So you all remember we saw a great performance by Shina Rae at the Texas Heat Music festival, but she has been playing and performing in the Houston area for a while as well as putting on some pretty crazy parties of her own. Her musical style is difficult to try to put in a single category, but this girl definitely has crazy talent. Angie Audio caught Shina for a quick interview and a chance to talk about her upcoming events. Check out her music online.
www.myspace.com/shinaraewww.facebook.com/shinarae Angie: So tell me a little about yourself, when did you begin producing and performing?
Shina: Well, I've been performing since I was a child in choirs, musicals, dance troops, and all kinds of things like that. Show Choir - that was my life in school. I always knew I wanted perform, and write my own songs, but I'm not a producer, or enough of one to make all my own music. I may help with the melody on some songs, but I work with other artists on all of my songs, I really like having the second perspective too.
Angie: When I hear your music, I find a lot of very different influences. What are your biggest influences right now and in the past?
Shina: I'm constantly influenced by things in my life, the biggest influences, though, I think comes from things more often than from specific people though....anything from music to magic, nature to nightlife. I love to draw from experiences in my life, good, bad, sad, relaxing, thought provoking. I've been writing a lot lately about my relationships with people, and not just the person I'm dating. I wrote a song about my boss the other day....that one's gonna be dancey, and I dare you to figure out which song it is when my next CD comes out! haha
Angie: How do you deal with the issue of trying to stay within a specific genre and pander to an audience, or do you just kind of allow your music to cross boundaries?
Shina: I could never keep myself boxed into one genre. I think there will be people who like my dance tracks more, and people who like my acoustic songs better, and that's great. I'm happy that people like any of the styles of music I do. Ultimately the music is from me, and in a way starts out for me, so I'll make whatever I feel like making at that moment. And I hope people will love it as much as I do, but I won't just make one style just b/c someone says 'you should just do dance music' or something....
You know, there's so many different feelings behind my songs, I use the style of the music to match, and that means a lot of styles too..... I guess I could express them all with just one genre, but that would be boring.
Angie: Do you do all of your production yourself? Who else do you like to work/collaborate with?
Shina: Nope. I've worked with a ton of amazing producers, shall I start the list? hahaha, uhm, Traey Hatch, Diz Rokwell, Joe B., Mark Speer, Dunnock, even Crystal Lee, my awesome hype girl, just produced a track for our live show....hmmmm who else?? I've worked with SOOO many amazing artists. I'm working on new songs with new producers too now.... Just did a song with David Stagg and it is sooooo pop its ridiculous. I see it on a toy commercial or something. lol. I'm about to do this song with Mic Skills and Digi, I'm really looking forward to that!!
Ok, AND I'm working with a band now too, so I've got all those guys, plus I've been in other bands (ahem, Kozmonix) so the list of names of people I've collabed with is crazy long.
Angie: So whats on the horizon for you? Did you say something about a fashion show?
Shina: WAAAAAAAOOOWW, I have so much going on right now, it's pretty hectic, but in the near future.... there is a Bad is the new Good show coming up Friday the 13th in November. (I do those shows every Friday the 13th). I also throw fashion shows every week at Dean's downtown. They have different music every week, and showcase clothes from the shop, and twice a month local designers. Musically, I'm playing the Westheimer Block Party, FunFunFun afterparties, and another Block Party. Both of those are the weekends before I leave on tour for Europe. I really wanted to play the last Mission Control, but I'll be in Austin for FFFF.
You know, I've noticed in the last couple of weeks the only time I have to hang out anymore is when I'm out at a show or in a mtg, that is my hang out time.... so come see me coz I miss hangin' out! hahaha
Oh yeah, and I'm opening for Designer Drugs in a couple weeks too. I'm probably leaving something off that list still. ha
Angie: Finally, what comes to mind when I say the word 'nympholepsy'
Shina: sounds like a 'super group', I imagine it would be all dead rockstars like Freddie Mercury, Jimi Hendrix Left Eye, and I dunno Buddy Holly.... or could just be a word combo defined : someone who loves to have sex but constantly falls asleep while doing so.
Angie: Anything else you would like to tell the fans??
Shina: Oh yeah, I have a good friend coming into town for NYC on the 20th of this month. We'd really like to get the word out about the show. I'm not planning on playing it, altho, I may do a few songs that night. Check out his style, its hip hop, but he's pretty well spoken (ha)
http://www.myspace.com/spokinnmovementhttp://www.facebook.com/illspokinn
You all might remember option4 from the Holy Ghost show here at Escobar. He's from Colorado and we caught up with him and got a copy of his debut track 'Sunset Blvd.' Featuring Jacqueline Gerrie and Dynamic, and released by Jrumatic Records, Sunset BlvdIt’s a thick and rhythmically addicting tune with all of the fixings of a good pop song. But, a pop tune is only one option of many that option4 will introduce us to in enjoying his music.
