Interview: Shontelle

After waiting and waiting and waiting, IT'S FINALLY HEREEEEEEEE! I've been talking about it for months and expecting it for weeks - my interview with SHONTELLE.


Shontelle needs no introduction, with singles like T-Shirt, Licky and now Impossible, she's constantly impressed me and millions of other people. I'll admit that next to the Sugababes, VV Brown, and Agnes Carlsson, this Shontelle interview is probably the biggest thing I've ever had for PRN. Damn.

So, without further interruption, I bring you a Pop Reviews Now exclusive interview with Shontelle.

1. First off I'm a huge fan. Hahah. As an artist, where do you draw your influences from, which artists really had an effect on how your music sounds?

My parents listened to alot of Motown (Stevie Wonder, Jackson 5, Diana Ross, Marvin Gay etc) as well as Whitney Houston, Prince, Madonna, Earth Wind & Fire and a lot of Classic Rock, so I kinda grew up on that stuff and I feel like that's my foundation. I really got into TLC, Aaliyah, Lauryn Hill, Brandy, Alicia Keys & Beyonce a bit later in life.These days I listen to and I'm influenced by pretty much ALL music and Artists.

2. To people who may not know of your music (yet) or aren't really that familiar with it, how would you describe your over-all sound and who you are as a musician?

That's always a weird question for me because artistically speaking, I hate being put into a box. But I guess "my sound" fits a Top 40 Pop/R&B format mostly with some Caribbean inflections as I'm from Barbados. I like to make music that crosses all formats.

3. Did you ever imagine being in the position you are right now - being signed to a major record label and having a top 40 single under your belt?

It's always been my dream and I always knew I could actually do it. I always looked for a way to make it happen no matter how unimaginable or how "Impossible" it seemed. I just needed the opportunity to present itself. The second it did, I jumped and spread my wings...

4. I personally think the transition from first to second album is one of the most difficult parts of anyone's career - how do you think you handled the shift?

I agree with you totally. It's easy to get in. Far from to maintain. Album 2 is like finally being inducted into the "club" It's a very interesting transition all the way down to the way you're treated by the public but also your peers. I think so far, so good. I believe based on Shontelligence, we've been able to narrow it down to what people like the most and No Gravity will showcase much more of that. The most important thing to me is that on your second album, you improve from the first. I've worked hard to do that. I believe I have...

5. Musically, what can we expect from 'No Gravity' as a whole, will it be majorly different from 'Shontelligence' or is it a continuation?

The album will be different in many ways. The overall sound is more polished. Shontelligence was intentionally a bit more gritty and introductory. "No Gravity" has a lot more dance records and radio friendly tracks. I did a lot of the writing again. I'm excited. I want this album to win Grammys!

6. I listened to 'Impossible' and I really think it's gorgeous, with the sweeping melody and the epic arrangement. What do you want to achieve with this single both chart-wise and musically?

I'd like to see Impossible cross all formats and become a worldwide #1 smash! I think it deserves to be. I's love to see the writers, producer and engineer that are responsible for Impossible win some major awards and earn some cred. It's very pure and pretty much any one in the world can relate to it. It's not Impossible for all of this to happen is it?

7. 'Licky' (the song) is very different from 'Impossible' and a lot of your older material in my opinion - what fueled you to record the song?

I've always wanted to make records like "Licky" I just think we played it safe on Shontelligence. But I've learned that playing it safe gets you nowhere and I've really changed gears this time around. I'd rather fail taking risks than be average playing it safe...

8. If you were to collaborate with any artist currently active in the music industry, who would it be, what kind of song would you record and why?

I would love to colab with Alicia Keys. I'm curious to see what see would bring out of me. She's so versatile and dynamic. I guess we'll have to wait until it happens to see what kind of song it will be ;)

9. Is branching out as an international act (as in touring the world, charting in countries aside from the US and the UK) on your agenda? Why or why not?

It's most definitely my plan to be Worldwide in every sense of the word and I've been blessed to have had a taste of it thus far. How I'm HUNGRY!

10. What do you want to be remembered for in the next 10 or 20 years?

Simply making great music to inspire, motivate and entertain the people of the world. Music is the Universal language. I want the world to understand my language and I want to speak and understand theirs. Whatever other good things my music brings my way, I welcome with open arms!

You know where to find her. If all else fails, Google her! hahah.

