Shontelle

Biography

Shontelle Delia Layne (born 4 October 1985), known mononymously as Shontelle, is a Barbadian singer and songwriter. She released her debut album Shontelligence×Shontelligence17 November 2008 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1T-Shirt3:542Battle Cry3:323Superwoman4:194Cold Cold Summer3:445Roll It3:306Life Is Not an Easy Road3:447Focus Pon Me3:068Plastic People3:599I Crave You3:5710Ghetto Lullabye3:0611Flesh and Bone3:31 in 2008. Her second album, No Gravity×No Gravity1 January 2010 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Perfect Nightmare3:502Impossible3:463No Gravity3:364Take Ova (feat. Pitbull)4:085Say Hello to Goodbye3:526DJ Made Me Do It (feat. Asher Roth)3:237Love Shop3:228Helpless3:379Kiss You Up3:1710T-Shirt (Radio Killa remix)3:5311Evacuate My Heart3:22, was released in 2010. Her singles "T-Shirt×T-Shirt2008 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1T-Shirt3:122T-Shirt (Bimbo Jones remix)5:423T-Shirt (Crazy Cousinz remix)5:384Blaze It Up3:53" and "Impossible×Impossible9 February 2010 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Impossible3:46" achieved international success. In 2020, Shontelle released "Remember Me×Remember Me14 March 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Remember Me3:39".

2008–2009: Shontelligence

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×Shontelligence17 November 2008 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1T-Shirt3:542Battle Cry3:323Superwoman4:194Cold Cold Summer3:445Roll It3:306Life Is Not an Easy Road3:447Focus Pon Me3:068Plastic People3:599I Crave You3:5710Ghetto Lullabye3:0611Flesh and Bone3:31" as a joke after Shontelle and her producers were playing a game that involved making up words from her name. "T-Shirt×T-Shirt2008 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1T-Shirt3:122T-Shirt (Bimbo Jones remix)5:423T-Shirt (Crazy Cousinz remix)5:384Blaze It Up3:53", Shontelle's debut single, was released in July 2008 and reached number thirty-six on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming a moderate hit. However, it peaked within the top ten of the charts in Belgium and the United Kingdom.
Shontelle's debut album, Shontelligence, was released on 18 November 2008. The album reached number 115 on the US 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 10 March 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 23 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's opening act for her I Am... World Tour from May to June 2009 during the British leg.
Shontelle Also began writing songs for many artists in Barbados including the 2007 crop over hit Roll It Gyal for the Queen of Soca Alison Hinds and the 2018 crop over hit Winners for Shanta Prince.
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, would wear at the Ultimate Prom concert.
Shontelle
As of 2012, Shontelligence has sold 50,000 copies in the US.

2009–2010: No Gravity

Shontelle's second album, No Gravity×No Gravity1 January 2010 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Perfect Nightmare3:502Impossible3:463No Gravity3:364Take Ova (feat. Pitbull)4:085Say Hello to Goodbye3:526DJ Made Me Do It (feat. Asher Roth)3:237Love Shop3:228Helpless3:379Kiss You Up3:1710T-Shirt (Radio Killa remix)3:5311Evacuate My Heart3:22, was released in the US on 21 September 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, she stated that 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 eighty-one 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 (2010). The two had met in the army cadets, where Shontelle was Rihanna's drill sergeant.
The lead single from the album, "Impossible×Impossible9 February 2010 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Impossible3:46", was released in February 2010 for digital download, but failed to garner success until May of that year, 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 sent to pop radio on 15 March 2011, as the third single. Both failed to chart on the Hot 100, but did make it onto the Pop songs chart. No Gravity has sold an estimated 150,000 copies in the US as of 2012.

