Sunderland-born Shannon Pearl has already made her mark on the North East music scene, being vocalist of blues/folk duo YUMA for almost 8 years and collaborating with several local artists in that time.
Now, after a long live musical hiatus due to the pandemic, lockdown has sparked more creativity than ever and Shannon has been a busy bee. Kay Hall caught with her to chat about her latest EP, ‘Caves’.
How would you describe the music you typically create?
I would say that I am fueled by new experiences and my love of history and nature. My taste is eclectic and this shows in my original creations. Having always used music as a means of escapism, if something isn’t going well in life I know all I need to do to lift my spirits is don some headphones and press play. My music is always inspired by my connection to nature, my love of folklore and the music of my ancestral homelands. I try to retain some of the traditional traits of folk music whilst adding my own twist. So, I suppose I’d describe it as folk music for the 21st century.
So, tell us about your new release…
The ‘Caves ’EP is steeped in history, in that the songs featured on it are all old traditional folk songs from England, Scotland and Scandinavia and in line with my ancestry. I decided to pick my favourite traditional ballads and sing them in spaces that were full of natural reverb. What you hear on the recording is all natural as the reverb came directly from the environment – and the files were left as raw and untouched as possible.
Who are your musical inspirations?
I love the blues and bluegrass so Robert Johnson and B.B. King are high on the list, and there’s also Frank Fairfield and Pentangle, but more recently, I’d say Ben Howard Wardruna and Ye Vagabonds.
How have you coped during lockdown when it comes to producing music?
It has been a mixed bag for me. The first lockdown had me musically down and out and I had no inspiration or motivation to do anything – I even lost my voice at one point. But as time went on, I have begun to accept my feelings around the current world situation and this, in turn, has opened the flood gates for creativity. More than ever, I feel blessed to be able to write, sing and play.
And finally, what are your future aspirations?
What’s next is in god’s hands right now [Laughing]. But, hopefully, we can get back to performing live soon. I just can’t wait to sing to people in real life again.
You can listen to ‘Caves’ now on all major online streaming platforms.
