A RECORD DEAL. It is the dream of every young singer, with hairbrush in hand and stars in her eyes.
?But those stars have lost their shine for Vita Chambers.
Signed to Universal Motown before she could blow out the candles on her sweet 16 birthday cake, the Like Boom singer has had a four-year look at how the industry works and is not impressed.
“You have a lot of people who promise you things and think you could trust [them] and it turns out they are the ones who are out for your demise.
“A lot of people try to hurt you and take advantage of you for their own selfish reasons, because if you do make it big, there is a lot of money involved, and that attracts a lot of snakes and thieves . . .,” the 20-year-old singer said.
Moving away from her curly look to rock a straight bob, the Canadian-born songbird was just as honest with the 19 participants of the recent Honey Jam showcase and workshop, the reason she flew home just after the release of her latest single, What If? – well, besides rum punch, macaroni pie and fishcakes.
“Even though I was signed to a big label and everyone promises you the moon and stars, you have to go and create your opportunity. [I told them] you have to be a bit of a lawyer, accountant, your own manager to really take advantage of all of the things that you can find out on the Internet . . . . You have to know what you are reading when it comes to contracts so that you can protect yourself.
“As wonderful as this industry is, there are a lot of people out there to damage you and take something from you, leaving you with nothing and a broken heart.”
However, this experience has pushed her to add label owner and businesswoman to her ever-growing list of titles. Vita’s music will now be released under her self-managed Goldnut Productions – and the singer is happily singing the song of freedom.
“I am releasing my own music and working with people that I love to work with, people who are up and coming artists themselves which I honestly feel will be the next big producers of the industry, incredibly talented . . .,” she explained with her signature smile.
“I’ve done the whole label thing and it was the best and worst four years of my life. It is scary that I am the one who makes the decisions, but it is also comforting to know that I don’t have people to force me into directions I don’t want to go in.
“I honestly feel better now. It is a machine, but they don’t do what they are supposed to do. They look at you as a funnel for money. I went through all of that, I saw it, I didn’t want it anymore and I created a new alternative.
I have become my own boss and businesswoman.”
It is hard to deny that Vita exudes a level of maturity that belies her 20 years.
And while she had a team of management and booking agents that she trusts, can someone not even old enough to drink in North America be her own best boss?
Admitting it was a “bit of a gamble”, Vita asserted she was up to the challenge.
“Yah gotta live young and wild and free! You gotta be foolish sometimes but you pick yourself up and dust your knees and you keep on going . . . . I won’t know now if my decisions are right, but it feels right.”
Look out for videos of Vita’s three-month tour to Canada and other parts of the globe, starting at the end of January, as well as her latest video What If?
?As the pop singer prepares to take the world stage once again, do not expect her to perform on home turf just yet.
“I have performed in New York and Los Angeles and all over, but the toughest crowd is Barbados. If you are not good they will let you know, walk out and ask for their money back.
“So I want to make sure when I do a show here, it is the best I can do. I will give nothing but my best to Barbados,” she assured. (LW)
