Shontelle Layne (born October 4, 1983), better known by her first name Shontelle, is a Bajan singer-songwriter. She appeared in the music video for the re-worked "Roll It" performed by J-Status featuring Rihanna and herself, from 2006. Shontelle was recently signed to Street Records Corporation/Universal Motown Records. She also won the Barbados Music Award (BMA) for "Song of the Year" (2009) for "T-Shirt".

Biography

Shontelle was born on October 4, 1983 in Saint James, Barbados, to Raymond and Beverley Layne. She has two younger sisters, Rayana and Rhea Layne and a younger brother. On the sports field she was highly competitive too. “I did track and field”, she recalls.

As a child, Shontelle would tell her mother that she was going to a friend's house, but then sneak off to a recording studio. She is now a bestselling artist, due to her popular single, T- Shirt.

Shontelle was a student at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus in Barbados (currently on hold), and was on her way to becoming a lawyer before SRC, the same label known for discovering her friend Rihanna, saw her talent. Shontelle wrote the song "Roll It Gal" for regionally renowned Alison Hinds. The song had big success in the Caribbean, New York, Miami and Europe. Her lyrical writing helped her to perform with Natahlee (a Barbadian singer). Their hit song was "Colours" which was a song showing the pride of being Barbadian did so well, that a remix was made to represent the whole West Indies.

Career

Shontelligence (2008-present)

Shontelle's debut single, "T-Shirt" was released on July 15, 2008, and peaked at #36 on the Hot 100, becoming a mild hit. Although her debut album was scheduled for a September, 2008 release, it was released on November 18, 2008. Her album Shontelligence was released to mixed reviews and reached #115 on the Billboard 200, eventually selling a low 50,000 records in the US. The albums follow-up singles, "Stuck with Each Other" and "Battle Cry" failed to garner even as much success as the lead single.

Shontelle performed at Hot 99.5's "Bras Across DC Little Pink Dress"  party at the Hard Rock Cafe in Washington, DC on Friday, October 24. She also performed at the 18th Annual Kissmas Bash on December 9, 2008 at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, NY at a yearly radio event on WKSE KISS 98.5. Shontelle performed her hit single "T-Shirt" at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, on November 27, 2008. Shontelle was a drill sergeant in Barbados, in a training corps similar to R.O.T.C. Shontelle was interviewed on the music choice show "Fresh Crops" which is currently released for viewers to watch.

Shontelle toured as a support act for the UK leg of the New Kids on the Block World Tour in January 2009. She also was added to the 2009 Springroove Music Festival lineup and performed across Japan in April.

Shontelle is also the host of MyPromStyle.com and Universal Motown's 2009 Ultimate Prom fashion reality series. She will perform at a high school prom in New York City on June 5, 2009, but first she leads three students in a competition to design the dress singer Kat DeLuna, the headliner, will wear at the Ultimate Prom concert. Shontelle was confirmed as to be going on tour with Beyoncé in May - June 2009! The “T-Shirt” singer will open for Beyoncé on the UK leg of her I Am… Tour. On May 18, 2009, Shontelle told interview journalist Chris Yandek her hopes to tour with Beyonce, “I would love to actually be able to meet her and be in the same space to really genuinely thank her and her team for the opportunity. It’s kinda like being co-signed by someone who’s already legendary. It feels good to the ego but it’s also – that was a gesture that touched me in a way like when at that point you may be questioning is this the right thing for me to do and are things moving the way they should be? Then something like that happens. It’s almost like a message to the world in a sense."

Shontelle has so far proved most famous internationally in the United Kingdom. Her first release there, "T-Shirt" reached #6 on the UK Singles Chart and #1 on the UK R&B Chart, her run up single "Stuck With Each Other" reached #23 and #10 on the UK Singles Chart and UK R&B Chart respectively. In the United States, "T-Shirt" peaked at #1 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart.

Shontelle performed at the 2009 T4 at the Beach concert in the United Kingdom on July 19, 2009.

Second Album

Shontelle was in an interview on July 19, 2009, and she said that although she had nothing done in terms of a future second record, she did know that she wants it out by the end of 2010 and that it will be very retro. She also stated that she wants to work with Beyonce.