& More 2015
Polo & More: What are some of your happiest memories of
growing up in Barbados?
Shontelle: Going to the beach every Sunday with my family, and
the picnics and drives on the East Coast. I also really enjoyed my
Cadet and Officer days as well as my time as an athlete,
representing Barbados competitively in swimming and track and
field, and my school in lawn tennis.
Polo & More: Did you always live in Barbados, until you moved
away to pursue your music career?
Shontelle: I grew up mostly in Barbados, spending summers in
NYC and other school breaks in Miami or London. I lived
between Barbados and NYC while pursuing my record deal. As
soon as I officially signed to Universal Records, I immediately
moved permanently to the USA. My first apartment was in
Greenwich, Connecticut. Then to Westchester in the suburbs of
New York. I currently live in Manhattan, NYC.
Polo & More: I notice that you studied at UWI, what did you
major in?
Shontelle: My first year I majored in Computer Science and
Information Technology. I was really into gaming and animation
and I wanted to understand programming and learn more about
computers and the tech world, unfortunately there weren’t really
any Majors or courses at UWI that truly focused on those areas.
I didn’t really want to be a programmer or fix computers or
manage IT departments for companies. Worse yet, I always hated
Math and for some reason I swear I get panic attacks when I see
numbers. So I knew I wasn’t ready or prepared for all the
algorithms and algebra. Especially not the Boolean kind! So my
second year I transferred and picked up Law and Philosophy,
which I studied through my final year. I never did final exams
because I got signed and I left Barbados with haste after much
encouragement from my teachers and my Dean.
Polo & More: Did you always know that you wanted a career in
Music?
Shontelle: Absolutely.
Polo & More: When did you actively decide to pursue this career?
Shontelle: I think I always have acted towards this goal for as
long as I can remember being alive. Always singing and playing
instruments. The only other career I even came close to pursuing
was Veterinary Medicine. Again I love animals but I hate numbers.
I always told my parents music was my life and I had no interest in
doing anything else professionally. Not even sports, which I was so
naturally good at and thoroughly enjoyed. But I made a definitive
decision to learn as much as I could and work industriously until I
reached my goal. To defy the odds and break barriers and spread
Barbados farther across the map. To prove that we are just as
capable as any other people on Earth to make world class music
and be recognized globally for it.
Polo & More: Did you get a lucky break, or is everything you have
achieved it solely through your own efforts ?
Shontelle: I think every artist has a unique experience on their
journey to success. Some may view hers as a “lucky break” , which
in many ways luck was certainly on her side. But just like myself,
what she has accomplished has always been a lifelong dream of
hers and she put in a hell of a lot of work and made unbelievable
sacrifices to establish and maintain her iconic status. I certainly
face many challenges she has not, but the same can be said vice
versa. My experience has involved being deceived, robbed, stolen
from, lied to, betrayed, changing labels, fights with publishers,
limited if any budgets for PR. No real promo and having to dig
deep in my pockets to make every step I have. Sometimes I believe
I’m truly blessed and I’m on exactly the path I’m meant to be.
Considering where I come from and my limitations, I often have to
pinch myself when I think about how much I’ve accomplished and
how far I’ve come despite the odds. And it just keeps getting better
and better and each step is a challenging and rewarding one.
90
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