Shontelle
Encyclopedia
Shontelle Layne known professionally as Shontelle, is a Barbadian
singer, and songwriter
. She released her debut album Shontelligence
in November 2008. Her sophomore album, No Gravity
, was released in September 2010. Her singles, "T-Shirt
", and "Impossible
", achieved modest international success.
", Shontelle's debut single, was released in July 2008 and reached number thirty-six on the Billboard Hot 100
, becoming a moderate hit. However, it reached the top ten in the United Kingdom
, peaking at number six there.
Shontelle's debut album, Shontelligence
, was released on November 18, 2008. The album reached number 115 on the Billboard 200
, selling 6,200 records in its first week, and reached number twenty-four on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It was re-released on March 10, 2009, and has since sold 30,000 records in the US.
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 twenty-three 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 Knowles
' opening act for her I Am... Tour from May to June 2009 during the British leg.
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, wore at the Ultimate Prom concert.
, was released in the US on September 21, 2010. Shontelle stated that the album would be experimental and that she wanted to change her original sound for the record. While the title 'No Gravity' symbolises a mantra, Shontelle states 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. Shontelle collaborated with Bruno Mars
, Tony Kanal
and Darkchild among others for the record. In the first week of release, No Gravity placed at number 81 on the Billboard 200, selling 7,000 copies. Later that year Shontelle would co write Rihanna's song "Man Down
" from her fifth studio album Loud (Rihanna album)
.
The lead single from the album, "Impossible
", was released in February 2010 for digital download, but failed to garner success until May 2010, 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. The second single from the album, "Perfect Nightmare", was released in August 2010. "Say Hello to Goodbye" was released to pop radio on March 15 as the third single.
on July 15, 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 Republic
. The lead single from the upcoming album is called "Reflection" and was premiered on SoundCloud in September 2011, songs from the album are expected to be previewed at Shontelle's birthday bash .
On July 24, a two-minute preview of a new song, "Ready to Go", was uploaded online. According to some websites, it is not to appear on Shontelle's third studio album but will be played in clubs.
On February 27, Shontelle played a headlining gig at 90 Degrees Pub in Southampton
.
On July 3, Shontelle performed in Altamonte Springs, Florida at Red, Hot and Boom.
, VH1 Save the Music Foundation, and breast cancer research charities.
Barbadian people
Barbadians are people originating on the Caribbean island of Barbados whether they live there or in the Barbadian diaspora.Rihanna is by far the most popular Barbadian on the planet.-Diaspora:...
singer, and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. She released her debut album Shontelligence
Shontelligence
The album has received generally mixed reviews from music critics.Ben Ratliffe of The New York Times gave the album a mixed review stating that:Alex Macpherson of The Guardian gave the album a mixed 3/5 stars stated that:...
in November 2008. Her sophomore album, No Gravity
No Gravity (Shontelle album)
No Gravity is the second studio album by Barbadian recording artist Shontelle, released on September 21, 2010 by SRC Records. Initially scheduled for an August 2010 release the album has been in production since August 2009 and was pushed back by one month to include additional recording sessions...
, was released in September 2010. Her singles, "T-Shirt
T-Shirt (song)
"T-Shirt" is the first solo single released by Barbadian singer Shontelle from her album Shontelligence. It is her second official single following the release of 2007's "Roll It" which was released only in select European countries...
", and "Impossible
Impossible (Shontelle song)
"Impossible" is a song by Barbadian recording artist Shontelle. It is the lead single from her second studio album, No Gravity. The song was written by Arnthor Birgisson and Ina Wroldsen, and produced in Sweden by Birgisson. It was released digitally on February 9, 2010...
", achieved modest international success.
Shontelligence (2008–2009)
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. "T-ShirtT-Shirt (song)
"T-Shirt" is the first solo single released by Barbadian singer Shontelle from her album Shontelligence. It is her second official single following the release of 2007's "Roll It" which was released only in select European countries...
", Shontelle's debut single, was released in July 2008 and reached number thirty-six on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, becoming a moderate hit. However, it reached the top ten in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, peaking at number six there.
Shontelle's debut album, Shontelligence
Shontelligence
The album has received generally mixed reviews from music critics.Ben Ratliffe of The New York Times gave the album a mixed review stating that:Alex Macpherson of The Guardian gave the album a mixed 3/5 stars stated that:...
, was released on November 18, 2008. The album reached number 115 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, selling 6,200 records in its first week, and reached number twenty-four on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It was re-released on March 10, 2009, and has since sold 30,000 records in the US.
The second single from the album, "Stuck with Each Other
Stuck with Each Other
"Stuck with Each Other" is the second solo single released by Barbadian singer Shontelle featuring R&B singer Akon and the first single from the re-release of her debut album, Shontelligence. It is also featured on the Confessions of a Shopaholic soundtrack...
", featuring Akon
Akon
Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first...
, 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 twenty-three in the United Kingdom. Shontelle toured as a supporting act for the UK leg of the New Kids on the Block
New Kids on the Block
New Kids on the Block are an American boy band from Boston, Massachusetts, assembled in 1984 by producer Maurice Starr. The band currently consists of brothers Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood.New Kids on the Block enjoyed success in the late 1980s and...
