Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: My name is Shanilee, I’m a singer-songwriter born and raised by the sea side in Spain and based in London. I have Filipino parents that are passionate about music and I believe that has highly influenced my music drive since I was a kid.
Q: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world? What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “Shanilee”?
A: I don’t have a master plan other than working on my craft and try to write the best songs I can, put them out in the world, and meet the right people along the way who will make this journey make sense. I wholeheartedly believe that making music with others and surround yourself with the right community is the key to a great music career. For me at least, of course!
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A: It’s really hard to name one artist at the moment because there are so many that inspire me every day, from mainstream to indie artists and people that I’m friends with. But among all of them I could name Olivia Dean, Remi Wolf, Sammy Rae & Friends are definitely some of my top ones at the moment.
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the song, “Strawberry Tattoo.”?
A: The song is essentially about having a summer romance without the pressures of serious commitment, whilst also being a hopeless romantic. I tend to romanticise ‘situationships’ and I wanted to capture that in a song that felt fun and lighthearted. The strawberry tattoo is an actual tattoo of mine which was a bit of a symbol in a personal relationship of this type that I had, and that is what inspired me to write the song.
Q: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A: Hug! (Or that’s what I’ve been told)
Q: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording “Strawberry Tattoo”?
A: ‘strawberry tattoo’ was one of those songs that felt like it wrote itself. Both the vibe and the idea was put together quite naturally (which doesn’t always happen); and it was such a treat to work on it with my producer and friend Atticus Blue, because it gave us so much room to play and create a fun and refreshing soundscape, compared to anything we’ve worked on before with any of my songs.
Q: What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A: I like to think that my music feels like a safe place, like a hug. I write mostly about my feelings and experiences because I’m extremely emotional. I guess the goal would be to translate those emotions into music that can transcend to others who can relate or feel comforted by it; and of course, to be able to write songs as long as I can and share them with as many as possible.
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A: ahhh I have so many I could not choose. I’d love to collaborate with a Spanish artist that I love called “Guitarricadelafuente” or this Portuguese artist called “MARO”.
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A: I think that you REALLY have to want to do it because it is a very difficult and hostile industry, and your love for doing it has to be bigger than its obstacles. Everyone’s path and goals are different though, and trying is always the answer I’d say. And most importantly for me, is to enjoy and love the process and be proud of your work. Only then it’s worth it!
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A: There’s so many things I would have loved to start doing when I was younger so I’d be better and more skilled now. Like, “you should stick to those piano theory lessons” or “practice more!”. But probably I would just tell myself to not feel like I’m failing or that it’s a mistake to want to pursue a music career. And to trust to process as long as what I do it’s what is making me happy!
