Chantal Kreviazuk

A young classically trained pianist from Winnipeg, Chantal Kreviazuk gained a record contract from Sony -- as a vocalist -- without ever having performed live. Born in Manitoba, Kreviazuk was an infant prodigy at the piano, winning competitions and receiving classical education on piano as well as voice. Similar to many top-flight pop musicians, who turn away from their classical past as part of adolescent rebellion, she began writing her own pop songs, especially after a 1994 motorcycle accident in Italy left her immobile for several months. Despite an obvious lack of performing experience -- at least on the popular level -- Kreviazuk was signed by Sony Canada at the age of 22 years old. Working with pop producer Peter Asher and the more alternative-minded Matt Wallace for her debut album, she released Under These Rocks and Stones in June 1997. It sold over 100,000 copies on the strength of the single "God Made Me." Her cover of "Leaving on a Jet Plane" was featured on the Armageddon soundtrack, and she also covered Randy Newman's "Feels Like Home" for the Dawson's Creek soundtrack and the Beatles' "In My Life" for the NBC series Providence. Her second album Colour Moving and Still was released in April 2000. A month later, Kreviazuk won two Juno Awards for "Best Female Artist" and "Best Pop/Adult Album" for Colour Moving and Still. Three years later, she reemerged with her most cohesive material to date with What If It All Means Something. Ghost Stories followed in 2006. ~ John Bush, Rovi