Featured Photo Credit: Gabe
Music, unlike confidence, has always been inherent in Shannon K’s life.
Inspired by her relatable struggles with insecurity, Shannon K’s new song “RUN” aims to cultivate and enhance the confidence within her fans.
We chatted with this international artist about the relatable track, performing and an exciting new project!
What inspired you to write “RUN”?
My past experiences inspired me to write this song. I had always been somewhat insecure about myself and that had been bugging me a lot, and not to mention the kinds of things I heard from people when I first started my career.
What was the writing process like?
It was super fun and creative! During the whole process I was sort of talking to my younger self who was insecure and afraid to be herself. It felt like I was encouraging and motivating my inner self to never quit.
If you could set fans up in the perfect environment to listen to “RUN,” what do you imagine it looking like?
I’d say the outdoors would be the best place for this song since it involves different parts of culture across the globe. So I feel like if you’re traveling somewhere, or are even getting back to your work from the whole pandemic situation and you need a little boost, this song is perfect.
You recently did a virtual performance for Stream Live @_streamlive. How did it feel to perform again?
It felt incredible! I had so much fun performing again after so long. I was literally enjoying every bit of it. Obviously I wasn’t able to interact with my fans in person, but I’m sure they were enjoying themselves through their phones. I can’t wait to perform again!
You have worked with high profile songwriters and producers including Poo Bear (Justin Bieber, Ed Sheeran etc.), and Infinity (Rita Ora, Mary J.Blige, Ludacris). Who would you love to collaborate with next?
I loved working with Poo Bear, Kyle Townsend and Infinity. I’d love to collaborate with Harry Styles and Bruno Mars in the future. I love collaborating with producers as well because it gives me the freedom to explore my own style.
How did you first get interested in music?
Being raised in a musical environment I can say that music has been a part of me ever since the beginning. I’ve always been fascinated about music and a musician/artist’s life as a whole. I’ve been inspired by some of the greatest legends who helped me dig deeper into the world of music and songwriting. I remember the first time I won in a school music competition and from there onwards, I gained confidence about taking my singing further.
You were born in India and raised in London. Did either of those places have an influence on your music?
I do believe that living in different corners of the world definitely influenced my music. The environment and lifestyle has reflected in my songwriting many times. I like to see how different my songs are compared to each other because of the surrounding or place I was in during that time, so it’s always great to see how much of an impact a certain place can have on your music.
Who did you listen to growing up and do they have an influence on your sound today?
Since childhood, Whitney Houston, Céline Dion and Mariah Carey have been major influences in my singing, which is why they are my inspiration. There’s so much to learn from them, and it’s just incredible to see what they can do with their soulful, yet powerful, voices. I like Ariana Grande as well; she’s got such a chill vibe and it’s always fun to watch her perform!
How do you hope people feel after listening to your music?
I hope that people feel confident about themselves, especially since we are all going through a crazy time, and certain people or situations can bring us down. Being able to have self-confidence and motivation to get back to achieving your goals is what I hope people would feel after listening to the song.
What can fans look forward to next?
Well I have a super cool podcast on the way called “Get Real.” In the podcast we’ll sit down with artists, actors, musicians and influencers to explore the reality and unheard stories of their success. A lot of times we as an audience start dissing celebrities without knowing the hardships and sacrifices they have made along their way to success, so I feel like this podcast would give an opportunity to hear the “behind the scenes.” These stories would hopefully motivate and inspire people to keep going. Along with that, I recently made a cameo in a feature film which is set to be releasing in November so I’m super excited for that too!
What is one quote that you have heard or that you go by that you want to ECHO out to the world?
There’s a quote of mine which I always say: “You were made for a reason, to SHINE”
Listen to “RUN” here.