* En anglais uniquement
Getting signed to major label EMI is the dream of so many singers, but alternative rock singer
Christia Mantzke found it was holding her back. The California-born singer had originally focused on the club scene but soon found it wasn't an ideal match. Based on the strength of her more rock-oriented demos, EMI signed her in 2001 and released her single "I'm Not a Boy" in Europe. It went Top 20 in Germany, France, and Italy, but EMI never released it in America. Feeling the label was taking too long to release her music,
Mantzke got out of her contract and struck out on her own. Her energetic live shows drew comparisons to
Avril Lavigne and
Alanis Morissette in the press.
Mantzke released her debut album,
The First, on her own CM Records in 2003. ~ David Jeffries