Having already made a significant impact with a wave of impressive delights these last few years, Essex-born artist SHANNON DARCY is now looking to cement her dynamic legacy to date with the release of her eagerly-awaited debut EP ‘Just Worried Because’.
Featuring the previously shared gems ‘To Understand’ , ‘i am’ and its blistering title-track, this new six track collection makes for an incredibly deep and anthemic listen throughout. So we caught up with her to find out more about what has been inspiring her most over the years.
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Can you tell us a bit about your musical background and how you got started in music?
Music has always been a huge part of my life. Even from a very early age I remember always wanting to sing, especially when I was in the car with my mum, and we’d pick different CDs to sing along too! It was only until I sang on a proper stage for the first time that I realised I wanted to become a singer and be a real part of that musical world. I was ten years old and there was a talent competition being held at the holiday park we were staying in. I’d never performed to a proper audience before and I remember being terrified to step up there in front of everyone. But once I started singing and getting a real feel for the music, I honestly didn’t want to leave. There was something so freeing and so exciting about it and I knew right then and there that singing and performing was all I wanted to do.
Who are some of your biggest musical influences, both past and present?
When I was younger, I remember being introduced to so many different genres of music and I think that’s why my taste in music today is so varied across multiple styles and genre. Christina Aguilera stands out to me because I remember listening to her sing and trying to imitate her riffs and how she belted out notes! Musical theatre was a huge part of my music when I was younger as well. I love Kristin Chenoweth and the way she sings, so I used to watch clips of how she performed and acted so confidently on stage, wanting to be just as confident as myself. It was seeing her perform ‘Popular’ that encouraged my initial love for musical theatre. Nowadays, I’d say my biggest musical influence is YUNGBLUD. I just love everything he stands for and how he sings exactly what he’s feeling. He isn’t afraid to be himself, no matter what other people think, and his influence has genuinely helped me so much with finding myself as a person and as an artist too.
Are there any specific artists or bands that have had a significant impact on your music style or approach?
As mentioned above, I think YUNGBLUD has had a big impact on how I hold myself as an artist. He has taught me the importance of individuality and being who I want to be, especially when it comes to style as well! I also think Amy Winehouse has had an impact on my approach as an artist, because I feel like she was also someone who just loved music and wanted to share that passion with others. I adore her voice and I think she has such a unique tone. It’s a voice you can identify straight away when you hear it. Something about both of these artists that I can relate to as well, is that their music is full of real-life experiences and raw emotion, and I love hearing that in a song or piece of music, especially when it tells a story too.
Could you share any memorable moments or experiences that have shaped your musical journey so far?
Something that definitely sticks out to me, is releasing my first original song. It was the first proper time I finally got to stand up as an independent artist and say “this is my song and this is who I am as an artist”. It felt like such a surreal moment to me, having my own sound and style finally out in the world for anyone to hear if they wanted. The day of the release I was surrounded by friends and family as we all listened to the song and it was a moment I’ll never forget.
How do you express your personal experiences and identity through your music?
When I write music, I want people to be able to really feel and understand the emotions of what I’m singing about. I’m always honest when I write my lyrics because I find it therapeutic to sing what I feel. If I’ve had a bad experience? I write a song. If I feel something so strong I can’t stop thinking about it? I write a song. I like telling stories through my music and it’s always exciting to see where the song begins and ends, and how I’m going to express myself through that journey.
Have you faced any challenges or obstacles as a female musician, and if so, how have you overcome them?
I’m someone who has always struggled with confidence and body image. It’s something that I’m working on and continue to work on all the time. I think that with being an artist and putting yourself out there for people to see, especially as a woman, it can be hard because people have so many expectations; like what should you wear in the public eye? Are you showing too much skin? Are you not showing enough skin? Do you look too big in that outfit or are you even good enough to wear in the first place? I will admit that these questions do cross my mind sometimes, but I think the way I’m learning to overcome that is to simply try and shut out the noise. If I feel good in something, I should be able to convey that and flaunt it. I shouldn’t need to care what others think, if I feel good about myself, that’s all that should matter. Like I said, it’s a continuous progress, but I think I’m way more confident in myself now than I have ever been.
Are there any particular themes or messages that you aim to convey through your music?
I think I just want to create a safe space with my music, so that anyone listening to any of my songs can either relate or feel some sort of solace towards the lyrics or the sound. I’m someone who grew up quite insecure and without confidence in myself, I suffered a lot with anxiety and I never really believed in myself at all, so I would love to inspire people who maybe feel what I felt. Music and singing has helped me so much and really enabled me to find myself, so it would mean a lot to be able to give that opportunity to someone else who is struggling like I was.
Can you talk about your creative process and how you go about writing and producing your music?
So, I don’t play any instruments. When I want to sit down and write a song, I usually write the lyrics to a tune in my head as I go along. By the end of one songwriting session, I sometimes have about fifty voice notes with lots of experimental sounds and ideas of me just singing a cappella into my phone haha. But, once I have my sound and the idea of the tune in my head, I go to the studio. Talon Payne is an amazing producer and he’s worked on all of my releases with me so far. When I go to the studio and tell him my ideas, he creates the exact sound that I envision straight away! Big shoutout to Talon, my songs wouldn’t be the same without his influence and input.
How do you hope your music will resonate with your audience, especially with other aspiring female musicians?
Similarly to what I’ve mentioned above, I really want to inspire people. I think that within my music, there’s something for everyone to relate too, whether that’s mental health, finding love, dealing with betrayal and toxicity, or simply just figuring out who you are as a person. I hope that any other aspiring female musicians will have the confidence to be themselves no matter what others may think or say. My body image, as I’ve said, is something I struggle with, but I know deep down that it doesn’t define who I am.
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Listen to SHANNON DARCY’s debut EP ‘Just Worried Because’ below.