Contemporary R&B vocalist Shae Williams began performing as a youngster in her Lake Charles, Louisiana church. Throughout childhood, she took part in theatrical productions, as well as choirs and bands; in high school, she was all-state as a choir member and clarinetist. At McNeese State, she majored in music performance and studied jazz and classical. Following college, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee and further developed her skills as a performer, which led to additional work in stage productions. All the while, she worked her way toward becoming a recording artist. In 2012, she self-released Undefined, a six-track EP of contemporary R&B that ranged from the elegant, aching ballad "I'm Not the Same" to the more pop-oriented "Hard Head." Following a revamp of Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You," Williams released another independent single, "Ready," in 2015. ~ Andy Kellman