[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”27528″ img_size=”large”][vc_column_text]Check our exclusive interview with stunning artist Lenay Chantelle Olsen who just released her new single “Freaking Best” today! The song lends inspiration from today’s pop stars and is an anthem to empower girls to be the best no matter what anyone says.
Born in the Congo, Africa, Lenay grew up in Minnesota, lived in Santiago, Chile, and now lives in Los Angeles. While living in Chile, Lenay started her Spanish-speaking YouTube channel, which now boasts over 6 million subscribers and over 8 million combined followers across all social media platforms.
Best known as the host of the hit MTV show 10 on Top, Lenay is set to be the next big pop star. As host of 10 on Top, she met and interviewed celebrities such as: Ariana Grande, Harry Styles, The Jonas Brothers, Victoria Justice, and Zendaya just to name a few.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Listen to Lenay Chantelle new single “Freaking Best” Here!
[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”27529″ img_size=”large”][vc_column_text]Describe yourself in 3 words?
I didn’t know which words to put so I asked my boyfriend to describe me in 3 words and he said: positive + friendly. He can’t count. lol. Jk he can, and those are nice words I’m happy they would represent me.
When was it that you first realized that you wanted to pursue music as a career?
When I was little I thought one day maybe I would want to be a piano or Spanish teacher, then later I moved to Nashville and started writing my own songs on guitar and fell in love with it!
Did your family support this decision?
Yea they helped me film my music video for ‘You Feel Like Home’! (You can see it on my youtube, you can kind of see my dad spelling his name with lights in the middle of the street in the first part lol)
What is your musical background?
I played piano all growing up and was in a lot of contests + recitals. Also me + a friend in middle school started a band called ‘The Lightbulbs’ one day in my parents’ basement. We had 0 shows and 1 music video to our song we called ‘Oranges and Tinfoil’, which nobody ever heard but they definitely should lol. I think the song lasted 20 seconds.
What kind of music do you listen normally?
I love shazaming anything I hear and love (at malls, in Lyfts, at restaurants), usually moody songs with a good beat. I usually… get excited, Shazam, and then buy it right away on iTunes. Then sometimes the next day I re-listen and have Shazam regret if it doesn’t sound as good the next day. But most of the time it does yay.
My last 2 fav shazams: Calma (Remix) by Pedro Capó + Farruko. And Fingías by Paloma Mami. I shazamed them when I was in Chile the other week! One from the radio and one from the mall I think. I put Fingías on repeat for a half and hour when I jog lately ha
Tell us about your new single “Freaking Best?”
It’s the freaking best. haaaaaaa. Actually, no for real though it’s the first song I’ve released that I didn’t write or co-write, the second I heard it I was like OMG that song is hilarious I want it so bad! haha I just think it’s such a needed breakup song for anyone who just went through a breakup and it’s so funny and I haven’t heard anything like it before. It starts out like ‘we used to make out and I’m sad… (then the confidence starts building until at the chorus it’s like)… but you know what? I’m still the freaking best!! Breakups can suck and it’s so easy to think/sing about all the sad things around that (I have those songs too) and it’s just so nice to have a song out there that sees it from a different view, like this sucks yea but I’m okay! Actually wait I’m awesome! All the while with mascara streaks still on your face.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”27530″ img_size=”large”][vc_column_text]What music influences do you have?
Actually a lot of my songs coming up have a latin beat influence to them but unless I told you you may not even notice it! I love minor keys and dark vibes. So lots of that. Songs that give you the feels. Guitars too I love guitars I always try to get them in when I can.
Describe your sound in 2 words?
dark + vibey
What is your next goal as an artist?
To have my songs start sounding a bit more alike lol. I love so many styles of music and sounds. My new single “Freaking Best” is the brightest most ‘poppy’ song I have and my other ones I have coming up have a darker vibe to them. I can’t wait for people to hear them all and see what everyone vibes with the most! But I definitely would love to find my own vibe and have more consistency with my song style that I don’t have with my hair color (I change my hair all the time).
And tell us about your experience to be the host of the hit MTV show 10 on Top?
It was crazy going from thinking I was going to be a Spanish teacher in Minnesota when I was growing up to suddenly having my own show on MTV and co-hosting with Selena Gomez + Ariana Grande + a bunch of other awesome people. Being in NYC just in itself was magical I love NYC so so much. Macklemore was on my show once and I rapped some lines of one of their songs to them that was fun too
Now tell us about your hit Spanish-speaking YouTube channel?
Look mom I’m using my Spanish!! Lol. I love speaking spanish so much and I’ve always thought it’s so cool that learning other languages can break down walls and open up whole other countries of new friends you can make. Lol! I say lol a lot. I want to learn Korean next I think …
And your favorite cheat food?
Minnesota State Fair bucket of cookies and Intelligentsia chocolate chip cookies.
What is your favorite healthy food?
I’m super into guacamole wrapped in sliced turkey lately. it’s so easy to make, no cooking and super healthy!
Which project is still on your bucket list?
I really want to do a styled video or photo shoot where I’m in an all white kitchen, dressed in all white, covered in blood, and pulling cookies out of the oven that are on fire. I’ve had that idea forever and can never figure out where to use it.
What is next for Lenay Chantelle in 2019?
More songs!! Already planning my music video for the next one! I’ll give you a clue… one of my upcoming songs has to do with fire.
How would you explain your fashion style?
I’m super inspired by K-Pop lately! At the photoshoot I did for ‘Freaking Best’ I asked the stylist if I could wrap the headbands around my hands instead and she was like, “heck yes you can!”
Where we can follow you?
You can follow me on IG at @lenaychantelle and my music youtube channel (youtube.com/lenaymusic) as well as my Spanish youtube channel too (sometimes I put subtitles lol)[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][vc_column_text]Photo Credit: Andrew Noel, Tegan Butler[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
