Prototype Issue
The Pop Girl Grows Up: Chana Is Getting Serious, Yo
By Phat X. Chiem
(page 1 of 1)Ask Chana about her stint on reality television and the LA-based Latin alternative singer will shriek. Very loudly. To tell the truth, she’s a bit embarrassed by the whole thing.
A Dominican American raised in New York, Chana was picked from among 3,000 girls who auditioned to be one of four aspiring singers on the WB series, Popstars. The reality show spawned the all-girl troupe, Eden’s Crush (which, not coincidentally, helped launched the career of Nicole Kea, The Pussycat Dolls’ lead burlesque babe).
“We toured with N’ Sync,” recalls Chana, who then went by her real name, Rosanna Tavarez. “We were on Regis and Jay Leno. It was like a blitz. It was totally intense. Make-up and hair extensions. I mean, I had never even plucked my eyebrows. Like, I still had my Frida Kahlo mustache.”
These days, Chana comes across as a bit more polished. After Eden’s Crush disbanded, she landed a hosting gig on Telemundo’s bilingual entertainment show, Fuzion. For a brief time, she even served as the perky Latina sidekick on “On-Air with Ryan Seacrest.” She’s now a frequent host on the TV Guide Channel. A university-trained dancer and choreographer as well, she recently choreographed a video for indie songstress Mia Doi Todd.
But what Chana really wants to do is sing. Like, for real. No more of that bubble-gum pop. She’s managed to hook up with Latin Grammy-nominated producer Marthin Chan. Working out of Chan’s Echo park garage, the duo began collaborating on her solo album in 2005, soon after she relocated to LA from Miami.
Under Chan’s direction, the breezy songs are sung entirely in Spanish. They lean toward the alt-rock of Andrea Echeverri or Julieta Venegas, with a healthy dose of funk and dub in spots. The eclecticism comes from Chana’s love of music, everything from the R&B records her father used to play to the art rock of Stereolab.
“I went to Mexico and saw Kinky,” Chana says. “They were friggin’ phenomenal. I started to discover other acts, like Café Tacuba, that were fusing a lot of different influences, from folk to rock. That’s what I want to do, too.”
Given the recent explosion in Latin alternative acts, Chana can expect a ready fan base—and a lot of competition.
“I know how the music business works, so I’ve been cautious about my expectations,” she says. “But I love the stuff Chan and I are doing together now. I’m hoping people will be drawn to it organically.”
To hear some demos from Chana’s upcoming album, visit www.myspace.com/chanamusica.
Discussion