While having lunch with singer Keshia Chante, one thing instantly becomes clear -- this girl is no ordinary teenager.

She's extremely driven, optimistic, goal-orientated and head strong. She knows what she likes and what she doesn't like. And she'll let you know her feelings without being rude or mean.

In the case of lunch, she likes Coke, not Pepsi, and it has to be frizzy.

She doesn't like too much oil or sauce on her food -- she prefers everything plain.

And if you can not accommodate her, she's fine simply going without.

In the case of music, she believes a CD should take listeners on a smooth journey that is never interrupted by that one lame song you skip over.

Yes, in Chante's world, she prefers everything to be just how she likes it.

"Even when I was 13 or 14, I still had a strong opinion and a say on most things. I've never had to wear anything I didn't want to wear or sing anything I didn't want to sing. I really got to make music I wanted to make. I still do."

At the young age of 18, Chante, who was born as Keshia Harper in Ottawa, has already been in the business for years.

She was discovered at the age of 12, after a video of her performing at a talent show landed on the desk of Ivan Berry, head of A&R and International, Sony/BMG Canada at the time.

Now, six years later, the vocal powerhouse has released her sophomore album, 2U, in Canada and is planning for the U.S. release date in early 2007.

While most young singers would be overwhelmed with the pressure of making their American debut, Chante simply shrugs it off.

After all, she's in talks to have her own reality TV show on MTV and she's just come off two U.S. mall tours, sponsored by Teen People and Seventeen magazines, in which she performed with the likes of Ashley Parker Angel, Mario Vazquez and Cherish.

"What's really cool about the Teen People tour, as well as the Seventeen tour, is they are known for breaking artists. Seventeen had Britney Spears in the very beginning and Teen People had Ciara (Harris) and other artists. So, that was kind of cool," she says.

Chante seems even more nonchalant about appearing in Bow Wow's new video.

"Bow Wow is my labelmate. He was at the label in New York and they have posters of me all over the offices, so he came in and asked, 'Who is this girl?' We met. He hooked me up on the phone and it was good."

So what would the perfect 2007 look like for a girl who seems to already have the world? Chante says it would include a successful North American tour in support of 2U.

"I'd love to do a major tour in Canada, whether it be with a big artist like Christina Aguilera or my own tour, and I'd love for the CD to do well. I put my heart into it."

While the sky is the limit for Chante, she says she'll likely take a break from music at some point to attend university. Maybe then, she adds, she'll find the time to fall in love.

"I have only had one boyfriend when I was 13. I dated him for like two weeks so it wasn't that serious. I have never really invested my time in a real relationship. I don't know, I just feels like relationships are a waste of time."

And for Chante, wasting time is apparently not an option.