Friday Night Post. Yes, another one.

Expect this every week from now on, as well as the resumption of MY WEEKLY TOP 20. Yes, after a lull last December that lasted until January, my top 20 will resume next week, February 1. HAHAH. But let's get to business now.

The second part of the soundtrack for the Korean soap opera/drama God Of Study was recently released (gah, I sound like I'm writing news) and with the line up of idol groups like Secret, f(x), B2ST, 4Minute and FT Triple (who're headed here sometime in the first quarter of the year) I could resist giving it a try. Apart from the stereotypical OST ballads that I either hate of have had way too much off, there were two songs in particular that REALLY got stuck in my head. They're not the most musically proficient things since anything and they're not anything new but they have enough power to get me listening to them non-stop for days. They're happy, upbeat and though at times they sound really cheap, they're worth the listen. Both songs are by sibling groups B2ST and 4Minute under Cube Entertainment (aka the 'we don't think you'll be extremely successful as a JYP artist so we're dumping you here' company). The 4Minute song is a cover of Canon in D. Although not obvious, the chords are the same. It's not plagiarism, if any of you crazy anti fans start crawling out of nowhere.

(click the read more function for the rest of the post. Yes, there's more.)


I think I should formally write about this on the blog before it actually comes. I GOT AN INTERVIEW WITH SHONTELLE. Yes, SHONTELLE. Her new single Impossible is actually pretty good - it's epic and the melody's gorgeous. Love the piano loop and I love how you'd think it'd build up by the second verse but it doesn't as much as I expected it. Hahah.

I'm headed to the 4Minute promo tour next month - they're hitting Manila! Hahah. So expect pictures and a review of the event. And just to let you know, 4Muzik is being promoted like crazy over here - in one record store alone it's in THREE DIFFERENT PLACES. Make that 4. But Mel will be pleased to know that Muzik is growing on me. Hot Issue is a little too out for me but Muzik is pretty catchy now that I'm not hearing it all over the kpop sites.

To be honest with you I was expecting a lot from the new SNSD album before Oh! was released and although my expectations were lowered when I actually heard Oh!, I don't think the album is as good as I hoped it would be. It's confused - one minute they're cutesy and the next they're trying to be French or wannabe Bossa Nova (*throws up*) with the vibe. Of course they're not copying French pop (I know a thing or two about that courtesy of Priscilla) but the 'vibe' is like stereotypical French. Gah. But anyway, there are however 2 songs worth listening to for me - the gorgeous, gorgeous ballad Forever, one of the few songs that actually show off whatever semblance of voices most of them have, and Boys and Girls, their 'duet' with SHINee's Key which is attitude in the right way without losing whatever 'signature style' they've come to have.

Now Adam Tyler recently caught my ear. I haven't delved too much into his music but I got a megamix a few days back and mini-raided his YT channel, he's pretty good. Processing like there's no tomorrow but I dunno, it sounds tasteful. That's what this guy is - catchy, tasteful autotune. Will get more in-depth when I interview him. Watch out for it.

Now for the rest of the stuff. Just very quickly.

There's a relatively new remix of After School's hit Because of You and although the song is brilliant in every way, some of the epic-ness got lost in the re-arrangement. Produced by the same team, The Brave Brothers, U-Kiss have a new digital single out - Without You. It's like a less epic, more generic Brave Brothers version of Because of You, for people who can sing. But there's no doubt that Because of You is the big hit and it sounds like one.

I got my copy of DBSK's Mirotic Version C today *dances around room* and in line with sales and all that, Break Out! sold over 180,000 copies in it's first day last Wednesday, according to Oricon. First day sales surpassed their highest total single sales, Jaejoong and Yoochun's Colors, which only managed to sell around 100,000+ copies.

There are rumors that JLS are planning a US career. Once again, you guys over need a boyband. It would be nice if it was American but as long as it's a boyband, I'm fine with that.

Best of 2009: February #6 - #3

Who just barely missed the top in February? Read on!

#6: Shontelle and Akon - Stuck with Each Other

This is the song that'll forever mark my mini-addiction to Confessions of a Shopaholic because it was the first song that I was attracted to when I was watching the trailers. This was the song that made me willing to kill the soundtrack, just for the melody. Processing like hell and the instrumental is a bit so-so except for the string section and some of the guitar parts but I absolutely adore the melody. Shontelle's voice fits the song perfectly, she doesn't hit you over the head but she can sing pretty well - just right.

