Havana Brown | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Brown at the2014 ARIA Music Awards | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Angelique Frances Meunier[1] (1982-02-14)14 February 1982 (age 43) |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2008–present |
| Labels | |
| Website | djhavanabrown |
Angelique Frances Meunier[1] (born 14 February 1985),[2] known professionally asHavana Brown orDJ Havana Brown, is an Australian DJ, singer, songwriter, record producer and dancer.[3][4] In 2008, Brown signed withIsland Records Australia as a DJ for the record company and began releasing herCravecompilation album series, which featured remixes of songs from other artists.[5] This led to her touring with international artists, includingBritney Spears,Rihanna, thePussycat Dolls,Chris Brown andEnrique Iglesias.[6]
Brown made her debut as a recording artist in 2011, with the single "We Run the Night", which reached No.5 on the AustralianARIA Singles Chart and was certified triple platinum by theAustralian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). The single earned Brown twoARIA Music Award nominations for Breakthrough Artist Single and Highest Selling Single. Following this success, Brown signed a US record deal withUniversal Republic via producerRedOne's label2101 Records.[7] A remix of "We Run the Night", featuring American rapperPitbull was produced by RedOne and released in the United States. It reached No.1 on the USHot Dance Club Songs chart and No.26 on the USBillboard Hot 100 chart. The remix was included on Brown's first EP,When the Lights Go Out, which was released in July 2012.
Brown was one of the contestants in the second season of the Australian version of the TV series,I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in 2016, where she came 6th. In 2024 she teamed up with her friend Stephanie Wood to compete onThe Amazing Race Australia (celebrity edition), where she placed 7th.[8]
Brown has been engaged since 2015 to formerYoung Talent Time starVince Del Tito.[9]
Brown was born inMelbourne, Australia toMauritian parents ofFrench descent from the island ofRodrigues and grew up in both Australia and Rodrigues, which she used to visit frequently.[10][11][12] Before she started to DJ, she was signed to a record label in the United Kingdom with a group called Fishbowl.[13] They were about to release their first single under the label, but the group broke up and Brown turned to DJing.[13][14] She then began performing at venues around Melbourne and worked with promotions around Australia.[15]
In 2008, Brown signed toIsland Records Australia after being approached by a boss of the label who asked her if she was interested in doing a compilation album.[14][16] She released herCrave compilation series through the label. In October 2008, Brown supportedRihanna on the Australian leg of herGood Girl Gone Bad Tour.[13] In May 2009, she served as a support act for thePussycat Dolls during the Australian leg of theirDoll Domination Tour.[17] Brown also supportedBritney Spears during the European leg of her 2009Circus Tour.[18] She earned the same support role for the Australian leg of the tour in November 2009.[19]
Since December 2009, Brown has provided mixes every Saturday night on Party People, a radio show that broadcasts across Australia by theToday Network.[20]
In April 2011, Brown was a supporting act forChris Brown's Australian leg of hisF.A.M.E. Tour.[21] On 29 April 2011, Brown released her debut single "We Run the Night",[22] which was written and produced byCassie Davis andSnob Scrilla of the production duo More Mega.[23] The song peaked at No.5 on theARIA Singles Chart[24] and was certified triple platinum by theAustralian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), for selling 210,000 copies.[25] On 4 September 2011, Brown toldThe Daily Telegraph that she had signed a US recording contract withUniversal Republic Records via producerRedOne's label2101 Records.[26] The official remix of "We Run the Night", featuring additional production by RedOne and a rap verse by American rapperPitbull, was released in the United States on 27 September 2011.[27] It peaked at No.1 on the USHot Dance Club Songs chart. Brown's second single "Get It" was released on 9 September 2011,[28] and peaked at No.38 on the ARIA Singles Chart.[24] On 20 April 2012, Brown released a promotional single titled "City of Darkness".[29]
Brown's debutEPWhen the Lights Go Out was released on 17 July 2012.[30] The Australian version of the EP included five new songs, while the US version included the RedOne remix of "We Run the Night".[31] On 18 July 2012, she appeared as a musical guest onAmerica's Got Talent.[32] In August 2012, Brown became a supporting act, alongsideTimomatic andTaio Cruz, for Pitbull's Australian leg of hisPlanet Pit World Tour.[33] Brown represented Australia at the firstABU TV Song Festival 2012, which took place at theKBS Concert Hall inSeoul,South Korea, on 14 October 2012.[34][better source needed][35]"Big Banana", featuring R3hab and Prophet of 7Lions, was released as the third single fromWhen the Lights Go Out on 4 December 2012.[36] It was Brown's second single to peak at No.1 on the USHot Dance Club Songs chart.[37] It also peaked at No.15 on the USDance/Electronic Songs chart.[38] In Australia, "Big Banana" peaked at No.18 on the ARIA Singles Chart, and at No.2 on the ARIA Dance Singles Chart.[39][40] The song was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), denoting sales of 70,000 copies.[41]"Spread a Little Love" was released as the fourth single from the EP but failed to chart.
