Havana Brown Biography

Havana Brown or DJ Havana Brown (born Angelique Meunier; 14 February 1985) is an Australian DJ, singer and dancer. In 2008, Brown signed with Island Records Australia as a DJ for the record company, and began releasing her Crave compilation album series, which featured remixes of songs from other artists. This led to her touring with international artists, including Britney Spears, Rihanna, the Pussycat Dolls, Chris Brown and Enrique Iglesias.

Brown made her debut as a recording artist in 2011, with the single "We Run the Night", which reached number five on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart and was certified triple platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). The single earned Brown two ARIA Music Award nominations for Breakthrough Artist Single and Highest Selling Single. Following this success, Brown signed a US record deal with Universal Republic via producer RedOne's label 2101 Records. A remix of "We Run the Night", featuring American rapper Pitbull, was produced by RedOne and released in the United States. It reached number one on the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart and number 26 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The remix was included on Brown's first EP, When the Lights Go Out, which was released in July 2012.

Early life and career beginnings

Brown was born in Melbourne, Australia to Mauritian parents that came from the island of Rodrigues. Before she started to DJ, she was signed to a record label in the United Kingdom with a group called Fishbowl. They were about to release their first single under the label, but the group fell apart and Brown turned to DJing. She then began performing at venues around Melbourne such as Lou Lou's and worked with promotions around Australia.
2008–09: Crave and touring

In 2008, Brown signed to Island Records Australia, after being approached by a boss of the label, who asked her if she was interested in doing a compilation album. She has since been releasing her Crave compilation series through the label. In October 2008, Brown supported Rihanna on the Australian leg of her Good Girl Gone Bad Tour. In May 2009, she served as a support act for the Pussycat Dolls during the Australian leg of their Doll Domination Tour. Brown also supported Britney Spears during the European leg of her 2009 Circus Tour. She earned the same support role for the Australian leg of the tour in November 2009.

Since December 2009, Brown has provided mixes every Saturday night on Party People, a radio show which broadcasts across Australia by the Today Network.

2011–present: Recording debut and international breakthrough

In April 2011, Brown was a supporting act for Chris Brown's Australian leg of his F.A.M.E. Tour. On 29 April 2011, Brown released her debut single "We Run the Night", which was written and produced by Cassie Davis and Snob Scrilla of the production duo More Mega. The song peaked at number five on the ARIA Singles Chart and was certified triple platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), for selling 210,000 copies. On 4 September 2011, Brown told The Daily Telegraph that she had signed a US recording contract with Universal Republic Records via producer RedOne's label 2101 Records. The official remix of "We Run the Night", featuring additional production by RedOne and a rap verse by American rapper Pitbull, was released in the United States on 27 September 2011. It peaked at number one on the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart. Brown's second single "Get It" was released on 9 September 2011, and peaked at number 38 on the ARIA Singles Chart. On 20 April 2012, Brown released a promotional single titled "City of Darkness".

Brown's debut EP When the Lights Go Out was released on 17 July 2012. The Australian version of the EP included five new songs, while the US version included the RedOne remix of "We Run the Night". On 18 July 2012, she appeared as a musical guest on America's Got Talent. In August 2012, Brown became a supporting act, alongside Timomatic and Taio Cruz, for Pitbull's Australian leg of his Planet Pit World Tour. Brown represented Australia at the first ABU TV Song Festival 2012, which took place at the KBS Concert Hall in Seoul, South Korea on 14 October 2012.