Antonique Smith
Los Angeles, California, United States | SELF | AFM
Music
Press
Last night at Ginny’s Supper Club in NYC, Antonique Smith performed at the venues “New Artist Showcase”. A few weeks ago, we premiered her debut single “Speechless”, as well as information on Kickstarter campaign to fund her debut album which ends this week. During the evening, she blew away the crowd with her powerful vocals and sincere brand of pop/soul. Definitely an artist to keep an eye on. Below, check out some photos from the event. - http://youknowigotsoul.com/
tress Antonique Smith who is best known for her role as Faith Evans in Notorious beat her $50,000 Kickstarter goal this weekend, raising $50,027 to launch her music career. An acclaimed actress since her role in the Broadway production of RENT as Mimi Marquez, Smith also played CIA agent Sandra Burns in Abduction opposite Taylor Lautner, and will be in theaters later this year in Yelling to the Sky, playing the role of Ola O’Hara, opposite Zoe Kravitz and Gabourey Sidibe. Smith took a risk that her movie and theatrical fans would back her new music venture with online contributions via Kickstarter.com, a platform that allows artists to raise funds online from arbitrary donors. The catch, though, is if the artist doesn’t hit their goal, they have to refund all pledges. It’s a chance Smith decided to take, and the actress met her goal. BlackEnterprise.com caught up with the East Orange, NJ native to discuss raising startup capital on her own, her debut album “Speechless,” and what’s next for the young actress turned singer.
BlackEnterprise.com: What made you decide to raise funds independently?
Smith: My manager Darryl Farmer came to me and said let’s do a Kickstarter campaign. It was his idea. It was an unorthodox idea but he’s a genius and I trust him. He said it’s a great way to centralize everybody and get support from fans, family and friends. It gives us so much freedom. We have freedom on the timeline because it’s in our hands now, and we can put the music out whenever and however we want.
With Kickstarter, you have to hit your goal or return all the money back to investors if the target is not met. Did that make you nervous?
That is the biggest downside in the world. You are nervous the whole month because you don’t know how people are going to respond.You’re asking them to fund something they haven’t even heard yet. You can’t go on iTunes and sample it. Nothing.
What are some of the other downsides?
The other downside is the time limit. We had 30 days and there is a surge in the beginning and then a period where it slows down, and then at the end it picks back up. People procrastinate and forget so you have to keep reminding them.
You had 219 donors in total, and a few gave $7,500 or more in a single pledge. How were you able to tap into your network and garner that type of support?
Those are my core supporters now. I’m going to hit them first with everything. Some people were from random countries like Austria and Finland who gave large amounts. Some are family and friends and people I went to 5th grade with. It was good to see names I haven’t seen in years. Also my parents and my family have been my biggest backers and supporters! That’s not something everyone has. They’re just working class people who’ve made great sacrifices for me.
What have been the highlights of launching this grassroots campaign?
So much more came back. It’s not just fundraising; it’s also the growth and awareness of the brand. We don’t want to just do an album and put it out in a couple of months. We are building buzz and awareness. We are creating the anticipation. We are centralizing my fan base. Many saw me on Notorious playing a singer, but they don’t all know I sing. And they still call me Faith Evans. Many don’t know Antonique did the singing parts of Faith Evans in the movie. This money will start to go toward letting them know I sing too.
Have you seen any tangible outcomes besides the money?
I was trending on Twitter the other day. Rick Ross called and asked me to star in his video (‘Amsterdam’ now playing on 106 and Park) this month. I play Rick Ross’s wife in the video. It was a good look. My Facebook and Twitter numbers went up—Twitter went up 5,000 followers from about 95,000 to 99,400.
How much do you still need to complete your album?
We would be able to make the moves we need to make with about $500,000. Everything costs. So when you put it in perspective, what I have is a start. It’s a good start.
In terms of getting more funding, what’s next?
Darryl, my manager, has a business plan and will start meeting with investors and we’ve set up a gofundme.com page after Kickstarter ended. There is no suspenseful goal limit like with Kickstarter. That made it kind of fun and some drama when the last few hours were counting down. That part of it is gone. But now people can give love gifts and continue to donate to the movement. We need so much more. It can take millions sometimes. - Blackenterprise.com
Actress Antonique Smith is most known for her role as Faith Evans in Notorious, but has a handful of Broadway and silver screen accomplishments under her belt. Nowadays, she is focusing on crossing over, introducing herself to the world as Antonique, the singer. Taking a very unconventional route, Smith used the fundraising platform Kickstarter to help get the cash to produce her debut album, Speechless.
VIBE Vixen turned our cameras on the rising starlet as she prepares for a performance inside Harlem’s popular restaurant Red Rooster. Press play to take a walk in her shoes.–Sharifa Daniels - vibevixen.com
Notorious actress Antonique Smith has crossed over to the music scene. And TheYBF.com is premiering her brand new track "Take A Chance." Check it inside...
