On Our Feet Entertainment - Chanj

Every so often the industry is blessed to witness the birth of a genuine new artist, the kind whose very first single grabs music fans' attention and maintains it until arriving at bona fide stardom. Alistair Records recording artist CHANJ is that next artist and he will seal the deal with the release of his forthcoming, aptly titled debut disc, TIME FOR CHANJ.

The gifted Plainfield, New Jersey native has spent the better part of his life on some form of a stage. Growing up on healthy helpings of classic soul singers like Al Green, Sam Cooke and Luther Vandross provided him with a solid musical foundation. But his more direct influences were contemporaries like Prince, Lauryn Hill and D'Angelo. As a member of an extracurricular high school program partnered with the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, CHANJ's original aspiration was to be an actor. But seeing awe-inspiring performances by some of his music idols compelled him to try his hand at singing and soon he began honing his craft by performing at local talent shows. He eventually crossed paths with veteran music executive Darnell Scott, who would provide the "big break" aspiring artists always dream about.

Before meeting Scott, CHANJ would find himself on the very stage that inspired him to become a vocalist. He proved a force to be reckoned with when he appeared as an "Amateur Night" contestant on Showtime at the Apollo. Commanding an audience known globally for its fiercely critical and sometimes brutal reception, CHANJ put his own stamp on Floetry's highly received sensual ballad "Say Yes." It was the mark of a consummate performer, as he recalls, "It was a lukewarm reception as I began to sing the song but I just kept going and it turned into cheers and people standing and clapping." He won the challenge not once but four times, earning a $25,000 dollar grand prize for his final win. Footage of his performance of the song on the Apollo and at other live venues has generated thousands of hits on YouTube.