On first glance, Charice looks like any other teenager: pretty, petite and filled with non stop energy. But when the sweet-faced 17-year old opens her mouth to sing – with a profound, rich and soaring 10 decibel voice from every inch of her 5 feet 1 inch body – the audience quite literally gasps. And at 13 million hits and counting on YouTube tell us, that audience is growing at a staggering pace. Fast forward to May 2010: Charice’s US debut CD is scheduled to be released on 143/Reprise Records with her single, “Pyramid” featuring labelmate Iyaz (who recently spent four weeks at #1 with his international smash hit, “Replay”). “Pyramid" will be released to Top 40 radio in March with remixes already getting airplay at the clubs.

Girlzone.com got the opportunity to ask Charice some questions. Here are her answers:

What is your song writing process? 

I DIDN'T WRITE ANY OF THE SONGS ON THIS ALBUM (ALTHOUGH I DO WRITE PRIVATELY).

What styles of music are your favorites to perform?

I LOVE POP BUT OBVIOUSLY BALLADS.  I TRY TO SING EVERYTHING!!!

What is your all-time favorite song and why? 

IF I WAS TO PICK ONE IT WOULD BE SONGS FROM THE BODYGUARD.  HOW CAN YOU RESIST!

What advice do you have for teen girls on how to achieve their dreams?

DON'T GIVE UP!  YOUR DREAMS WILL COME TRUE IF YOU STICK WITH IT AND DON'T STOP DREAMING.

Americana singer/songwriter Danika Holmes states, “Through my songs I hope to touch hearts in the tough times, as well as celebrate life in the good times.” Danika first sat at a piano as a tot, has been writing since her teens, and picked up guitar in her 20’s. After an attempt at a “normal career” and nearly finishing her PhD, Danika’s heart pulled her full circle back to where she started, with music.

Here is Girl Zone's interview with her:

Tell us a little about your new album.

Hey everyone!  My debut album is called “Second Chances.”  It’s an Americana/Pop album with a little bit of non-twangy country and some island vibes thrown in there!  I’ve been told I sound like a mix between Colbie Caillat and Jewel.  Hope you like it!  “Second Chances” is a collection of personal life stories that many people can relate to. 

What is your song writing process?

Crazy that’s for sure!  Sometimes I start with a melody I have in my head.  Other times I start with a chord progression while I’m at a piano or playing guitar.  Songwriting is a craft and as much as I’d love to wait for the lightning bolt to hit me with inspiration everyday sometimes it takes a lot of will power to write when the inspiration is not there!  I also believe in the importance of co-writing.  Not all of the time of course, but it’s amazing what you can accomplish when you work as a team and have someone else to bounce ideas off of.  Sometimes I write lyrics in a notebook, sometimes on a computer and other times I record my ideas on a handheld voice recorder.  It’s never the same process which keeps things interesting!

 
What styles of music are your favorites to perform?

I love performing high energy songs that make people smile.  However, every now and then I love performing a good tearjerker too.  As long as the song is full of emotion and people can make a connection to it, I think it’s worth sharing with an audience. 

What is your all-time favorite song and why?

It’s a song called “Free Bird” by Lynard Skynyrd.  My favorite lyrics of the song are, “If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me? For I must be traveling on now, cause there’s too many places I’ve got to see.”  This song reminds me of myself.  I love to travel and there’s a whole world out there I’m ready to see.  Later in the song he sings, “and this bird you cannot change.”  I think that’s a creative way of saying I am who I am, so there you go! 

If you could pick one thing that you know now to tell your high school self, what would it be?

I’m going to quote a line from Taylor Swift’s song “Fifteen.”  I would go back and tell myself, “In your life, you’ll do things greater than dating the boy on the football team.”  

What advice do you have for teen girls on how to achieve their dreams?

You have what it takes!  You won’t always be told that by everyone around you though.  Sometimes the people in your life who love you the most may be your biggest obstacles in achieving your dreams.  It’s not because they don’t care about you, it’s because they don’t understand where you’re coming from or are scared you will get hurt in the process.  It’s your job to make that connection for them and help them understand you better!  Know where you want to go.  You don’t have to have a clear path in your head at every turn.  There are many ways to get to the same destination of achieving your dream.  Go for it!   

Check out her music at http://www.danikaholmes.com/

Over the past year, Montreal-born songstress Nikki Yanofsky has headlined major jazz festivals from Canada to Japan, played Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and The Kennedy Center, toured with award-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch, performed with the legendary Count Basie Orchestra, collaborated with influential hip-hop artist Wyclef Jean, released a live CD/DVD paying tribute to her favorite singer, Ella Fitzgerald, and been interviewed by NBC’s Brian Williams. Her voice can be heard on the uplifting theme song for Canadian television’s coverage of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics entitled “I Believe,” which climbed to No. 1 on Canada’s iTunes singles chart and the Billboard Hot 100 — the highest debut of any Canadian artist in Soundscan history. In addition, Yanofsky performed the Canadian National Anthem at the Winter Games’ opening ceremony before a worldwide television audience of 3.2 billion. Sounds like the career of a seasoned performer, right?

