When new jack, neo soul crooner Remy Shand came through Atlanta, guess who was on the scene……..that's right, Jay $ and Rnation.com. Here's what Motown's latest singing sensation had to say:

Where are you from?
I'm from Winnipeg, Mantoba Canada. My manager is based out of Toronto and I'm temporarily living there now.

How did you get into music?
I got into music when I was probably 3 years old. That's when I have my first memories. My dad worked as a construction worker and was tearing out an old disco club. They tore out a wall and found an old crate of DJ's records that were left behind. He brought those home and that was my introduction to music. So that's basically how I got into it. The crates were full of like… Stevie Wonder, Fire and my mom brought in the Al Green stuff and Ann Peebles.

How were you discovered?
My manager, Steve Warden, had gotten a demo tape that had been floating around. I guess that I had sent my demos to some people and they just floated around Winnipeg. It (the demo) ended up getting sent out by his brother, who lives in Winnipeg, to him in Toronto and he ended up calling me saying that he was a manager and wanted to represent me. I was like, "Whatever!" He was like, "I'll get you a record deal within a year." So I said, "What do I have to lose, right? Absolutely. Let's do it!! " So the next thing you know, a year later I got signed by Universal Records in Canada. I had most of the record done, before I signed to Universal. Some of the stuff people considered my demos are actually on my album. The first single "Take A Message" was recorded in '99. So what I did is, I finished the record with Universal Canada and after the record was handed in as of April 1, 2001, my next step was to take it to America and Europe. That's really where the market is for the style of music that I'm into. It's starting to pick up in Canada, but I wanted to jump past that. So what happened after that was, Randy Lennox, the president of Universal Canada went to a conference for all of the presidents of each part of Universal Music and they (the presidents) were kind of feeling it (my record) out. He (Randy) had sent the record out. He said the first person that approached him was Kedar Massenburg. Kedar was like, "Who is this guy?" Randy said, "This is Remy….He's 24…….and he's white!!! Kedar kind of paused for a second and then went, "Perfect!" (laughs) I think that happened on a Friday and by Monday, I was in Kedar's office in New York meeting with Kedar, Mellow Winter, and Doug Morris. Kedar basically told me why Motown should be the label for me. Before I had the chance to say "Hello," he said "Welcome home."

So it's like a "dream come true," huh?
Oh absolutely!! To have the brand of Motown behind my music is beyond a dream.

Do you feel any pressure being on Motown, a label with such a great legacy?
No. I feel that having Kedar's support and the Motown brand on top of my music, it will only help me, being a white artist wanting to delve deeper into soul music and R&B. I know people have drawn comparisons between myself and Jamiroquai, but personally I see myself on a different spectrum. The tempo is a little different and I don't really dance. (laughs) My approach was always to write hooks and good songs, because no matter what market or music, it's all about the song.

Who were some of your influences?
My main influences were Ann Peebles, Al Green, all of the Stax stuff, Betty Wright, Fatback Band, Ohio Players, and Funkadelic. On top of that particular style of songwriting and genres, I have a deep interest in production. Aside from being a songwriter and musician, that's my second thing. Production…..I love it! My main influence in production would have to be Willie Mitchell. He's number one.

On your album, I see you did the writing, producing, arranging, and everything. You're a "man of many hats."
Yep…I did everything. I'm a "jack of all trades, but master of none." (laughs)

How many different instruments do you play?
I play keyboards….a bit of drums. I did half and half….some played, looped, programmed drums on the record. I play a little bit of sax and trumpet….enough to get by and play some of the lines. I actually recorded the whole record in my bedroom….the one I grew up in. My parents were in the other room. There was no outside involvement, whatsoever. The record is completely me. It was important to me, to convey "my" vision and not have too many "hands in the pie."

If you weren't a performer, what career path would you have chosen?
Before I got hooked into music, I used to be an animator. I used to make claymation films. I was accepted to the National Film Board of Canada when I was ten. It never panned out, because I got into music and wanted to meet girls. (laughs) But, I probably would have taken off into something having to do with film. Most definitely.

What can we expect from your album?
There is a consistency in the tempo. I almost compare the tempo to Sade's "Lover's Rock." It could be a bedroom record or a record for the scenic route, or Lover's Point. I go through different styles of production throughout the record. There's stuff that's influenced by the bigger orchestration of the Marvin Gaye stuff, with strings, xylophones, and all kinds of stuff. Then there's the stripped -down dry stuff, more like a Willie Mitchell. Like on the song "Color of Day", where I really wanted something more like Stax, with that kind of sound. You know……..it's just me pouring my heart out about some bad relationships and I go through some different production styles and what happened is, it turned into this record. I know that if I didn't draw the line, I'd still be working on it. (laughs)

How many songs are on it?
There are eleven tracks on the record. The first track and the last track were recorded last.

Any collaborations?
None. I'm very selfish. (laughs)

Are there any artists you would like to work with?
Absolutely! I have a real interest in working with some of my idols like Sly Stone and Shuggy Otis…….just people that are doing the same thing (as I am)…..self-production, doing all of their own instrumentation, and just getting into their heads a bit and see what comes out of it. Maybe nothing, because everyone is so selfish. (laughs)

Within the music industry (outside of your label and labelmates) , do you find that people tend to keep their talents and knowledge to themselves versus helping out a new or aspiring artist?
I truly believe in the whole "helping hand" theory. To me, giving a helping hand is number one. If you can do that, that's brilliant. I think that it is important, when you're on the verge of coming out, not to "spread yourself too thin." That's my philosophy. Especially, since I want a future in production, I don't want to spread that too thin right now. I just kind of want to get my sound out there, establish that as my own, and then spread out.

What words of advice do you have for aspiring artists?
Everyone knows that it's based on good connections and relationships. But beyond that…..in order to follow through with those relationships, you must have a vision. And your vision has to have "legs to stand on." Without believing in a truth of your own, people can come in and push you in all of these different directions. You have to stay firm. You have to stay true to yourself, because "the truth shall set you free."

What final words do you want to leave with your fans? What is Remy all about?
Remy is about "the truth", "discipline", "morality", and "love".

Remy's debut CD "The Way I Feel" is in stores now. Definitely go out and pick up a copy. You will not be disappointed. For more info on Remy Shand go to www.remyshand.com or www.motown.com.

Remy Shand………Jay $…….Rnation. It's a wrap!!

Special thanks to Jasz and Travis at Universal.