Angela Severiano, better known as Angela S. in the industry has come a long way on her own since moving to New York four years ago after receiving a development deal from Bad Boy Records. Raised in a humble background in South Florida by her Spanish Father and Swedish Mother, she discovered her love of creating music at the age of eight while playing the clarinet and piano. Although she is shy, the hunger for performing on stage burst out after her first appearance on the Mickey Mouse Club.

With this new found love, she has performed at China Club, Webster Hall, Pre-Post, The
Undercore, Terrace on the Park, and many others. Since moving to New York, Angela S. has received much recognition for her song writing abilities and has worked with Arista, G-Unit and Bad Boy Records. Her songs are fun and sincere, with plenty of catchy, melodic hooks.

Most recently, Angela S. has been taking the radio waves by storm with her hit single, “Dancefloor 2.0,” which features Top 10 Billboard artist Gia 7 (Klubjumpers). The song hit radio in June and has received primetime airplay on satellite radio, as well as a number of pop stations in some of the country’s biggest metropolises. Beyond Music recently had a chance to catch up with Ms. Severiano for ten questions…

BR: Where are you from?

AS: I was born in St. Paul Minnesota, raised in Florida, and have been in the greatest city in the world, NYC for the past 4 years.

BR: Where did you begin performing and how did you start?

AS: I began dancing ballet and playing the clarinet when I was 8 yrs old, and continued all through high school. It wasn’t until after high school that my passion for singing began.

BR: What, if anything, are you trying to prove or say or express with your music? What do you hope people will feel or take away from the music?

AS: I know that every song I create, I set the intention for it to be meaningful, and in my opinion it doesn't have to be super deep to have meaning. When you listen to a record, and it becomes your escape, for that moment it’s meaningful. Music is Meditation.

BR: What has been one of your most memorable performances?

AS: Without a doubt my most memorable performance was The DJ Riddler KTU/Taste The Jam Dance Party I performed for at Webster Hall. Before the event was pure chaos. My dancer's were late and I didn't get my show instrumental until an hour before and I didn’t even have a sound check. But once I hit the stage it was magical.

Everything just came together. The Synergy between Me and My Dancers (Sivan & Arthur), the lighting, but most specifically of all was the crowd. There were thousands of people singing and dancing to my record, “4 Who U R.” I had all of this energy coming back at me and it was so intense. My producer joked about how he had to literally drag me off the stage when my performance was finished because I didn't want to leave! That night I lied in my bed awake the entire night because all of the beautiful energy that I received back from the crowd. It was an adrenaline rush that was indescribable.

BR: How would you define your own music and to which genre does it best fit?

AS: I have had success in the dance world with Havana Funk (Defected), and

R & B with the Narcotics (Def Jam) & G-Unit, so my genre is a combination of Dance, and R & B, a new Pop. The record I've created meshes all of these influences. I know that I never want to be confined to one specific genre, but I want to create happy, meaningful music that touches my audience.

BR: What is the process of creating music like for you? How do you approach it?

AS: I love to create whether it’s lyrically, vocally or on the production end. I approach my creation process alone and by collaborating. To be at my best, I try my hardest to be well rested and in the present moment.

BR: What projects have you worked on recently, or will soon work on?

AS: I feel super fortunate about the collaborations I have been involved with in the past few months. I am featured on 2 songs for the Papa Wu, 10th Chambers album (Wu Tang Clan, Papa Wu, Ghostface Killah), including the opening song in which Papa Wu heard my hook, then decided it was strong enough to start off the CD so he rapped over it.

And my biggest feature for 08, is my duet with Stik-E and the Hoods. We did a song entitled "Get Enough," which has only been placed in a few hands, and has had great response. DJ Spinbad (Z100) has been playing the record in Japan!!

I also had the privilege of doing a poppy dance duet with Billboard Top 10 Artist Gia 7 which was simply amazing. Gia 7 and I have been in the same Dance circle for several years, and we just recently became close. She has such an inner beauty that comes out when she begins to sing. Our voices and styles meshed together beautifully, and be on the look out for our record "Dance Floor 2.0." The song is super fierce.

BR: Is there anyone you would like to work with musically?

AS: Lenny Kravitz and Ludacris. I've seen them both live, and their energy is so high. They are such entertainers with charisma that draws you into them. They both have strong work ethics and have made their mark.

BR: What is the biggest motivating force behind your music? And your desire to create music?

AS: Beyond a doubt, the greatest force for me in my desire to create music is the LOVE. Love in lyrics, love in a happy song that can heal, love of creating.

BR: Do you have a song or album of yours that you are most proud of?

AS: I am proud of all my records because they are all a manifestations of my crazy thoughts and ideas. But of all my records, I am really most proud of "Can’t Get Enough" and "Wake Up," which is my latest collaboration with Funk/Rock Artist David Aaron.

“Wake Up” is honestly one of the most beautiful records I have ever heard. I have so much respect for him because labels have asked him to conform to be "more commercial," and he chooses to stay true to his craft and not sell out. Without a doubt, David Aaron is the next “Big Thing” and I feel very fortunate for our recent collaborations and that our paths have crossed musically.

For more info on Angela, please check out http://www.myspace.com/angelaseveriano

Words by Bobby Washington. Photo by Peter Gourniak.