Newcomer Shelea (shuh-LAY-uh) is definitely someone you should pay attention to. The singer, songwriter, and pianist embody all the skills of a budding superstar: looks, voice, musicality, personality and presence. Inspired by the late Whitney Houston and a Mentee of the great Stevie Wonder, Shelea, who wrote the theme song to the film Jumping The Broom, has a gift that will call on hearts and raise spirits. She released her debut album, Love Fell On Me, last month (June 2013), led by the soulful single, "Love The Way You Love Me," which premiered on Singersroom back in February (2013). The set features production and appearances from Narada Michael Walden (Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross), Brian McKnight and Stevie Wonder (played Harmonica on the title track, "Love Fell On Me," which was selected as the musical theme song for the "Jumping the Broom" film.)
We recently chopped it up with Shelea on a plethora of topics including majoring in Music, Stevie Wonder, performing at The White House, and more. Watch the video below or read on…
Music As a Profession … Being in college, I was in a girls group…The girls group didn't necessarily work out but just being in the studio and writing… That was my first time really being immersed in music culture like that; late nights in the studio, writing, producing, that's when I felt like, 'I think I want to do this on my own'.
College Education & Music … I graduated with a BA in Music, emphasis piano; I play piano too. I'm playing on everything on the album, except one song, my brother-in-law Justin Wilson is playing. I just think all those life experiences in college, it just makes you stronger as a person. Faith plays a really big part in my life, in my career; I believe that God has a plan for me, and he's been with me this whole time.
Debut Album, 'Love Fell On Me' … It's a collection of songs that kind of show the ins and outs of love. I actually had a version of this album that I released a little bit earlier, and we decided to revamp it a little bit; make it more focused musically. It still has the same essence, it tells a story, and I think no matter where you are in life, whether you're going through a breakup or you're just madly in love with someone or just trying to put the pieces together, I think that you're going to find something on this album that's going to resonate with you.
The single "Love The Way You Love Me" … I actually wrote this song many many years before, I had the chorus [so] when I started to revamp the album, that melody came back to me…I ended up writing some verses and a bridge.
Opinion on Love … Love comes in a lot of different forms. When it comes to a relationship, you just have to meet the person that you can have your needs and their needs met at the same time.
Creative Process … Sometimes it's based on experience or maybe a conversation I had with someone or something I've read…Even if we were talking and you said something, I would write it down, cause that might be a lyric. I just get my inspiration from a lot of different places.
Inspiration and Influences … I definitely have a very close connection with Whitney Houston, I think most people do so I'm not different in that, but I've gotten so much from her, her phrasing, the way she approaches music, how the lyric is so important, so I definitely feel that I was inspired by that. Of course Stevie Wonder, who has become my mentor, he's just an incredible songwriter; the way he looks at life…is very inspiring.
Working With Stevie Wonder … He's incredible, he's magical, he's everything you think he is. He just has a good heart, that's what I love most about him. He's obviously a musical genius, we all know that, he's been the soundtrack to all our lives, but he has a good heart…He's actually playing the harmonica on Love Fell On Me, which is the name of the album, which is also the theme song for Jumping the Broom, the motion picture…
Meeting Stevie Wonder … I met him four years ago. I was on this album called The Standard with Take 6 and I sang the song "Something to Watch Over Me," he heard it, and he wanted to meet me. That's just kind of when the relationship started, and we just connected immediately, musically, and spiritually, and we just over the years became friends. Our relationship kind of picked up a year and a half ago, he was very influential in getting me to perform at The White House.
The White House … I was in The White House, and I'm like, 'I'm up in the piece, [laughs] I can't believe I'm walking through these halls.' It was historic, just not even meeting President Obama and Michelle, that was of course what I was most looking forward to because they're just such incredible people…there spirit was just exactly what you see, so warm and welcoming to me.
Hardships As a New Artist … As a new artist, you have to realize that you have to prove yourself over and over and over again. Right when you think there is nothing left to prove, there is always something else to prove. I'm at a place now where I'm in it for the long haul, I know there's going to be a lot of NOs, a lot of rejections, but I know that God has given me a gift, and I believe that I have something special to offer this industry and I'm in it for the long haul.
Shelea Frazier is a young musician, and she’s been making waves in the music industry since she was 15 years old. From having Stevie Wonder as a mentor to performing at The White House for President Obama, Shelea has achieved tremendous success so far. Now, she’s talking about going to college and expanding her horizons even further. This article will explore Shelea’s journey from aspiring artist to accomplished singer-songwriter and how she plans on taking it forward with education.
At just 24 years of age, Shelea Frazier already has great accomplishments under her belt. After being discovered by Grammy Award Winner Babyface when she was only fifteen, she caught the attention of legendary icon Stevie Wonder who became her mentor shortly after that. Over the next few years, Shelea continued to refine her craft with his guidance and was eventually invited to perform at The White House alongside Queen Latifah and Jamie Foxx during an event hosted by President Obama himself. Needless to say, this is no ordinary 24 year old!
Nowadays, Shelea is focusing on two things: her upcoming album release later this year and finally achieving her dream of getting a degree in something related to music production or engineering. While there are no guarantees that either one of these projects will be successful – pursuing them both simultaneously requires courage and dedication – but if anyone can do it, it’s Shelea Frazier! Read on for more details about Shelea’s inspiring story and what we can learn from it!
Shelea’s Journey To College
Shelea had always dreamed of going to college. Growing up in a small town, she didn’t have access to many resources that could help her prepare for the big step ahead, but she was determined to make it happen. From taking extra classes at school and working part-time jobs after school, Shelea worked hard towards achieving her goal.
One day, out of the blue, she received an invitation from Stevie Wonder to be his guest at the White House! This incredible opportunity opened up amazing possibilities for her future: not only did this provide her with valuable experience and networking opportunities, but also pushed her closer towards accomplishing her dream of attending college.
Her journey eventually led her to become both a successful student and alumni of Georgetown University – all thanks to perseverance and determination. She can now look back on what seemed like an impossible task as a huge accomplishment in life; one that has shaped who she is today.
Stevie Wonder As An Inspiration
Shelea’s experience with Stevie Wonder was life-changing. Not only did it give her the chance to meet someone she highly admired, but his words of encouragement gave her courage and hope when she needed it most. He served as a mentor for Shelea, pushing her to never give up on her dreams and continuously strive for excellence. His inspiring story taught Shelea that anything is possible if you put your mind to it and work hard enough – no matter where you come from or what obstacles stand in your way.
The White House visit further reinforced this notion; it showed Shelea that success doesn’t happen overnight and can take time, dedication, and determination. Throughout the day at the White House, she had the opportunity to interact with people who have achieved success through their own commitment and resilience – something she could relate to herself due to all the hard work she put in over the years.
Shelea learned so much during this journey: both about herself and how far persistence can get someone. From being invited by Stevie Wonder himself to meeting influential individuals at The White House, each moment provided her with valuable insight into what kind of person she wanted to be in life – an individual passionate about making a difference in any way they can.
Conclusion
I couldn’t have made it to college without the support of my mentor, Stevie Wonder. He was a constant source of encouragement and inspiration throughout my whole journey. His guidance helped me stay focused on achieving my goals, even when things got tough.
My time at college has been an incredible experience – from networking with other students to attending events held by the White House. I’m so grateful for all of the opportunities I’ve had over the years and am looking forward to what lies ahead in my future.
Stevie will forever remain one of the most significant people in my life and I can only hope that his legacy continues to be a beacon of light for those who come after him. With his help, anything is possible!
Founder and Creator of Singersroom.com and IncredibleWork.com. Follow me on Instagram at @gary.gentles.
