currently offers summer programs to...
in 2009 and 2010 and has also worked in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
2009–present: Chartjackers and beyond
In 2009, Chartrand moved to Stroud, GloucestershireStroud, Gloucestershire
Stroud is a market town and civil parish in the county of Gloucestershire, England. It is the main town in Stroud District.Situated below the western escarpment of the Cotswold Hills at the meeting point of the Five Valleys, the town is noted for its steep streets and cafe culture...
, to work as an au pair
Au pair
An au pair is a domestic assistant from a foreign country working for, and living as part of, a host family. Typically, au pairs take on a share of the family's responsibility for childcare as well as some housework, and receive a small monetary allowance for personal use...
. While in the UK, she heard about Chartjackers
Chartjackers
Chartjackers is a British documentary series, produced by Hat Trick Productions and commissioned by BBC Switch. It premièred in the United Kingdom on 12 September 2009 on BBC Two...
, a cross-platform documentary series being shown on BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
. Chartjackers was documenting an attempt to write, record and release a Number One single through crowdsourcing
Crowdsourcing
Crowdsourcing is the act of sourcing tasks traditionally performed by specific individuals to a group of people or community through an open call....
and was looking for vocalists to sing on their forthcoming single, "I've Got Nothing
I've Got Nothing
"I've Got Nothing" is a song released by the participants of the BBC Two documentary series Chartjackers and is credited as such. The track was produced by university student Marc Dowding and its music video was filmed by YouTube user Charlie McDonnell. It was released by the record label Swinging...
". After submitting a video audition on her "mydogmaddie" YouTube channel, Chartrand was chosen as one of 10 finalists and was offered the chance to audition in person in Rochdale
Rochdale
Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan...
. Her audition was successful, and she was selected to duet on the official release with fellow vocalist Adam Nichols.
Chartrand and Nichols recorded "I've Got Nothing" on October 7, 2009 at the University of Wales
University of Wales, Newport
The University of Wales, Newport is a university based in Newport, South Wales. The university has two campuses; Caerleon on the northern outskirts of the city and a £35 million campus on the banks of the River Usk in Newport city centre opened in 2011...
in Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
. She and Nichols also featured prominently in the single's official music video, which was shown nationwide on music channels such as 4Music
4Music
4Music is a music and entertainment channel in the United Kingdom and available on some digital television providers in the Republic of Ireland - its web component can be found at with its own and pages. It is the only channel within the Box Television Network to be branded under Channel 4 and...
and Viva
Viva (UK & Ireland)
Viva is a music video and entertainment channel in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The channel was officially launched on 26 October 2009 by Alexandra Burke, with an exclusive live performance of her single "Bad Boys". The channel replaced TMF. The channel is owned by MTV Networks Europe and was...
. On November 4, Chartrand and Nichols performed "I've Got Nothing" at a gig at 93 Feet East
93 Feet East
93 Feet East is a live music venue on Brick Lane in East London. It is a conversion of part of the Old Truman Brewery, and plays host to new and established acts. It has a courtyard with a BBQ.-External links:**...
in London, which was headlined by former pop star Chesney Hawkes
Chesney Hawkes
Chesney Lee Hawkes , is an English pop singer, songwriter, and occasional actor. He is best known for his 1991 single "The One and Only", which topped the charts in the UK and reached the Top 10 in the U.S.-Life and career:...
. "I've Got Nothing" was officially released worldwide exclusively through the iTunes Store
ITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
at midnight on November 9, 2009 by independent record label Swinging Mantis—it reached Number 36 on the UK Singles Chart. Chartrand quit her job as an au pair to become more involved with the Chartjackers project, then moved to London shortly afterwards, where she currently lives with Nichols.
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart peak positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
|||
| 2009 | "I've Got Nothing I've Got Nothing "I've Got Nothing" is a song released by the participants of the BBC Two documentary series Chartjackers and is credited as such. The track was produced by university student Marc Dowding and its music video was filmed by YouTube user Charlie McDonnell. It was released by the record label Swinging... " (with Chartjackers Chartjackers Chartjackers is a British documentary series, produced by Hat Trick Productions and commissioned by BBC Switch. It premièred in the United Kingdom on 12 September 2009 on BBC Two... ) |
36 | Single release only |
External links
- Miranda Chartrand at Last.fmLast.fmLast.fm is a music website, founded in the United Kingdom in 2002. It has claimed 30 million active users in March 2009. On 30 May 2007, CBS Interactive acquired Last.fm for UK£140m ....