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This Bay of Plenty native is breaking the traditional ’introspective girl-on-guitar’ stereotype - piano being her weapon of choice. She has drive, passion and most importantly a unique voice and personality to entertain us as she delivers her songs.
Despite being told she was too intelligent to go to polytech, and that music was only a hobby, 18yr old Chanelle went to study at Waikato Institute of Technology with the attitude that if the world needs songs - then it must need people to write them. She breezed through the three year degree and graduated with a Bachelor of Commercial Music, songwriting major.
In 2006 she recorded and independently released her debut album 'Better Than Alone'. A song from the album 'Your Only One' was a top ten finalist in the New Zealand Songwriters' Trust awards. The album also received a 5 star review in the Waikato Times, and to celebrate the release she organised a successful mini-tour with Luke Thompson in Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga.
Three of her songs were top ten finalists for the 2007 New Zealand Songwriters' Trust award, which she won with her new song 'Dear Jon'.
'Alight' was placed 2nd in the pop/ballad section of the 2007 Pacific Songwriting Awards, and 'Brother' was noted as a sponsors favourite. She performed on TV1's The Good Morning Show in May and sang live on Classic Hits in Hamilton and Tauranga. Recently Chanelle entertained at the Quantas Media Awards.
As 'Better Than Alone' is re-released through ODE records this August, Chanelle remains focused on getting her second album underway. “Better Than Alone got the ball rolling for me, but I've outgrown the songs. I have more to say now, and more diversity in my songwriting. I want to be like Carol King and touch millions of people with great songs. Thats the direction I'm heading in with the next album."
Artist Website
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