Chantal's album Love Needs You has been a 2 year endeavour bringing together some of the most talented artists in the industry to create a genuine opus of world music. Acting as producer, co-arranger, and writer on Love Needs You, Chantal found the best and the brightest talents from around the world, bringing her ultimate vision to fruition. My new album has been a real labor of love for me, says the multi-tasking artist. I loved every moment of the process working on the album and every person who collaborated or worked with me on the project.
First up in this impressive supporting cast is Chantal's close friend, singer Chico Castillo formerly of the Gypsy Kings. Chantal invited him to do two songs with her at the exclusive Caverne studios in Montreal-the ballad Feels like Love, and the feel good dance track You Want Me. Chico's world renowned vibrato and his trade mark flamenco guitar add a magical dimension to both supreme efforts.
The song co-arrangements were orchestrated by the accomplished Indian musician Subir Dev (Josh, Blue Bombay), whose ambitious task was incorporating a myriad of exotic instruments into the album's eclectic and complex song structures. I enjoyed the challenge of seeking out sounds from cultures and from around the world with Subir, says Chantal who also acted as producer. Additional arrangements were aided by the versatile Joel Campbell (Deborah Cox, Naughty by Nature, SWV).
Tapping into an exclusive cabal of writing talents, Chantal collaborated with a number of seasoned scribes on various songs on Love Needs You. Piano man Yves Frula (Celine Dion, Sass Jordan) acted as arranger and co-writer on Free, while Marjorie Maye (Celine Dion, S Club 7, Nikki Webster) sat in on a production session lending her talents to Feels Like Love as did Italian song writer Moreno Lombardi on the single Take a Chance.
Principal engineering and mixing was performed by the talented Yanik Daunais (Sarah McLachlan). Additional mixing was performed by seasoned veteran Humberto Gattica (Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Michael Buble) on tracks Nunca Será Igual and Amor de mi Vida. Final mastering of Love Needs You was assigned to the extraordinary talents of Vlado Meller (Harry Connick Jr., Jeff Buckley, Julio Iglesias, Bruce Cockburn).