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Introducing Shontelle, who has taken the music scene by storm with her new single “T Shirt” from her debut album, “Shontelligence.” We talked to this Bajan beauty to find out more about her. We discovered she pursued a law degree, is a fan of Rihanna, and so much more.

THE STAR SCOOP:
Tell us about your musical background. What were you doing up until this point of getting a record deal?

SHONTELLE:
Just before I got my record deal, I would say two years before that, I was just at home in Barbados, trying to be on the local music scene. I just started working with a bunch of local producers and then I ended up writing a song called “Roll” that was recorded by Allison Hinds. Then, I guess that got some attention, and I started getting phone calls from SCR. We worked together, put together a demo, shopped it, and then Steve Rifkin signed me.

THE STAR SCOOP:
How would you describe the experience so far?

SHONTELLE:
Excited, nervous, but we’ve been working really hard putting everything together. That stuff I love.

THE STAR SCOOP:
What can you tell us about your song “T Shirt”?

SHONTELLE:
“T Shirt” is a very sing-along, really fun song about a girl who misses her boyfriend, and she’s trying to go out with her friends but she’s just not feeling it because things aren’t feeling right without this guy. It’s a story that every girl could relate to – where you don’t have that guy around you that you like. You want to be close to something that belongs to him, maybe smells like him. That was produced by the same guy who did “Bleeding Love” for Leona Lewis. That was a very exciting thing for me. [Leona’s] amazing. If I’m working with her producers, then that was definitely exciting!

THE STAR SCOOP:
What was it like hearing “T Shirt” on the radio for the first time?

SHONTELLE:
It was unreal! The first time I heard it, someone called me, and they’re like, Oh my God, listen to the background. I heard the song, like, Oh, you’re listening to the CD or something or on Myspace. They’re like, No this is the radio! I was like, Really? Oh my God, oh my God! So excited, I can’t even deny it. That was a really good feeling for sure.

THE STAR SCOOP:
Who would you like to collaborate with?

SHONTELLE:
There’s a bunch. If I could, I would work with pretty much everyone from Alicia Keys to Chris Brown, Rihanna, Wyclef, Lil Wayne, Jay Z. There’s so many artists out there I would love to work with.

THE STAR SCOOP:
Speaking of Rihanna – we’ve heard quite a few comparisons between you two. You both come from the same place, and you have a similar sound.

SHONTELLE:
That’s kind of a compliment, because I think she’s great. She’s gorgeous and her music is incredible. I’m a fan of her music. It doesn’t bother me at all. I kind of expect it. There’s not that many artists from Barbados, and then we’re both girls, so it doesn’t affect me. It doesn’t bother me.

THE STAR SCOOP:
How would you describe your overall sound and what fans can expect to hear on the album?

SHONTELLE:
I always tell people, my album “Shontelligence” is what I call a very worldly album. Just like you would have an artist like Wylcef or Akon or Shakira, who come from different places originally, they make music that crosses over, so it has a pop appeal, but there’s R&B in them. Because I come from the Caribbean, you’re going to hear a little Reggae in there. Definitely very top 40.

THE STAR SCOOP:
Your album comes out in the fall. If your career really takes off, how will you stay grounded in this business?

SHONTELLE:
My friends, they don’t let me float too high off the ground. My friends keep me in my place. I have very close friends, my family. I stay very, very close to those people. I really don’t want to float off the ground. I want to remain grounded like you said. That’s something that’s important to me.

THE STAR SCOOP:
You communicate a lot with fans on Myspace. Will you try to continue to do this even if you hit it big?

SHONTELLE:
I hope so. As much as I can! I love it. I really love talking to the kids. I talk to them a lot on Myspace, Facebook. I enjoy talking to them. It’s fun. I remember when I would try to talk to my favorite artist, I used to wish they would talk to me! I try to be as hands on as I possibly can. I know it means a lot to them.

THE STAR SCOOP:
What hopes do you have for the future? Where do you see yourself in five or ten years from now?

SHONTELLE:
I want to go wherever it’s possible to go. I would love to have me some Grammy’s in my trophy case. To be able to write, collaborate with other artists, whether it’s writing with them or recording a song with them. I love acting, so TV and film is something that I will definitely be interested in, too. Eventually I would love to be able to make enough money so I can start a charity and give back to some kids, especially at home in Barbados, being a third world country. I would love to be able to do stuff like that.

THE STAR SCOOP:
What else should your fans know about you?

SHONTELLE:
I’m pretty laid back. I’m a girl who loves going to the beach, who loves surfing. I love junk food. I love movies. I keep my life pretty simple. Just a few words of encouragement to young people: I was actually in college just before all this happened. I was pursuing a degree in law. There’s nothing that says that you can’t go to school and do something else on the side. There’s a way to balance everything. I think you should really just go after your dreams. You should never let anyone tell you that you can’t do something or it’s not possible. If you have the passion or the drive, you should go after it and never give up. I would say that’s pretty much what I’m living right now.

THE STAR SCOOP:
What do you want to say to your fans?

SHONTELLE:
I want to say to my fans that I’m so excited and so happy that people are loving me, and I’m really appreciating the support. I get a lot of support on Myspace and Facebook. That really helps me get through the day. I really, really just want to say thanks, and I just hope that I can continue making great music that they love.