Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to DebonayR The Chanteuse. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

DebonayR , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I grew up in Jamaica, a country known for its rich culture , music and boldness. My family was colourful and musical. I was chronically ill as a child as comfort, my mom would sing to me and it would immediately ease my pain, I fell in love with music and singing through her voice and the Rhythms around me.
My earliest memory of singing was sitting in front of the radio , rewinding the cassettes to a specific part that made me feel good and learning that part until the tape was undone or “reel out” as we would term it. I also have vivid memories of me hiding under the podium in church and singing, while my great grandmother searched high and low for me. My favourite memory, was my unwanted afternoon concerts on the brick fence outside -with a stick in hand – belting meaningless lyrics , but on pitch and key! you would’ve sworn my name was “shut up Shevon”
There was just something in me that had to come out, if I didn’t sing, I would feel claustrophobic , although back then I described it as “me chest feel tight up”.
My gift opened many doors for me, it led me to perform everywhere , community pageants, festivals, conventions, parties , I was everywhere like sand. At some point at age 8/9 my mother and aunt wanted to get me on the infamous Mickey Mouse Club in The USA, but due to financial and situational constraints that was a dream that wasn’t made into fruition. I was convinced that music was just a pipe dream and moved on.
I left Jamaica in 2004 and migrated to St. Kitts and Nevis, a place that would make me and almost broke me. It was there I realized that this pipe dream, could be my saving grace, faced with Xenophobia along with puberty and displacement of culture, and unfamiliarity, as well as healing from past traumas….. music became my safety net, it jump started my healing , attracted the right people in my life and I was aligned with a community of like minded , like spirited individuals, who I still hold dear to my heart to this day.
Big up yourself Aunty Cammie, Mr. Dore, the late Mr. Sutton, Venelle, DaLiza, Kayk, Khyra, Duane, Alvin, Fabian, Oldain, Ag, Tamara, massive love for you all.
I was able to tour at age 15 as a background vocalist for Big gospel acts and share stages with huge names like Damion Marley, Patrice Roberts, Toni Braxton. I opened up for Rick Ross and Carlene Davis , Toured with Cecile and the late Dexter Pottinger and the Tempo Networks. I’ve worked with The Black Stalin, King Meeko and so many others!!! I was exposed to so many different cultures and flavours and genres, it refined my ear, and broadened my range , I was now diverse- from gospel to soca to reggae to calypso to rnb to dancehall to jazz and to soul, and that versatility was what set me apart from many.
I loved what I did! I was whole, I felt purpose.
As I aged more doors opened up for me and even more closed. I started my family , got married , and instantly I felt stuck, lost , I didn’t belong to me anymore, I fell into the cycle of survival, music didn’t seem like a path for purpose or stability anymore and so it became a hobby.
With that realization, I became depressed and developed a love /hate relationship with my gift, the sound of my own voice made me cry ….tears of regret…. I watched others on stage and on tv and said to myself bitterly “that could me”, I saw people I coached, people who started out in the business after me, winning ….. thriving….and I felt jealous, I was bitter, I felt alone and sad, questioning why that was not happening for me?? Am I not good enough, why did I get this gift?? I don’t want it! I was angry, it’s almost like my heart was ripped from me and I was in a tug of war with destiny.
Out of sorrow , brokenness and the will power for more, I left St. Kitts & Nevis and migrated to Canada; fresh start-new hope. I came right on cusp of CoVID, and just like that the sorrow turned into full blown self destruction. I wept for a long time, I was so rageful, silenced my voice so much so that I lost my gift for awhile. I felt forgotten, unseen and unheard. Until 2024, when my spark returned, through my eldest daughter, she always showed interest in performing, and opportunities arose where I had to become her guide, her momager….seeing her thrive , inspired me to get up and reclaim my purpose and so I began singing again, at open mic’s,church etc etc from there I got booked at multiple galas, weddings, Recorded an EP, started writing again… I just dove in, since then, blessings have been chasing me, and I am so filled with Immense joy. The inner child in me, that has had broken dreams and promises, the teen who felt incomplete , scorned and alone, the woman in me that is broken are all being healed through the gift that was bestowed upon me. The crazy part is, I’m not even at the pinnacle as yet.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is DebonayR… (deh-buh-nair) I am Caribbean-Canadian JazznBlues chanteuse. I add that touch of pizzazz to any event, the difference between me and any other legendary vocalists/performer, is my price range, I pride myself on the quality of my artistry and my delivery.
(Excerpt from bio) “She captivate audiences with her fluency in transcending pain into beautiful art.
Her music can be described as raw, real and riveting, an intoxicating fusion of all her cultures and experiences.
Her voice is rich, soulful and resonant. A power house when she needs to be-stirring souls and then a whimsical muse -igniting passions.
Her lyrics are relatable, thought provoking and deep. this seasoned performer is able to tap into hidden energies and ride the rhythm of the room ,leaving one’s bellies souls and hearts… filled.”

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

That your passion must be your job.

I’ve learned the hard way that my passion could not feed my pockets.
Being a musician is commission based you don’t get paid unless you work. This is why so many major artists have brands in clothing, alcohol and fragrances because doing music alone will leave you as the ; famously coined phrase “a struggling artist”.
My estranged father never believed in me, never believed in my gift and he always would make comments like “music a fi dunce people” (translation- music is for low intellect individuals) and me , in my immaturity saw that as him being hateful, he probably was, but there was some truth in what he was saying. I took the positive out of that comment and figured that This is something that you do when you have everything else in order, a stable income… and even though I gathered that , I still disagreed with it. It wasn’t until I started having children that I realized that this was not going to pay my bills. This is not gonna buy food for my children .
Mind you, while living in the Caribbean I had gigs four out of seven days of the week, but this was only in a specific high Tourist season , after that You’re left with lint in your pockets. So I had to learn that your passion does not always feed your pockets as well as your soul.
Being a singer is something that we literally pour our souls in knowing that we might never get anything back, but we do it anyways because it is our calling and if we still happen to benefit from it, that’s just another blessing.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being a singer, is the fulfillment when you are done. The inside voice that said “yeah you did that”. Also when my daughters look at me in awe and smile, I feel so good.
More than anything, knowing the people who doubted me and actively tried to ruin me see me thrive that gives me such a great feeling, I feel like a champion.
As well as, me proving to myself that I am more than just a mom and a wife and friend , I have a gift , a voice, a purpose.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Debonayr_the_chanteuse
• Facebook: @DebonayR music
• Youtube: @DebonayRmusic