Starshell

{{about|the performer|the type of artillery munition|star shell}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Starshell

| image = Starshell full picture.png

| caption =

| background = solo_singer

| birth_name = LaNeah Menzies

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|5|27}}

| birth_place = Lowell, Massachusetts

| genre = {{hlist|R&B|pop|hip hop|dance}}

| occupation = {{hlist|Singer-songwriter|model|actress}}

| instrument = Vocals

| years_active = 2009–present

| label = {{hlist|Matriarch|Interscope|Streamline}}

| associated_acts = {{hlist|Mary J. Blige|Kanye West}}

| website = {{URL|starshellworld.com}}
{{URL|birthdaygirlworld.com}}

}}

LaNeah Menzies (born May 27, 1983), known professionally as Starshell, is an American actress, songwriter, social entrepreneur, and recording artist.

Life and career

Menzies was born to African-American and Brazilian parents and was raised in Lowell, Massachusetts.{{cite web|url=http://www.birthdaygirlworld.com/pages/starshell|title=Get to know STARSHELL|first=Birthday Girl|last=World|website=Birthday Girl World}}

Menzies began her career as a child actress and model. As a teenager, she pursued her music career and, soon after college, signed to Universal Music Group's Interscope Records Matriarch Record company. She co-penned "Love Lockdown" for rapper Kanye West,{{cite news |url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdFPE.asp?ppn=MN0070083 |title=Kanye West – Love Lockdown | publisher=Musicnotes.com }} which debuted at number three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and went on to sell over three million copies.{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=2&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=kanye%20west&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2011&sort=Artist&perPage=25|title= RIAA – Gold & Platinum |date=August 1, 2010|accessdate=January 1, 2011|work=Recording Industry Association of America|publisher=Nielsen Business Media Inc}} In 2009, she co-penned "I Can See in Color" and "Closer" for Mary J. Blige. The former was featured in the Oscar-nominated film, Precious,{{cite news |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/10/mary-j-blige-on-precious-song-i-can-see-in-color-i-was-damaged-in-a-good-way.html |title=Mary J. Blige on 'Precious' song 'I Can See in Color': 'I was damaged, in a good way' |last= Martens |first= Todd |date=October 3, 2009| publisher=L.A. Times }} while the latter is featured on Blige's album, Stronger with Each Tear. Menzies's first single, "Superluva",{{cite news |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/superluva-single/397390655 |title=Starshell – Superluva |date=October 1, 2010|publisher=iTunes }} produced by Fernando Garibay and written by Menzies and Nire Alldai, was released in the summer of 2010. The single was followed by a retro-pop remix version produced by DJ Cassidy, entitled "Superluva" (Cass & Dubs Remix).{{cite news |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/superluva-cass-dubs-remix/416091663 |title=Starshell – Superluva (Cass & Dubs Remix) |date=February 1, 2011| publisher=iTunes }}

In the summer of 2012, Menzies toured with Jennifer Lopez and Enrique Iglesias on their Dance Again World Tour, as well as on Mary J. Blige and D'Angelo's Liberation Tour with her second single, and pop hit, "Birthday Girl". Birthday Girl debuted via iTunes on February 7, 2012.{{cite news |url=http://www.interscope.com/artist/releases/detail.aspx?pid=3200&aid=1160 |title=Starshell – Birthday Girl – Single Release |date=February 7, 2012| publisher=Interscope Artist Page }}{{cite news |url=http://www.theboombox.com/2012/02/01/starshell-birthday-girl-video-teaser |title=Starshell 'Birthday Girl' Video Teaser: Kanye Collaborator Plays With Cake |date=February 1, 2012| publisher=AOL The Boom Box }} Menzies's clothing line, Birthday Girl, consisting of a wide range of basics and was launched in 2013 with the help of Kickstarter.{{cite web|url=http://www.birthdaygirlworld.com/|title=Birthday Girl World|first=Birthday Girl|last=World|website=Birthday Girl World}} She also appeared in Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, Season 14, Episode 16: 'Funny Valentine' in February 2013.

Causes

In June 2013, Menzies partnered with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to raise awareness about suicide and suicide prevention. She was announced as the national spokesperson for the Foundation at AFSP's annual Overnight Walk.

Discography

=Singles=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
rowspan="2"\| Year ! rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"\| Single ! Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2"\| Album
style="font-size:smaller;" ! style="width:50px;"\| R&B
rowspan="1"\| 2010 ! scope="row"\| "Superluva" \| \| rowspan="2"\|TBA
rowspan="1"\| 2012 ! scope="row"\| "Birthday Girl" \| \| rowspan="2"\|TBA
rowspan="1"\| 2013 ! scope="row"\| "My Star"{{cite web\|url=https://www.rap-up.com/2013/06/01/new-music-starshell-my-star/\|title=New Music: Starshell – 'My Star'\|website=Rap-Up}} \|

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

rowspan="2"| Year

! rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Single

! Peak chart positions

! rowspan="2"| Album

style="font-size:smaller;"

! style="width:50px;"| R&B

rowspan="1"| 2010

! scope="row"| "Superluva"

| rowspan="2"|TBA

rowspan="1"| 2012

! scope="row"| "Birthday Girl"

| rowspan="2"|TBA

rowspan="1"| 2013

! scope="row"| "My Star"{{cite web|url=https://www.rap-up.com/2013/06/01/new-music-starshell-my-star/|title=New Music: Starshell – 'My Star'|website=Rap-Up}}