Shontelle Layne, better known as Shontelle, is a Bajan singer of international status. After releasing her debut album Shontelligence in 2008, she rose to global fame, winning the hearts of noughties kids all over the world. She is most famous for her songs ‘T-shirt’, which peaked in the UK and Belgian top 10s respectively, and ‘Impossible’, which has become her most successful single to date, reaching number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2010, Shontelle collaborated with her fellow Barbadian Rihanna on the popular song Man Down. Sharing more than just their native roots and musical talents, Shontelle had been Rihanna’s drill sergeant in the army cadets.
Shontelle’s involvement in music goes beyond her own songwriting and performing; she is also heavily involved in charity work. She has performed for and donated to the non-profit organisation Save the music foundation (STM), which has donated over $60 million to restoring music programs in public schools in New York. She is also an active role model and member of the charity. She’s the First (STF), a charity based out of New York which fights gender inequality through educating and empowering women. Its stated mission is to help to create a “world where every girl can choose her future.” Not content with her music success, Shontelle has in recent months moved onto the screen after she was signed by Amazon Prime to co-star in the new film Joseph.
Chatting on this episode of Discover a Thriver Shontelle shared her life before getting signed for a label, the impact of Covid on her career, coping with success, being nominated for a Grammy, and so much more.