#5: Trey Songz - Takes Time To Love

The first version I heard was the Chris Brown one but this was released around the same time his issue with Rihanna had just exploded so I don't know if he was supposed to be on the OST but was dropped or if his version was just a demo. Regardless of who sings it, this is another one of the songs I like for just the melody - nothing else.

#4: Natasha Bedingfield - Again

(see my first review of Again)

Again is the LAST of the Shopaholic tracks, I SWEAR. Of course, Natasha Bedingfield blows all the other songs on the soundtrack out of the water with a stunning ballad. It's got a beautiful melody, an instrumental that makes an impact (it's the piano part) and for crap's sake the vocals just add a whole other dimension to it. Gorgeous. Esmee Denters covered it months later and she's great but there's something lacking - her voice is a little to smooth and sanitary to match Natasha's.

#3: Bayje - 20 Miles to Graceland

(see Find A Way on last year's best of)

I first came to know Bayje when one of the old music blogs I used to go to posted Find A Way as a new JoJo song. It may seem kinda stupid but to someone who doesn't know Bayje, her vocals can sound quite similar to JoJo's. But anyway, 20 Miles to Graceland was one of the songs she posted on MySpace earlier this year and I fell in love. Sounds ala-Alicia Keys but not and her vocals are just WHOA. Hahah. No video for the song, can't find it on YT.

New Music!

Haven't been posting, sorry about that. haha.

• The new Lady Sovereign album is out. Haven't heard the whole thing yet but I'll try to whip up a review in the next few weeks.
• There's a new JLo's new single is apparently a recently leaked song, Hooked On You. I like it, it's very... American, very JLo. I love the melody, the arrangement's fine and her vocals are so-so as always so am looking forward to the new album!
• I FINALLY found the last Liberty X album! Yay! Have been listening to it for the past few days, it's amazing as always!
• There's a new Corbin Bleu song out as well but I'm not convinced. One the outside it sounds like a fairly good song but there's something about the melody that makes me uneasy, that makes me not want to listen to it. Moments That Matter is still the standout track so far. Amazing stuff, but I'm not so sure if there's enough amazing stuff on his new album to pull it through.
• Am currently addicted to Shontelle. It's late, I know but I just got a hold of her album recently and I only got the chance to listen to it a few days ago. I LOVE the songs, she's very contemporary and she sounds like all the big singers at the moment but she's not. She's got her own identity and she's got a grip on what music is right now. She's almost as amazing as Karina for me..
• Jesse McCartney's re-release is slowly coming together. There's a live version of a rumored song on it, Body Language and may I say, he's amazing. He's R&B and yet he's being himself, the artist we saw in his first two albums. Can't wait! haha!
• This year's American Idol is not that they promised us it would be, amazing. There have only been about four or five good performances so far and even those weren't as good as last year plus the fact that one guy during the first week didn't get in just because he had no 'personality' but his voice was gorgeous. I'm scared for the show, to be honest. The contestants cannot just keep on murdering these amazing pop songs and make them bland, off-key and horrible performances.
• The Black Eyed Peas have a new song out. Not a big fan, but you gotta admit, it's a very BEP song and it'll most probably be this huge hit. They're good technically, they've mastered the craft but they're personally not my taste, that's it. I do however love how after a lot of new artists keep coming out, they still manage to give us something worth listening to and something that's them.
• Am currently in love as well with the piano mix of Alesha Dixon's Breathe Slow. Love the original song but the piano mix has an even bigger contrast than the original. Alesha's voice isn't exactly smooth and the piano just flows, I LOVE it! haha. It has a lot less instruments as well.. yay!
• There's a new Mary J Blige song out, What Love Is and I'm slowly falling in love with it. Very mellow compared to Just Fine but the melody is just brilliant, it makes ma want to listen to her other albums now! Amazing vocals as usual, she better release more new stuff soon!
• Rihanna's got a new song as well, following the Chris Brown incident. It's so-so, but I've stopped liking Rihanna for a long time now. Not that I'm saying she's not a good singer or anything but I do think she's too overrated. She releases songs, she's a singer just like everyone else in the industry and she may be a good performer and all but there are people better than her.

I promise to post a little more than this past week, I've been to busy with schoolwork and getting sick and all. Will be back tomorrow with another post!