Shannon Shea is an emerging independent singer-songwriter making her solo debut in 2023. The Los Angeles-based recording artist is originally from the Southeast. However, a nomadic early-life led her to live everywhere from Pittsburgh to the West Coast, and all points between.
Initially trained as an opera singer, Shannon Shea’s musical life began in the classical world. However, inspired by legendary folk and pop stars like John Denver and Joni Mitchell, the singer found her calling as a songwriter. Recently, the multitalented musician entered a Burbank recording studio, and took the first step on her new creative journey.
“Card Castle” is the debut single from Shannon Shea, released worldwide via all major streaming services on June 30, 2023. As the track opens, a mellow acoustic guitar picks a minor-key chord as Motnik slides in with a smooth, melodic bass line. The singer steps to the mic with an introspective and emotional tale of pain and healing. She sings of surviving a tumultuous relationship, and of the damage wrought by a partner struggling with their own demons. The performances are impeccable throughout on this beautiful melancholy Americana ballad.
Check out “Card Castle” below. You can also hear the song on the Deep Indie Dive playlist, or listen on your favorite streaming service. We had the chance to chat with Shannon Shea about her new music. Read her answers to our 8 questions below. And follow the links at the end of this article to connect with the artist.
8 Questions with Shannon Shea
Where are you from?
Shannon Shea: I was born in Charleston, SC but I have lived in 7 states and at least 20 cities in my life. My family moved around a lot!
How long have you been making music?
SS: I’ve been singing and writing music for over 20 years. I originally started in opera, but it wasn’t a good fit for my vocal chords and in fact I almost lost my voice which is what started me on a long break from music before returning to it recently in a completely new genre.
Who are the musicians involved in your project?
SS: I met all the musicians that I worked with on Card Castle through Fiverr. I listened to a lot of musicians before approaching them! Wes Lunsford is part of the duo The Young Fables and plays guitar on the track. Francy Karema plays drums and Martin Motnik of the German rock band Accept plays the bass line. All of them contributed to the writing of the music of the song, creating their own parts. I’m very grateful to them for coming on board this journey with me. I hope to work with all of them again soon!
Who are your biggest musical influences?
SS: I find this such a difficult question to answer because I grew up listening to everything from Opera and musical theater to every genre of modern music from country to metal, pop to blues. I think it’s the singer/songwriters who tell stories with their songs that I love to listen to best. Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, John Denver. I listen to a lot of 70s and 80s music.
What is your greatest non-musical influence?
SS: The world around us is full of music. There’s poetry in the every day. I use nature references, some folk tales and all of it is drawn from experiences either I’ve had in my life or something someone has recounted to me about theirs and it feels like a story that needs to be shared.
What inspired you to create this project?
SS: This song is a painful journey. It’s about leaving an unhealthy relationship. I think we’ve all been through something like that at one point or another, or known someone going through it and it was important to me to write about it because it’s important to let people know they aren’t alone in that experience. There is a way out and you can get to the other side of it. I also have been writing songs since I was a kid, but was always singing other people’s music. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s been a dream of mine to be performing my own original works. So this is very much a dream come true for me!
What are your plans for the future (musically)?
SS: I’m working on a combination of original music and reworkings of some of my favorite classics. I have at least an album worth of songs on the line already and I hope to release them steadily from now into the foreseeable future.
Is there anything else you would like to say?
Shannon Shea: I think the last few years have truly brought home the point that none of us are promised tomorrow. It may be cliché, but it’s never too late to go for your dreams and no day like the present to start on that journey.