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"Whats such a great feeling is knowing that I am part owner/founder of a company who works to create options & opportunities for women in the community."-Shana Montanez
Written By: Betrice Coleman-Sweet
Posted On: August 19, 2008 @ 10:50 PM PST
Category: Interviews
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She is an entertainer, an actress, a singer, a business woman and so much more. Shana Montanez A.K.A MC Shay Shay has it going on and on. Her light gets brighter as her journey gets higher and more powerful. With beauty, brains, and an amazing soul, she definitely puts it down not only for herself but for the community. Shay Shay is unstoppable. She tells Treazuremag.com what it is like to live her dream.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born in raised on the northwest side of Chicago, in the city.
Who or what inspired you to be an entertainer?
At age 5 my mother told me that I asked her one day if I could please take some dance lessons, she was taken back, wondering where the hell that came from but obliged. She said I was always dancing & singing and from as far back as I can remember I would do daily performances on my living room table and weekly ones on my front porch for my neighbors. By 5th grade I got into acting classes...I don't think I can pinpoint an exact person or specific inspiration, I just know that music always moved me, and I was definitely the most animated & dramatic in my family. It was just my calling. The one thing I was insanely passionate about. My first love so to speak.
Tell us about your background in the entertainment industry
I did tons of theater in Chicago and was part of an LA & Chicago run of "Latinologues" a comedic show written by Rick Najera (In Living Color, Mad TV) I toured the US on the MARY tour, and was a back up dancer for "Avant". I opened for the Pre-Latin Grammy concert hosted by Juanes at the Avalon in LA with original music. I've appeared in numerous national commercials, co-starred on tv shows, and have done film work as well; most recently I was the lead in an independent feature that was shot in Mexico. I recorded an album independently and have gigged all over the Southwest as well as Chicago. I started dancing at age 5 and had an agent by 5th grade for acting so...you could say I've been bouncing between the two forever.
What are your emotions like when you are on stage?
Oh man, its like butter! hehe.. Like there's nowhere else in the world I'd rather be. I'm excited beyond belief, I feel powerful, free and at home.
What is your "style" of music? What is your favorite song that you like to perform? why?
The majority of the stuff that I have recorded is Pop/Rock, a kind of "Pink" meets "Gwen Stefani" call me an "Urban Rocker" but, I'm looking to branch out and do other genres as well. Maybe, a Pink meets Lauren Hill meets Shakira meets Keyshia Cole kinda thang; mash it all up! With the music I have now I either love "Drama Queen" a kind of harder rocky song tellin off a girl tryin to mess with my relationship or an emotional ballad like"Why Oh Wait" Dang, "Sola" a Spanish ballad I have is pretty dope too. The way I sing it, all the emotion it evokes transcends language barriers.. you'll "get it" even if you don't speak Spanish. Ugh, do I really have to pick one? hehe..
What are some of your current and future projects?
I'm currently looking for some songwriters & producers to collab with on some new stuff, I'm itchin to create. I'm writing a screenplay and developing a tv show as well. Ladies Touch is doing big things as well, we have bi-monthly parties that have started in Chicago, and other states are in the process of doing the same. Keep your ears open on my personal as well as company projects, we are forces to be reckoned with...doing global thangs!!
What is it like being a part of Ladies Touch? How do you maintain such a strong bond as women?
Its a really amazing feeling being part of a company that is "for women" "by women." You know, our personalities balance out the others and we mesh well and create a great team. We have a common goal and vision we want to put forth into the lesbian community which spearheads the bond between us.
What is your vision for the lesbian community?
Our vision for the lesbian community is to become the Lesbian community's Entertainment Company of choice in the metropolitan US cities by providing multi-platform entertainment through the existent and abundant synergies in events, radio, TV and music. Our mission? To fulfill the street culture and style void in the lesbian community by creating themed events that touch and attract diversity in cultures and age with classy yet sexy, edgy hip hop sounds and poppin' backyard party atmosphere.
What are some of your issues as a female artist with the entertainment industry?
As far as the music industry, its unfortunate that it is a world run by men which can create road blocks for women serious about paving a path in it. As an actress as well, I have a union, agent and manager who protect the legitimacy of work. Unfortunately, there are not too many governing forces to protect an artist, specifically a female with false interest or leads on work. I wish I could say that I haven't encountered any male figures that have literally led me on a wild goose chase with work, only to shut the door when I deny any inappropriate advances. I don't let this stop me though, I'm continuing to move forward with new music projects. It's funny though, the aesthetic things like being pretty that make people think things would be made easier for you, could also be the things that cause you to hit a brick wall. Whats such a great feeling is, knowing that I am part owner/founder of a company who works to create options & opportunities for women in the community.
Quote that you live by:
"Find something that you would be passionate enough to do for free, realistically we can't live on nothing BUT if you are happy & passionate in what you're doing, you're bound to excel in it, creating an abundance of wealth!!!"
www.myspace.com/shanamari
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