DJ-model Tenashar silences critics with record deal
Controversial model-DJ Tenashar scores in love and career with new beau and record label
It has been a breakthrough year for local model and DJ Tenashar.
Not only is the sexy EDM (electronic dance music) artist "madly in love" with her new boyfriend Thorsten Nolte - local radio jock Jamie Yeo's ex-husband - her career has also taken a positive turn.
Yesterday, Universal Music Singapore announced that they have signed Tenashar, who is in her 20s.
This makes her the second home -grown talent to be signed to the music label, after singer-songwriter Gentle Bones.
The FHM and Playboy Thailand cover girl, whose real name is Debbie Valerie Long, also released the dance track Traffic, her first single off her upcoming debut EP.
On inking the deal, Universal Music's director of strategic development for Singapore and Malaysia Lim Teck Kheng told The New Paper: "With Universal Music's active involvement in the global EDM music culture, this provides an ideal pairing to release her originally produced debut single Traffic."
Tenashar has had her fair share of haters in her five-year career, thanks to her provocative image.
Speaking to TNP over the phone yesterday, she remained confident about her abilities, declaring: "I am a well-known Singaporean EDM DJ in the world with a strong musically-inclined fan base. I'm the most influential in Asia when it comes to EDM."
In 2013, Tenashar was crowned #87 in DJ Magazine's annual Top 100 list and was the first Singaporean on the list. She also boasts a 1.6 million-strong following on Facebook.
In the next few months, Tenashar will release Traffic on radio in the Asia Pacific region before promoting it in Europe and America. She has an Asian tour coming up and will release a single, Jump, in September. Her EP is slated for release this year.
Traffic's cover features Tenashar's ample cleavage, with her fingers splayed across her throat.
"I didn't want anything too sexual so we paired it with an image of traffic projected on me," she said.
When asked about her inspiration for her new work, a voice in the background joked: "Me, of course!"
BRITISH BEAU
It was Nolte, her 40-year-old British beau of about five months.
The CEO of a digital marketing agency revealed his separation from Yeo, 38, in February, putting an end to their four-year marriage.
While Tenashar is appreciative of her strong following, she is also thankful for the naysayers.
"They pushed me constantly to do my best and have helped me a lot in my business. I welcome the flak. With this (signing), they can eat their words," she said.
Her biggest critic - and supporter - is Nolte.
"We build ideas and tear them apart together and he tells me what he doesn't like about my songs. He is not the biggest fan of house music, but I trust his opinions.
"When I got signed, I was crying and screaming in his ear. It was the biggest thing to happen to me and I couldn't be happier," she said.
I didn't want anything too sexual so we paired it with an image of traffic projected on me.
- Local model-DJ Tenashar on her new album cover
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