Elle Varner, born of two published songwriters, spent most of her childhood sleeping on studio couches, running around green rooms, and watching her parents struggle to make a name in the industry. With music running through her veins, Elle was singing as soon as she could speak, playing the flute at 6 and the piano at 9. But it wasn't until her attendance at AGC (Amazing Grace Conservatory) that her ear for harmony, melody and complex rhythm truly developed. At age 16, Elle picked up the guitar for the first time. Frustrated that she wasn't instantly as good as Hendrix, she dropped the guitar and became a part of The Hamilton Academy of Music's Vocal Jazz Group. Once there, she learned about the complexity of the voice, jazz music and talented jazz artists like Ella Fitzgerald. Elle was surprised to discover that she had been chosen to be a part of The Grammy in the Schools Mentoring Program. Through this program she was taken weekly to the Fox Studio, where she met with mentor Kelly Burgos, and President of Fox Music, Robert Kraft. Soon after, Elle hesitantly applied to NYU with her C average and was surprisingly accepted. Not only did she get in, but also she was admitted into the second class of the Clive Davis Program of Recorded Music. Upon graduating, she was awarded "most likely to get signed" and "most likely to win a Grammy." Four years later she finds herself a well-rounded and cultured singer-songwriter.

via Singersroom.com

Packing a background as exotic as it is homegrown, Atlanta-based Haitian/Dominican songwriter Stacy Barthe has earned a startstudded client list in her short time on the scene.

With credits for the likes of Black Eyed Peas, Britney Spears, Keri Hilson, Enrique Iglesias, New Kids on the Block, Ciara, Tiffany Evans, Cassie, and Diddy to name a few, Barthe has become one of the most indemand young songwriting talents. So much so that Universal Music Publishing took notice of her work, and signed her to their already impressive assembly.

Barthe's work combines a nostalgic noise with unique new sounds, and just like her idols Diane Warren and Martha Walsh, she is masterfully coupling lyrics rife with raw emotion with uninhibited music.

"As I have observed life and those around me, I noticed that almost everyone I run into has some form of insecurity that they battle with. I believe the music I create fosters security and encourages those that hear it to embrace what makes them different and to find the beauty within their situation," says Barthe.

A performer as well as a gifted songwriter, Barthe is already a wellrounded success story at just 23 years old. Barthe's experiences traveling the world, attending St. John's University, and being raised in a multicultural home provided her with the unique and diverse view of the world that she now applies to her music. She has proven that she can take any genre or style of music put in her path and turn it into a hit, and in doing so, change the industry's expectation of what a pop song can and should be.

When a new artist hits the scene, adjectives like fresh and honest frequently get thrown around when, in many instances, it’s more hype than truth. But that’s definitely not the case when it comes to Luke James.

And just who is Luke James?

He’s a singer/songwriter who truly embodies the honesty and fresh, organic soulfulness that’s been in relatively short supply of late in contemporary music. N...ow that sounds like a pretty tall order for a newcomer to fulfill. However, the New Orleans native is very much up to the task. In fact, you’ve no doubt heard his work: he co-wrote Chris Brown’s “Crawl” and has penned songs for Justin Bieber (“That Should Be Me”) and Britney Spears (“Kill The Lights”), among others. And his growing fan base includes none other than Beyoncé, who selected James to appear in her “Run the World” video.

James’ real-deal approach to music and—more important—the craft of singing are the main attractions on his upcoming mix tape and album of the same name: “Made to Love.” Both mark the singer/songwriter’s debut on Mercury/Island Def Jam via New Age Rock Star Records (NARS), the label helmed by award-winning producer Danja (Mariah Carey, Keri Hilson) and long-time collaborator / mixing engineer Marcella Araica (Madonna, Pink, Timbaland).

“This isn’t a fad for me,” declares James. “I’m willing to go wherever with this because music is everything to me. This is my world and how I see it. My music speaks for me in a way that’s relatable and truthful.”

“Honest is the best word to describe Luke,” adds Danja, who began working with James nearly four years ago. “Every message in his songs is sincere. And Luke’s voice is another obvious factor. Putting all of that together, he possesses a universal connection that touches everyone. He’s an undeniable force.”

That connection hits home on James’ lead single, “I Want You.” Packed with interesting breaks and tempo shifts, the sparse yet bright track pulsates with an infectious, hip-hop-influenced beat. That foundation provides the perfect complement to James’ pure, arresting falsetto as he sings: “I was just a broken record of one-night stands /Til you came along with your beautiful song …”

“It’s all about the voice,” says Danja. “And that’s what he’s captured on every record. Production doesn’t matter. No matter how sparse or grand I make it, he takes control and makes it about him.”

James’ innate talent as a singer/songwriter was nurtured in one of music’s legendary outposts, New Orleans. An only child, he grew up listening to a wide array of influences thanks to his single mother: everyone from Marvin Gaye and Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes to Willie Nelson and Alabama. James’ oh wow moment occurred when he was 11 years old and watching the amateur talent segment on TV’s “Showtime at the Apollo.” One of the contestants began singing Donny Hathaway’s version of writer Leon Russell’s “A Song For You.”

“I got chills,” recalls James. “And I get that feeling all over again whenever I think about that performance. At the time, I’d never said I wanted to be a singer; I just knew I wanted to entertain. And I’d never heard of Donny. But when my mother found her copy of one of his records, I knew then that I wanted to reach people that way.”

While in high school in 2001, James joined a trio that started performing around New Orleans, opening for such acts as Brian McKnight. That’s when James first met his longtime manager Frank Gatson. When things with the trio didn’t work out, James moved to Los Angeles after graduation—on the advice of Gatson—and began singing background for R&B singer Tyrese. It was through the singer that James met production duo the Underdogs and signed with their label as part of a singing duo: Luke & Q.

When Luke & Q decided to go their separate ways, James began honing his skills as a songwriter after hooking up with producer Danja nearly four years ago. Since then, he has collaborated on songs for Brown, Bieber, Spears, Keri Hilson and Brandy and worked alongside such other producers as Kadis and Sean and the Messengers. Inspired by those collaborations, he rediscovered his footing as a singer in his own right.

“I found the feeling again where I felt something fresh could come out,” says James. “Writing songs helped me figure out what my lane was as far as being a solo artist. And I’ve also learned something else: If I don’t feel it, I can’t do it.