World Tour in January 2009. Shontelle was also Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
' opening act for her I Am... Tour from May to June 2009 during the British leg.
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
Kat DeLuna
Kathleen Emperatriz "Kat" DeLuna is an American pop singer of Dominican heritage. DeLuna has a soprano vocal range. Her debut single, "Whine Up", reached the top ten in Belgium and France, peaked inside the top forty of the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. Her...
, the headliner, wore at the Ultimate Prom concert.
No Gravity (2009–2010)
Shontelle's second album, No GravityNo Gravity (Shontelle album)
No Gravity is the second studio album by Barbadian recording artist Shontelle, released on September 21, 2010 by SRC Records. Initially scheduled for an August 2010 release the album has been in production since August 2009 and was pushed back by one month to include additional recording sessions...
, was released in the US on September 21, 2010. Shontelle stated that the album would be experimental and that she wanted to change her original sound for the record. While the title 'No Gravity' symbolises a mantra, Shontelle states 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. Shontelle collaborated with Bruno Mars
Bruno Mars
Peter Gene Hernandez , better known by his stage name Bruno Mars, is an Filipino-American singer-songwriter and record producer. Raised in Honolulu, Hawaii by a family of musicians, Mars began making music at a young age...
, Tony Kanal
Tony Kanal
Tony Kanal is an English musician, record producer and songwriter. Kanal is the bassist for the American rock band No Doubt...
and Darkchild among others for the record. In the first week of release, No Gravity placed at number 81 on the Billboard 200, selling 7,000 copies. Later that year Shontelle would co write Rihanna's song "Man Down
Man Down
"Man Down" is a song performed by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna, taken from her fifth studio album Loud . The song was sent to US rhythmic and urban radios on May 3, 2011 and was released as the album's sixth overall single in the United States as well as in certain countries internationally...
" from her fifth studio album Loud (Rihanna album)
Loud (Rihanna album)
Loud is the fifth studio album by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna, first released on November 12, 2010 by Def Jam Recordings. The album was recorded between February and August 2010, predominantly during Rihanna's Last Girl on Earth Tour and filming for her first feature film Battleship...
.
The lead single from the album, "Impossible
Impossible (Shontelle song)
"Impossible" is a song by Barbadian recording artist Shontelle. It is the lead single from her second studio album, No Gravity. The song was written by Arnthor Birgisson and Ina Wroldsen, and produced in Sweden by Birgisson. It was released digitally on February 9, 2010...
", was released in February 2010 for digital download, but failed to garner success until May 2010, 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. The second single from the album, "Perfect Nightmare", was released in August 2010. "Say Hello to Goodbye" was released to pop radio on March 15 as the third single.
3rd Studio Album (2011–present)
Shontelle played at GUMBO @ The Canal Room in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on July 15, 2011, where she revealed news about an upcoming single and third studio album. It was also revealed that she had departed from Universal Motown
Universal Motown Records
Universal Motown Records was a record label that operated as a division of Universal Motown Republic Group. It was the contemporary incarnation of the legendary Motown Records label, and the "urban" half of UMRG, although there was some rock artists on the label as well.Changes were made at...
and had joined Republic
Republic Records
Republic Records was a record label and subsidiary of Universal Motown Republic Group. They originally went by the name Cheese Factory Records...
. The lead single from the upcoming album is called "Reflection" and was premiered on SoundCloud in September 2011, songs from the album are expected to be previewed at Shontelle's birthday bash .
On July 24, a two-minute preview of a new song, "Ready to Go", was uploaded online. According to some websites, it is not to appear on Shontelle's third studio album but will be played in clubs.
Discography
Studio albums- 2008: ShontelligenceShontelligenceThe album has received generally mixed reviews from music critics.Ben Ratliffe of The New York Times gave the album a mixed review stating that:Alex Macpherson of The Guardian gave the album a mixed 3/5 stars stated that:...
- 2010: No GravityNo Gravity (Shontelle album)No Gravity is the second studio album by Barbadian recording artist Shontelle, released on September 21, 2010 by SRC Records. Initially scheduled for an August 2010 release the album has been in production since August 2009 and was pushed back by one month to include additional recording sessions...
Tours
- 2009: I Am... Tour (supporting act)
- 2010: To The Sky Tour by Kevin RudolfKevin RudolfKevin Rudolf is an American singer-songwriter and record producer signed to Cash Money Records. Rudolf is mostly known for singing and producing rock/pop music...
(supporting act) - 2010/11: Jason Derülo World TourJason Derülo World TourJason Derülo World Tour is a world tour by Pop and R&B singer Jason Derülo. This is his first headlining world tour. The tour stops in Europe, United States, Australia and New Zealand. The tour kicked off on August 19 2010 with a sold out London show...
(supporting act)
On February 27, Shontelle played a headlining gig at 90 Degrees Pub in Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
.
On July 3, Shontelle performed in Altamonte Springs, Florida at Red, Hot and Boom.
Charity involvement
The singer is also known for her involvement in some charity work. She has lent her talent in raising funds for patients with Alzheimer's in the Together for Care concert, girl's education for She's the FirstShe's the First
She's the First is a non-profit organization based in New York. It was launched on 1 November 2009 under the leadership of Tammy Tibbetts and Christen Brandt...
, VH1 Save the Music Foundation, and breast cancer research charities.