2011–present: Move to Republic Records, Boomerang, and Tokyo Nights

Shontelle played at GUMBO @ The Canal Room in New York City on 15 July 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 Universal Republic. The lead single from the upcoming album is called "Reflection" and it premiered on SoundCloud in September 2011. Songs from the album were expected to be previewed at Shontelle's birthday bash. Amongst those confirmed to be working on the album were Rockwilder, Tony Kanal, and The Runners. A restructure at Universal Music Group meant that Motown Records was separated from Universal Motown Republic Group and merged with The Island Def Jam Music Group. Universal Republic was shut down and all of the artists on the label were transferred to the newly revived Republic Records. Shontelle is now recording for Republic Records.
In December 2012, Shontelle confirmed that "Put Me on Blast" would be the lead single from her upcoming third studio album, and that she had already filmed the music video for the single in Los Angeles. Her third album was scheduled for release in 2013, but never materialized, and no future dates have been announced.
On 4 November 2017, she performed and was a guest judge in Miss Earth 2017 held in Manila. In 2021, Shontelle will co-star in the Amazon Prime film Joseph and also signed with Shakir Entertainment Management in New York City for television and film.
On 14 March 2020, Shontelle released her promo single "Remember Me×Remember Me14 March 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Remember Me3:39" as an introduction into her new era. On 9 April 2021, Shontelle collaborated on the single "Let You Go" with Supasoaka and Arpad.
On 29 October 2021, Shontelle released the lead single "Sanctify×Sanctify29 October 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Sanctify3:30" off her upcoming untilted EP. On 14 January 2022, Shontelle released the single "Be the One×Be the One14 January 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Be the One3:042Sanctify3:303Sanctify (acoustic)3:23" as the second single from the EP. Shontelle released the promotional single "No More" as the Metheors Theme Song, on 14 March 2022. On 27 May 2022, Shontelle released her EP titled Boomerang×Boomerang27 May 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Boomerang3:132Be the One3:043Sanctify3:304Live It Up3:325Sanctify (awzm remix)3:306Boomerang (Rudo Brody remix)3:167Be the One (MW remix)2:338Live It Up (MW remix)3:219Sanctify (Acoustic)3:2310Be the One (Acoustic)3:04 which includes the new songs "Boomerang" and "Live It Up" as well as remixes and acoustic mixes. On July 11, 2024, Shontelle released her third studio album, Tokyo Nights×Tokyo Nights11 July 2024 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 21 tracks1Need Someone3:412Yesterday2:483Mountain3:454Light a Candle3:425Tokyo Nights3:076Picking Me Up3:207Shooting Stars3:438Worse Things3:589Waiting on Ya3:1810Die Young3:0411Too Comfortable3:1912Trouble3:3713Hurricane3:5614Dance3:4315We Are Invincible2:5916Should've Known Better3:4117Fast Line3:3218Don't Lock Me Out3:2819When the Lights Go Down3:2620Find My Way3:0021Key to My Heart3:24.

Philanthropy

Shontelle is also known for her involvement in charity work. She used her talent to help raise funds for patients with Alzheimer's through the Together for Care concert, girl's education for She's the First, VH1 Save the Music Foundation, and breast cancer research charities.

Other performances

On 2 December 2010, Shontelle co-headlined Electric 94.9's Acoustic Christmas along with 3OH!3 in Kingsport, TN.
On 27 February 2011, Shontelle played a headlining gig at 90 Degrees Pub in Southampton.
On 28 February 2011, Shontelle played a headlining gig at Glam Nightclub in Cardiff.
On 15 May 2011, Shontelle played a co-headlining show at Star 102.1's Star Jam in Pigeon Forge, TN.
On 3 July 2011, Shontelle performed in Altamonte Springs, Florida at Red, Hot and Boom.
On 13 October 2015, Shontelle performed at the 100-year-anniversary celebration gala of Big Brothers Big Sisters (South Eastern Pennsylvania) at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia.
On 4 November 2017, Shontelle was the Special Guest Performer at the 2017 Miss Earth pageant held at the Mall of Asia Arena in the Philippines.