SAGÉ

Girl meets boy.....perhaps not for the first time. Words are exchanged, minds meld and the adventure of the heart begins----or ends. It's a story that many of us are familiar with and have heard about, but not quite the way that singer and songwriter Shonta Renee breaks it down with her enjoyable EP release, Situationship.

A Savannah, GA native, Shonta earned her Biology degree last year but knew years before finishing that her childhood passion, music, was what she would ultimately pursue. The songs and scenarios are somewhat brief, but that doesn't keep the listener from hearing the crisp production value or the coy-come-hither sweetness of her vocals. The titles may invoke expected interactions between partners -- "Role Play," "The Conversation," etc. -- but her delivery displays a self-possessed sophistication that many artists fail to achieve. "Secret Lover" can be clandestine thing to most, but her breezy take fashions the man as a succulent treat rather than a shameful sex toy, one that she can't leave behind: "You're my little secret, you bring me joy," Shonta sighs, "and you know just who you are."

Reflective of the social media era we now live in, Situationship seems to flow in the real-time arc of a hookup that could've had it all, but didn't (who can't relate to that?): nothing wild, flashy or bombastic, but her talents intrigue nonetheless. "Role Play" is a mid-tempo groove, yet throbs with the urgency of a dopamine rush, for example, and the saucy "Mocha Man" compares her boo to the hue and flavor of her favorite up of joe (heeeeey!). Even when the static shows up ("Slow Down," Regretful") and Shonta finds herself newly single again, she's more wistful than wailing in conveying that ache: "Have you realized, that we don't have much chemistry no more/I have to let you go."

If there are any cons to this set, it's the tendency of Situationship to rely too often on gimmicky pro-tuning affects that demonstrate Shonta's youth, but can sometimes distract from the overall mood and musicality. However, those quirks are only slight annoyances and no reason to overlook the polish and potential of this Savannah peach's intriguing new voice.
- See more at: http://www.soultracks.com/album-review-shonta-renee-situationship#sthash.XvyS4KTf.dpuf - Soultracks

Savannah born-and-bred R&B and soul singer LaShonta’ Renée Freeman (Shonta’ Renée) is ready to sing out for her hometown. The Lowcountry vocalist fell in love with music at the age of five, singing along to Ella Fitzgerald and Anita Baker records; after getting her start in her church’s choir, Freeman began delving into songwriting, completing her first original tune at the young age of 10.

Freeman soon found that her musical skills went beyond writing vocals: as leader of her high school band’s saxophone section, Freeman discovered a deep appreciation of woodwinds and the art of collaboration. While she was getting the crowd pumped with her fellow band geeks, Freeman was also shining academically; in 2010, she attended Savannah State University on a full academic scholarship, graduating Cum Laude in 2014.

During her time in college, Freeman began to delve into her music career, and released a single, “Mocha Man,” in 2014. With sultry sax and percussive grooves, Freeman’s brisk vocals ease between breathy and bold, making for an infectious tune that nods to her early influences while being inherently modern.

Two singles, “Slow Down” and “Regretful” followed “Mocha Man,” with the former earning a place in Black and Sexy TV’s debut movie That Guy.
Freeman released an EP, Situationship, in April 2015.

Her Saturday performance takes place at Unity in the Community’s annual Multicultural Arts & Crafts Show. As a part of Black History Month, the show features local vendors, music, and plenty of entertainment all day.

Saturday, February 20, 3 p.m., all-ages - Connect Savannah

how you started and how you got to where you are today. You can include as little or as much detail as you’d like.
Peace, I’m LaShonta’ Renée Freeman (born January 2, 1992), known professionally as SAGÉ (formally Shonta’ Renée), and I’m an R&B and Soul singer, songwriter and producer. I was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, and discovered my passion for music at the age of five where I would assimilate artists such as Ella Fitzgerald and Anita Baker by singing along while their songs would be played on the radio or on records at home. I didn’t find my true voice until I started singing in the church choir and knew I had a true gift when I discovered that not only could I sing, but I could also write. I could write full- length songs by the age of twelve and evolved as the years went by.

I began my professional journey as an independent artist, in July of 2011 under the stage name Shonta’ Renée while I was a full-time college student at Savannah State University located in Savannah, GA. Three years later, after I was comfortable, developed and confident enough, and found my sound, I independently released a single in August of 2014 entitled, “Mocha Man,” which was released on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, Iheart Radio and other major distribution platforms. Mocha Man received great feedback with its accompanying Music Video that peaked at over 20,000 YouTube Views in a little under a month.
After that, I later released two more singles entitled, “Slow Down,” and “Regretful,” in October of 2014. Both of which received placement in independent films, television series on YouTube and BET reality TV series. In April of 2015, I went on to release a nine-track EP entitled Situationship where I sold over 1000+ units digitally and physically. In July of 2016, I completed my southeast promotional tour in Jacksonville, Florida, where I opened up for Grammy award-winning saxophonist and producer Aaron Bing. Currently, after a three-year hiatus, I’m back with a new sound, new music, inspirational “BOUNCE BACK” story,and accompanying single”3X’s Bounce Back,” new plant-based skincare line, and multi-media production company and I’m ready to share it to the world.

Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Surprisingly, aside from my most recent experience,my journey has been quite smooth and liberating to say the least. My story actually isn’t any more different than the average artist whose been grinding out and striving to be felt, to be heard, to be experienced. I’ve seen the beauty and the pain on all levels and you know what, it’s all apart of the chosen path to be a vessel of art.

Tell us about your business/company. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
I consider myself a multi-media artist but I specialize and am most known for being a musician. From the perspective of that medium of art, I’m a producer, singer, songwriter, composer and performer. As a brand I’m most proud of my growth and my consistency against all odds and the obstacles that raised up against me. What sets me apart from others is that I’m me and creation only made one of me and what I possess and what my purpose provides to the world is something special.

How do you, personally, define success? What’s your criteria, the markers you’re looking out for, etc?
Success to me is a measured by how aligned you are at any given moment in life. When you’re truly in alignment with your purpose and living a successful experience you will physically mentally and spiritually feel good and reflect good into the world. What I look for along my journey of success and the criteria that I follow is really nothing more than tuning in to myself often to make sure I’m where I need to be. I’ll know if Im where I need to be if All is well for me physically mentally and spiritually or close to well. When I’m creating and expressing my art is when I feel most successful, most aligned. - Buzz Magazine LA