Cassie: Great interview girl! I just love your personality. It's so sad that you had to hear your parents fighting while you were growing up. That's such a horrible thing for someone so young to have to hear.

Dominic: What up girl? Nice little interview and I'll be looking out for part two.

Stacey: Welcome back. See you was thristy..
ChaneL: YESSSSS baby! I had to go get me some water. My throat was dry. (laughs)
Stacey: How did you get connected with Ben Willer?
Chanel: I saw an ad on the computer because he did a nationwide ad release for new talent for his management. I was like, " Sounds dope, let me give this a try.." Because it's many times I will try something for my music and it was a scam or a trick, a catch to the deal, so I really didnt believe this one was true. I sent my demo to him, which was called, Smooth Chanel. I sent him to him, he reviewed it and I think two weeks later. He wanted me to fly to LA to sign with him.
Stacey: Was it this thing about you moved out of your parents house, they didnt want you to go? You moved to LA with two hundreds dollors?
Chanel: That's true. When I told my mother about the meeting with Ben, she was thinking he can be a child offender, just crazy shit my mom being the OVERR protected mother she is. Oh lord, times times. But, I was 19 at the time, legel adult. So I just moved. I told my mom that I was leaving that morning to a flight to California. She was trying to talk me out of it, words went out the ear and she went in my room and I took out two hundred dollors from my bank account, that I worked for and I left.
Stacey: What was her reaction when she saw you wasnt in your bed that morning?
Chanel: (laughs) At first, she screamed. Then, she cursed and she finally settled down and called me. I was to Houston,TX at the airport already, boarding on. The words she said was, " You better watch your back little girl." " Yes ma'am!" I said and I called her when I reached LA.
Stacey: What happened when you finally reached LA?
Chanel: I got me a little cheap hotel, which wasnt cheap. I wanted to pull my hair OUT OF MY HEAD girl, it was soo damn hot out there. See, Austin has chill weather, very nice and breezy. But LA at the time was really breezy but at the same time HOT! So I got me a little hotel and Ben called me to come meet him. I remember my hair being all over my head, I had this red dress on because I love dresses and he was like, " What happened to you?" " Long story short minster, IT'S damn HOT and black girls and hair dont get along.."
Stacey: (laughs) true. What did you do at the audition, also knowing you are 21 and then you was 19?
Chanel: I performed live the songs from my demo and it was hard because the questions he asked me and never thought about a answer too so it was like my words was all in one so he couldnt understand me, then I got nervous, my voice started to shake, oh shit I thought. But Ben is a very nice guy and he understand. So when he was building up his company, I went thought artist devolopment with vocal lessons, coaches, prouducers, working in the studio. He taught me so much for me to get ready out there in the music world and now I'm ready. It wasnt him that made me ready, it was myself. Myself worked hard to prove to Ben I wanted to do music, it was my passion.
Stacey: Ever thought you will do music when you was growing up?
Chanel: YES! No one wanted to come over to my parents home because they wanted to talk and hang out with my mom, no no no. I will put on a show, singing, dancing, acting. Doing stand up comedy, which I wasnt funny, but I love to entertain an audience. They will just watch me until I shut up. I will shut up, then five minutes later, ANOTHER SHOW FROM CHANEL PROUDUCTIONS. They was so tired of me but hey, I love to do that and my mom always told me, " Hardworking people get hardworking results." If I wanted to live it, I had to dream it first.
Stacey: Did you think you can sing?
Chanel: My mom will always tell me, " you got a voice baby! GO HEAD!" But I didnt think I did. Of course, that was my mother. My dad will always just look at me with a big grin on his voice, so I thought I can sing. So I just started singing whenever I went and I didnt care. I was a real sassy little girl, if you didnt like what I will do it, most of the time; I will just look at you, smile and keep going like you never said anything. Ghost much.
Stacey: So you devoloped this love for performing?
Chanel: Yes at the age of nine, I really loved it. So when I was in church, everytime they will give me a chance to read a song, a bible verse, anything. I will do it. I love to perform, it was in my blood, something I knew I will love love love to do one day.
Stacey: What music did you grow up listneing too?
Chanel: Lousiania and my texas family, it was ALLLL about that BLUES AND RNB baby! That smooth jazz that creeps up in your soul, relaxing voices of RNB legends, Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross, Arentha Franklin, gospel music with RNB influeces such as Yolanda Adams. I love when I was a little girl listening to Tina Turner because her voice was so amazing. He made me get so excited when I was a little girl. Everytime my family will have gatherings and they will play music, it was my favorite part. I will try to learn every song they will play so I can sing it and act like the artist that's singing and sing the song from my family. Get a broom and sing. (laughs)
Stacey: You think you vocals came naturally?
Chanel: Yes. I really believe so, maybe it was all the music I listened too and how my grandmother use to sing melodies with me as a little girl. Music was meant for me, just as a little girl how music use to make me feel was amazing and I was like, " If I do not do anything use in this world, I WANT TO MAKE MUSIC LIKE THAT!" RNB, I loved!
Stacey: How did you know music was for you?
Chanel: First, when I use to steal my mother's record, bring them in my room and set up a performance route for every song. I use to play dresss up and act like I was Mrs. Tina back in 1985 when she performed all her rock and roll smooth jams. I knew music was for me when I started to live music. I didnt want to go no where without music, performing or talking about music. I dreamed about it everynight and day. It became apart of me and I learned that when I was about 11. Young.
Stacey: You already know the name of your debut album? That is?
Chanel: (closes eyes) Born Into Music. (shakes head) got that ring to it huh?
Stacey: Why did you name it that?
Chanel: Because I was born to do music, live music and write music. Music was ME! I was born to sing, perform and record. I was born to live a dream so big. I was born into music.
Stacey: How is the process coming along?
Chanel: I'm keeping my mouth close.
Stacey: (laughs) More with Chanel Devine when we return!