The Broadway star turned big screen actress who played Faith Evans in the 2009 Notorious flick is embarking on a new career. And since we love a fresh face, we got our hands on Antonique's newest music. The R&B track is called "Take A Chance" and she dished to us what it's about saying,
'Relationships are tough and if you've been hurt you don't want to try again. But take a chance is that moment where you start to feel optimistic again and you have that desire to "Take A Chance" with somebody."
In case you missed it, check out our exclusive interview with Antonique HERE. And check out "Take A Chance" below...
- theybf.com
Bosses tend to live an extravagant life and Maybach Music head honcho Rick Ross plans to do no different. Rozay vowed that he plans to shoot visuals for each track off his God Forgives I Don't album and from the looks of it he's doing a pretty darn good job of keeping true to his word. For his latest video Ross taps hottie Antonique Smith to play the role of his lovely lady in the Dre Films directed (un)cut. Maybach signee Maybach O and YMCMB rapper Tyga also make an appearances. It's the red light district!
- MTV Rapfix
Antonique Smith snagged the Faith Evans role in 2009's Notorious, and it looks like she’s gunning for a spot on music charts. The actress took a stab at Adele’s “Someone Like You” seemingly for fun. Most recently, the Faith look-a-like was referenced by Nas in his comeback track “Nasty,” but who knows if there’s really a couple alert on this. She’s a cute Vixen who we wouldn’t mind seeing on the Queens rapper’s arm, but it’s safe to say that she’s just creating another buzz.
- http://www.vibevixen.com/
On his latest single “Nasty” Nas rapped that he was looking for actress Antonique Smith, and now he has found her. “Bumpin’ Biggie the great legend/ Blastin’, I’m after the actress who played Faith Evans,” he spit about Smith who played the former Bad Boy singer in the 2009 Biggie biopic “Notorious.”
- rapfix.mtv.com
She played Faith Evans in the movie Notorious and was recently shouted out by Nas on his single, “Nasty,” when he rhymed, “Maserati, pumpin’ Biggie, the great legend/Blastin’, I’m after the actress who played Faith Evans.”
Now, actor Antonique Smith will appear alongside Taylor Lautner (from the Twilight movies) in the action-thriller Abduction, which hits theaters September 23. “I kind of liken it to a Mission Impossible,” said Smith, who was born and raised in East Orange, New Jersey. “It’s going to be a big weekend.” The beautiful blonde bombshell took time out to talk to XXL about her portrayal of Faith, the Nas shout-out and her own budding music career.—Mark Lelinwalla
- www.xxlmag.com
Discography
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Bio
Antonique Charmaine Smith was born on August 11th in New Jersey. The charming and multi-talented songstress has spent her life in the city of East Orange. From the very young age of three, Antonique possessed the dream of becoming a Star" - but how she would make this happen wasn't obvious until many years later.
Antonique began singing at her local church in Newark where she was a member of the choir since the age of 7. Antonique performed in various plays and musicals at school and in church, where she unknowingly began to hone her skills as a singer/songwriter and actress. During this era Antonique was strongly influenced by music from all different generations and disciplines including the essential music of Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Prince and Stevie Wonder; the classic songs of, Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Mary J; and urban lyricists such as, The Notorious B.I.G. Her diverse taste is evident in her music. Antoniques sound is a beautiful mixture of soul, hip-hop, and organic pop. Thru innovative melodies she writes of love, life and struggle. Her unique and powerful voice cuts through the many lackluster records of today bringing a fresh new sound to the global music fan.
Incredibly gifted actress as well Antonique Smith first garnered attention in her buzz worthy leading role in "RENT" on Broadway as Mimi Marquez, where director Michael Greif is quoted as saying Antonique made the whole show better. Antonique is now most famous for her starring role of Faith Evans in NOTORIUS, where she received rave reviews and was praised by critics, including Jeffery Lyons who called her "one to watch". She also just completed postproduction on the star-studded action movie "ABDUCTION", playing the role of CIA agent Sandra Burns, opposite Taylor Lautner and Alfred Molina, in theaters September 23, 2011.
Antonique has also guest starred on television shows such as Law & Order, and HBO's "Bored To Death", had a recurring role on 100 Centre Street and a had a role
in the Golden Globe nominated Julie Taymore film Across The Universe. Heralded as an amazing singer/actress with a great career ahead of her, by the legendary Sidney Lumet, Antonique is following the career path of Barbra Streisand and Diana Ross; pursuing a career in film while also continuing to make her dream of becoming a Grammy-winning recording artist a reality. Her career is in its early stages and for those that follow her, it will be a unique opportunity to view a shining star on the rise.
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