Shontelle

by RICKY JORDAN

YET ANOTHER BARBADIAN artiste has landed a major deal with one of the most prestigious music labels in the world.

Shontelle Layne signed a recording contract with Universal Motown Records last week Thursday. It's the label that boasts Damian Junior Gong Marley and Chamillionaire but its parent company, Universal, has also boasted artists like Stevie Wonder, the Bee Gees, Prince, Toni Braxton and Elton John.

Layne, who penned Roll and the Party Monarch-winning Colours among other local hits, yesterday described her deal with Universal Motown as a lucrative one and said the journey had only just begun.

"It's very rewarding for me and something I have always dreamed of, but the work starts now because people get signed every day," she said via telephone from New York, where she has been recording in Evan Rogers and Carl Sturken's Syndicated Rhythm Productions (SRP) studio.

The University of the West Indies law student, who turned 23 in October, met Rogers last year after he was impressed upon hearing Roll sung by Alison Hinds. Since then, they have been cutting demos which led to Layne being signed on to Universal last week as "a complete artist with mutual creative licence", which means she will write, perform and be highly involved in all of her new projects.

The response to her music was fantastic, Rogers told the WEEKEND NATION. "Several labels wanted to work with her but we eventually went with Universal's Steve Rifkind, who's a highly respected executive in the industry and recently signed hip hop artist Akon. Universal is on to the idea of her being a singer/writer," said Rogers.

He explained that the deal was similar to the one SRP had struck for Rihanna with Def Jam, and noted it would be a great opportunity for Layne, whom he described as "a Caribbean Lauryn Hill". He added that SRP had been fortunate to land a second artist from Barbados, the birth place of his wife, Jackie Rogers.

"It's hard to find quality star talent and when you find it, you don't question where it comes from. You have to move. Barbados is a gold mine of talent," he added.

Layne, saying it was a new experience having to meet with label executives and perform at some of the meetings in the United States, said she didn't want to have to leave Barbados to focus on her music career – which involves a seven-album deal – but it would eventually be more convenient.

However, she intends to finish her studies at the Cave Hill Campus, where she has one more semester.

She will be co-managed by Rihanna's manager, Mark Jordan, and Sonia Mullins, who has managed other local artistes, including TC, Natahlee and Adrian Clarke.

Meanwhile, Rogers and Sturken are looking at other local acts, including an 18-year-old female singer who is unknown in mainstream circles.

* rickyjordan@ nationnews.com