Brown's debut studio albumFlashing Lights was released on 11 October 2013, which debuted at No.6 on theARIA Albums Chart.[42] It features collaborations withRedOne,R3hab,Cassie Davis,Snob Scrilla andAfrojack.Flashing Lights also features previously released tracks "We Run the Night", "Big Banana" and "You'll Be Mine". The album was in the process of creation from 2011 when "We Run the Night" was released (which sold over one million copies in the United States and charted across the globe). Brown spent 2012 and 2013 primarily based in the US working on the album. The lead single "Flashing Lights" was released on 23 August 2013 and peaked at No.68 on the ARIA Singles Chart.[43] "Flashing Lights" peaked at No.1 on theHot Dance Club Songs chart marking it her third No.1 in the US on that chart. The second single "Warrior" was released on 27 September 2013, and debuted at No.32 before peaking at No.11 and was certified platinum for sales of over 70,000 copies. On 14 October 2013, Brown performed "Warrior" onseason five ofThe X Factor Australia.[44]
On 27 March 2014, Brown released the single "Whatever We Want", which peaked at No.35 on the ARIA Singles Chart. Brown's next single "Better Not Said" was released on 9 September 2014, and peaked at No.79. In January 2015, she released her eleventh lead single "No Ordinary Love",[45] which is a dance version ofSade's song of the same name.
On 24 July 2015, Brown released her new single entitled "Battle Cry", featuring guest vocals fromBebe Rexha and Savi.
In 2018, Brown released theHip hop influenced single "Glimpse" (feat.Rich the Kid). The single was originally the lead single from her then upcoming EP, with "Cookie" (feat.Veronica Vega) released on 10 May 2019 as the second single from the proposed EP. However the EP was subsequently scrapped due to damage to the original masters.
On 18 October 2019, Brown released the single "All Day", which hasPop music andR&B influenced sound.
In October 2023, Brown released "Forever Young". Her first new single in four years and first under new label Havana Brown Entertainment (HBE).[46][47]
In 2024, Brown along with her best friend Steph competed onNetwork 10'sThe Amazing Race Australia 8, where they have been eliminated fifth.[48]
Brown claimedJanet Jackson as her biggest influence, stating "She's my idol" and "I want to be Janet Jackson! But the DJ-slash-Janet Jackson—I want to be able to put on big shows, I want dancers, I want fireworks, I want it all."[49]
Headlining
| Year | Title | Role | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Tell Me I Love You | DJ Phillipa | [52] |
| 2022 | Wog Boys Forever | Sapphire | [53] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Neighbours | Cheyenne Rivers | 11 episodes, credited as Angelique Meunier | [54] |
TheARIA Music Awards is an annual ceremony presented byAustralian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), which recognises excellence, innovation and achievement across all genres of themusic of Australia. The awards commenced in 1987.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | "We Run the Night" | Highest Selling Single | Nominated | [55] |
| Breakthrough Artist – Single | Nominated | |||
| 2012 | When the Lights Go Out | Best Dance Release | Nominated | [56] |
| 2014 | "Warrior" | Song of the Year | Nominated | [57] |
TheAPRA Awards are held in Australia and New Zealand by theAustralasian Performing Right Association to recognise songwriting skills, sales and airplay performance by its members annually.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | "We Run the Night" (Cassie Davis,Sean Mullins) | Dance Work of the Year | Nominated | [58] |
TheChannel V Oz Artist of the Year was an annual award presented by Channel V Australia and is voted by the Australian public from 1997 to 2014.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | herself | Channel V Oz Artist of the Year | Nominated | [59] |
TheMTV Europe Music Awards are awards presented byParamount International Networks to honour artists and music inpop culture.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | herself | Best Australia Act | Nominated | [60] |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | herself | Australian Female Artist | Nominated | [61][62] |
| Favourite DJ of 2011 | Won | |||
| Breakthrough Artist of 2011 | Won | |||
| 2012 | herself | Favourite Australian Female Artist | Nominated | [63][64] |
| Favourite DJ of 2012 | Won |
TheWorld Music Awards is an international award show and presents awards to the world's best-selling artists in a number of categories from each major territory. They were last held in 2014.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | herself | World's Best Female Artist | Nominated | [65] |
| World's Best Live Act | Nominated | [66] | ||
| World's Best Entertainer of the Year | Nominated | [67] | ||
| "Warrior" | World's Best Song | Nominated | [68] |
Mauritian Australian
Mauritian Australian
Rodriques yes... I used to go back there every two years with my family
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by None | Australia in the ABU TV Song Festival 2012 with"We Run the Night" | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
