Her name is Chantal Chamandy. 
New Talent
Her name is Chantal Chamandy.
A
little bio: Singer-songwriter Chantal Chamandy is fast emerging as
a star with her debut album Love Needs You, and its irresistible hit lead
single, “You Want Me.” Via a super-charged remix by Brian Rawling (famed
for Cher's “Believe”) the sensuous track has been burning up dance floors
at London's hottest trend-setting clubs, seen heavy airplay on MTV-U.K. and
The Box, and scaled the heights of Music Week's Upfront Club Chart and
Billboard's Dance breakout chart. In early 2006, Love Needs You is now set for
release throughout North America.
Like the artist herself, the song that's introducing this vibrant new talent
is an exotic mix of international influences, boasting English lyrics
complemented by passages in French, Chantal's first language. Born in
Alexandria, Egypt to a Greek-Egyptian father and a Lebanese mother, she grew
up in Montreal, Canada, where she still resides. Throughout Chamandy's
personal and creative life, her multicultural background has been mirrored by
eclectic artistic pursuits and studies. In addition to English and French,
Chantal is fluent in Arabic and Italian and is learning Spanish. She's
performed in musical theatre, acted onstage and in film, danced and
choreographed and had extensive operatic and classical voice training.
The diverse and sweeping textures that flow through “You Want Me” and the
other thirteen tracks on Love Needs You capture exciting elements from many of
the genres and styles that Chamandy loves. Weaving through the album are the
lush Latin-flavored guitar work of former Gipsy Kings member Chico Castillo,
Indian idioms, notably through Chamandy's Pakistani musical partner Subir Dev,
and the Middle Eastern melodies and rhythms that come so naturally to her
through her own family background.
“When I was writing these songs,” says Chantal, “I found myself
searching for textures that represent the different things I was exposed to
growing up-French music, American pop, soul, classical singing and more. To
me, the wonderful thing about this blend is that it's not a sound that's
easily defined, but more of an experimental hybrid. I sought out musicians who
I felt radiated an organic, ‘roots' vibe,' including flamenco guitarist Juan
Carranza. I loved collaborating with Subir, mixing the rhythms of his Indian
tablas with my Middle Eastern darboukas. Besides these influences, there are
also touches of Italian music, and I even use the Chinese two-string erhu on
‘Forever.' It's fun to mix things up.”
Words are as important to Chantal as music, who is fiercely loyal to her
personal lyrics, through which she conveys thoughts and feelings with inspired
emotional interpretation. “Not only did I write about my own mosaic,” she
says, “but also about those of friends, family and people I have met. We
come from many walks of life, but music and love, and our need to honestly
experience love, are the common denominators that hold us together.”
Chamandy's songs are delivered with the wisdom and conviction that spring from
her own identity as a devoted wife, mother and daughter, and as a strong woman
who has sought spiritual and cultural awakening around the globe.
At the same time that her debut album makes its own way further around the
globe with its U.S. release, Chantal is also working on a live show, and has
just issued a special limited edition disc called “You Want Me (The
Remixes),” featuring the Rawling version plus one by the Miami-based
production team Lee-Cabrera and The Bilz, among others. And, in addition to
being celebrated for her career breaking dance hit, Chamandy is embraced by
many as a pop artist whose music is a veritable fusion
of the music of the world.
“My music is definitely pop,” says Chantal, adding, “and I'm here to say
that I truly believe in love.” With powerful certainty, unique style and the
universal languages of music and the heart, Chantal Chamandy has arrived.
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Visit
her official site - 
Chantal on MySpace - click here
Review of her music - click here
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