BIO

Janel Chanté is a Sacramento, California–born singer, songwriter, and actress, raised as the eldest of three siblings. Following her parents’ divorce at the age of 10, she grew up in a single-parent household, an experience that helped shape her resilience and creative voice.

Her passion for the performing arts began at the age of five, experimenting with instruments like the piano at home. During elementary school, she wrote and performed her first musical at a chapel service—where she also discovered her singing voice. She later expanded her musical abilities by learning guitar and drums, while continuing to develop her songwriting.

In high school, Janel became a familiar voice at school and community events, performing the National Anthem at basketball and football games, as well as singing at local festivals and competitions. She auditioned for America’s Got Talent during her freshman year and delivered a customized rendition of “Feeling Good” for her class of 2013 graduation. It was also during this time that she discovered her love for acting through her school’s Drama Club, performing in productions such as Little Shop of Horrors, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Halloween Horror Show.

Encouraged by her drama teacher, Janel went on to attend the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, where she earned her BFA in Acting. During her studies, she performed in multiple productions and showcases, including The Drowsy Chaperone, In the Heights, Here’s to the Ones Who Dream, and No One Is Alone.

While in college, Janel began taking her songwriting more seriously. She released her first track, “Meditation,” on SoundCloud, inspired by Respiration by Black Star, exploring themes of first love. She later wrote “Play,” which reflects on the intimacy of committed, long-term love, followed by “Queen,” an anthem of female empowerment, self-love, self-respect, and self-worth.

After graduating, Janel continued to build her acting career, landing a lead role in the short film My Sister’s Soul, appearing in commercials for platforms such as Cherie and TikTokData.com, and performing in stage productions including Rachel and the one-act play Heart Like an Ocean. Most recently, she appeared as Bernice in The Fillmore Eclipse.

In addition to performing, Janel is a dedicated educator. She has directed music at 42nd Street Moon Theater and worked as an acting instructor with Tomorrow Youth Repertory Theater and Word for Word. She also teaches musical theater with the American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) in San Francisco.

Janel continues to build her career as a multidisciplinary artist, balancing her work as a performer, songwriter, and educator.