Amanda

..Today, as a wise-beyond-her-years twenty-something, Amanda Reals has gracefully navigated the tangled web of record deals and other sundry pit stops while steering through Cleveland's working class to New York's bright lights. Her self-titled Universal Records debut offers up a refreshing mix of sweet melodies and wide-ranging tempos, bound to solidify her as a music mainstay.As Amanda proclaims in one of her jazzy, sexy interludes, she's "Finally Made It". Singing at the age of eight in her grandmother's church choir, Amanada always possessed the burning desire to become a singer and was fully confident that one day she would achieve her dreams. When people would inquire about her plans after high school, 'College or work?' she'd reply with much conviction, "I’m a singer. I'm going to be a star!" There was never a moment she thought about anything else."It was just meant for me to be a singer," Amanda says referring to her signing to Bad Boy Records. She was in New York chasing her dream for no more than 2 weeks before randomly running in Sean "Diddy" Combs at a party. While at the party Cheri seized her opportunity and began an impromptu performance singing solid vocals over the song the DJ was playing. The hip hop impresario instantly became enamored by Cheri's vocal capabilities and in only a matter of weeks, without even thinking twice, Universal had her paperwork drawn up for the record deal.But after commanding the coveted ear of her label Chairman and producer Jimmy Iovine, Amanda spent what felt like an eternity in and out of studios recording tracks for her album. She blessed Mase's album, and a few years later made feature appearances on two Bad Boy releases "The Saga Continues" and "We Invented the Remix.", that whet fans' appetites and made them anxious for the melodic, sweet voice’s own album. But Amanda knows all about timing; she understands that the pot don't whistle 'til the water's boiling and now, finally, it's all about her debut, and Cheri totally gets the significance of it all."I cut school to buy the first Faith album back then," she admits with a sly smile, knowing the irony of her words. "She's someone who has influenced my sound because she has such an amazing voice." Amanda has a distinctively different vocal quality and feel to her music than her predecessor, but with a close listen to breathy songs like "Matrix" (produced by Diddy) and feel-good remake produced of The Notorious B.I.G.'s famous "Sky's the Limit", by Harve Pierre, real music buffs will undoubtedly hear the special connection. Cheri describes her sound as "hip-hop soul, R&B with an edge." She blends together the grace of gospel with a rock and roll edge, R&B soul and a little pop style.Amanda's most meaningful musical influences were Prince and Madonna. Says the budding starlet, "I'm a very sensual person, so I connect with that in Prince. And with Madonna, it wasn’t so much the music as it was her power and presence." And yes, in the most subtle ways Amanda reflects what she has learned from the both of them. She also reflects on inspirations that have come from Minnie Ripperton and Aretha Franklin, "when you think of those singers, the first thing that comes to mind is their voice. Their voices were so powerful and moving, I just hope that my singing moves people. I want people to hear me live and realize that it is not just about a studio for me, rather it is about singing well."