MUSIC
From Issue #19
Interview: Keshia Chanté
We Love This Juno-Winning Chanteuse!
by Jono Boysen
FAZE: Where did you start from and did you always think
you’d be where you are today?
KESHIA: I definitely knew I would be a singer because I’ve
always had that goal and I’ve always been taught that
anything you put your mind to you can accomplish. When I
was young and I said I was going to be a singer, there was no
doubt in my mind anyone could stop me: school couldn’t stop
me, friends couldn’t stop me, being in Ottawa couldn’t stop
me, because Ottawa was very restricting compared to Toronto
because the music label offices are here in Toronto; know
what I’m saying?
FAZE: What do you mean when you say your friends couldn’t
stop you?
KESHIA: My girls back in Ottawa are my best friends, and I know that
was kind of an issue for me when moving to Toronto. It’s
really hard for someone to find one best friend, let alone to
find six that are all amazing and they all get along. It was a
really tight family. For me to leave them, it was one of those
things where I’m going to say bye to them but that wasn’t
going to stop me. I always said I was going to be a singer and
my friends in a way, they didn’t stop me, instead they pushed
me. But the fact that I was leaving them was an obstacle for
me because it was a lot of hard work moving to Toronto and
dealing with the fact that they’re not here and I can’t see
them every single day. I can call them but it’s not the same.
FAZE: So far what have been your best memories in your path
from Ottawa to here?
KESHIA: Hmm best memories… finishing the album, getting to hear
your album is done! I was like yes, the album’s done! Videos
have always been really fun and I have a really good team of
the glam squad and the people I’m around are really, really
fun. And singing the national anthem for the Blue Jays was
really exciting for me. And the awards, that was another one
that was just like (gasps) very exciting! (First time Juno
winner, Keshia won R&B/Soul Recording of the Year for her
self titled album)
FAZE: Moving forward, where would you like to be five years
from now?
KESHIA: In five years I have a lot of aspirations and a lot of ambition.
I want to be able to direct my videos and produce my music.
I write my music now, but I want to write it completely. I want
to get into fashion and acting. I want to direct other people’s
stuff. There are so many things I just I want to do and so
many dreams I want to go after.
FAZE: What does success mean to you?
KESHIA: Success is when you are happy with everything and you think
everything is in place. Or someone else can look at me and
say that I am successful. I take that compliment more as an
opinion than a fact. My explanation of success is just me
being able to say that I’ve done everything that I’ve wanted to
do. So all these years that I have, if I can fulfill all of them to
my highest capabilities then I’ll be like yeah! I did it.
Faze co-ops Ana Kapodistrias and Jono Boysen hang with the lovely Keshia Chanté.
Later they watched the shooting of Keshia's video for “Let The Music Take You”.
Photos: Top,BMG Music Canada