Yanofsky is indeed a seasoned performer…who happens to have just turned 16. Her live debut at the age of 12 — singing for more than 100,000 people at the 2006 Montreal International Jazz Festival — made her the youngest artist ever to appear there. She was also the youngest artist ever to record for the renowned jazz label Verve when her cover of “Airmail Special” was included on the 2007 compilation We All Love Ella: Celebrating the First Lady of Song (alongside contributions by Natalie Cole, Diana Krall, Michael Bublé, and Gladys Knight). Canada’s Maclean’s magazine has praised her “multi-octave range, impeccable pitch, increasingly rich tone, and unexpectedly soulful power” noting that “the jazz world has celebrated many a prodigy, but none has been met with this much unanimous adulation or hope since Wynton Marsalis drew his first raves in the early ’80s.”

GZ: What was it like to perform in front of the whole world in the Olympic opening ceremonies?
It was extremely nerve racking but sooo much fun. A once in a life time experience.

GZ: What is your song writing process?
It depends! Sometimes you start with a poem and write the melody around it, sometimes you have a melody and then write the words and sometimes you just have the chords and you need to work around that.

GZ: What styles of music are your favorites to perform?
Jazz for sure I love but pretty much any song - doesn't matter what style - that I like!

GZ: What is your all-time favorite song and why?
I don't have one. I love music,  it’s like asking a chef to pick his favorite spice, there's so much to choose from!

GZ: What advice do you have for other teen girls on how to achieve their dreams?
If you have a passion chase it. You have to believe in yourself because if you don't, no one else will. It’s one thing to be on the right track, it’s another thing to just sit there. You gotta keep on truckin'.  

Move over Britney Spears and The Pussy Cat Dolls and make way for America’s newest singer – Stephanie Carcache. With a voice that is compared to famous pop artist Rihanna, Stephanie has crept into the world of idols and is making a real name for herself. Her talent certainly is promising. At only thirteen years of age, she was featured on PAX TV’s show ‘America’s Most Talented Kids’. Her vocal coach Seth Riggs (who had worked with singers such as Kelly Clarkson and Michael Jackson) told her that her vocal range matched that of Aretha Franklin.

 Now, she has turned her dream into a reality. Her debut album is due out later this year. With the help of Cory Rooney (who has worked with singers such as Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey and Jessica Simpson) and Jose Luis Pagan (Marc Anthony, Alejandra Guzman, Thalia), Stephanie has created an album that is sure to impress us all.

 Her increasingly popular MySpace and Facebook sites have been sharing the latest news with her devoted fans. Can you imagine our excitement when we found out about her upcoming album, featuring the single we all fell in love with, ‘Mr. Player’?

Dear Heart, I met a boy today

He’s so fine, but he likes to play.

Dear Heart; I know it’s such a shame

But this boy has got me so amazed.

Mr. Player, Mr. Player, Mr. Player

I’m only trying to make you change because I know that you can’t.

Mr. Player, Mr. Player, Mr. Player

I’m going to make you one woman’s kind of man.

Whilst the lyrics to her song aren’t the most original, she boldly sings her song ‘Mr. Player’ in a way that many singers do not. She knows how to use her voice in a way that captures negative emotions (such as hurt and anger) and portray them in a way that makes them not so scary after all. Her song ‘Mr. Player’ – about falling for the wrong guy, the guy who took advantage of her and played her – is fun and bouncy. She tells us about her experiences, letting us know by her tone and the catchy beat in the background that she has moved on.

 I’m looking for a missing person

Has anybody seen her?

If you have please let me know

Someone help me please

Is anybody out there?

Help me find a way

Back to myself ‘cause I’m far from home again

I took a wrong turn down the road

And until I find myself again

I’m a missing person.

 ‘Missing Person’ is very different to Stephanie’s song ‘Mr. Player’. The song’s slow, sad beat contradicted my previous thoughts. The difference between the two songs is quite similar to the difference between Rihanna’s songs ‘Unfaithful’ and ‘Umbrella’. One song had a recurring thumping beat, perfect to dance to; the other had a softer, sweeter melody, perfect to listen to when you feel like having a good old cry. Just like ‘Missing Person’ – the sad, heart-filled song – and ‘Mr. Player’ – the number one disco hit.

 The mix of sad and happy; sorrowful and upbeat songs ensures that I will certainly be purchasing her album when it comes out – why don’t you?

LINKS ARE BELOW:

 Stephanie’s Website: www.stephaniecarcache.com

 Stephanie’s MySpace: www.myspace.com/stephaniecarcache