Chante’ Moore’s Upcoming ‘The Rise of the Phoenix’ is A Powerful Symbol of Renewal

Veteran, songwriter, producer singer extraordinaire Chante’ Moore was born to sing! In fact her name in French literally means “to sing.” With 6 albums under her belt, more than 20 charting singles, and collaborations with the likes of Prince, The Isley Brothers, R. Kelly and Babyface to name a few, Moore is a musical force to be reckoned with. And now with her seventh album, prophetically titled The Rise of the Phoenix, dropping this March, we are about to experience the first new collection from the master songstress in nearly four years.

The Rise of the Phoenix, Moore’s 7th CD being released via Chante‘s label CM7 Records captures her impressive vocal dexterity, songwriting skills and production ingenuity over various soundscapes from 808 bass to Spanish guitar riffs to heartfelt ballads helmed by an impressive mixture of talented Grammy Award-winning producers and songwriters. It’s just the kind of album that will thrill her legion of avid fans who have been begging her for new music.

Born in San Francisco, California to Christian Evangelist parents, Chante’ grew up singing in the church. She was heavily influenced by gospel icons Tramaine Hawkins, Andrae’ Crouch and her mother who was also a singer..

A twenty-two year old beauty pageant contestant, Chante’ was discovered by MCA Records executive Louil Silas who signed her to his MCA-distributed imprint. Her 1992 debut album Precious went gold. Her A Love Supreme album came out two years later, followed by This Moment Is Mine, featuring the gold-selling “Chante?’s Got A Man.” In 2004 she won a Soul Train Music Award for Best R & B/Soul Single for the song “Contagious.” In 2004 20th Century Masters issued a “Greatest Hits” collection. That same year Chante’ signed with Arista Records and starred on the Las Vegas Strip in Bally’s “Jubilee” directed by Frank Gaston.

Always busy and artistically multi-tasking, the full-throttle chanteuse belongs to that exclusive club of songbirds (Deniece Williams, Mariah Cary and the late Minnie Riperton) possessing spectacularly soaring vocal range. The NAACP Image Award and American Music Award winning artist has lent those unique vocal skills to the soundtracks of such films as Waiting to Exhale, Beverly Hills Cop III, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Romeo Must Die, and Big Momma’s House.

“My heart is overwhelmed with excitement and joy in life and my music,” she says.

“I have more to give to my fans; more than meets the eye and the ear, more of the same, and more than what you expect!”

In the last five years, Chante’ starred in three seasons of the popular TV ONE reality series R&B Divas LA.

Last year, UrbanBridgez.com talked to Chante’ and she told us what it was like filming the last season. It’s been emotional, but it’s been good. I think exposure is always a good thing, when we’re all out there trying to really sing. We want to sing for as many people as possible and I think what’s beautiful is people really get to know another part. Even if it isn’t all the parts we want them to know, we get to share our hearts. And see what it’s like when you mix this girl with that girl and that girl with this girl. We get good stuff and when you really get comfortable with people you’ll see a goofy side like with me. Even though they did edit a lot of my goofy side out, they had other things in mind. But never the less, people bring out certain sides of you which I think is a good thing. So it’s been a journey, it really has been a journey.

She also wrote the autobiographical, self-help book Will I Marry Me? It explores many of her personal ups and downs, including coping with the passing of her mother and her older brother.

“It was so empowering taking control of my past, present and future relationships and really looking at my entire life. I thought it necessary to look at my own life and encourage other people to look at theirs as well. This could really mean something if it helps other people learn from my successes and failures,” which brings us to her newest project, the highly anticipated The Rise of the Phoenix album.

“The Phoenix is a powerful symbol of renewal,” she says. “The mythical bird from Greek mythology lives a long life, burns to ashes, but reemerges more beautiful, more refined and more powerful than ever. I can so relate to that.”

The Rise of the Phoenix album is rich with emotion and personal revelations about Chante’’s life and feelings. From infectious dance tracks, to sensual ballads, to anthems of heart-and-soul healing and personal rejuvenation’s, Chante’ will be the first to tell you that this album is her crowning achievement and her most personal yet.

Over the last two years, she’s hardly taken a weekend off, enjoying working on the album while performing with R&B and jazz concert dates across the country. “My stamina is up,” she says. “I have mastered new vocal techniques that I never tried before. I have let go of the pretenses of what someone else thinks I should look like or sound like. I’ve learned to be true to myself; to be free.

“This album reflects where I am now in my life. I am perfecting myself. I’m learning to burn away the old mindset, the negativity that weighed me down so I can become the best me. I see myself becoming clearer and stronger and I’m back with a new vengeance. I am the Phoenix rising and I’m living my life again!”

Aside from her new album release, you can catch Chante’ in the new touring stage play “Married But Single Too” [click for tickets & info] debuting off-Broadway tomorrow on Valentine’s Day in Detroit.