Shannon Curfman : Watching A Star Gain Orbit

By Alex Teitz

Shannon Curfman is the newest face to break through. On Tuesday September 13, Arista Records released her CD Loud Guitars, Big Suspicions. Curfman, still a teenager, has been making faces turn, and ears prick up nationwide. FEMMUSIC was lucky to catch up with her. Here’s what she had to say:

FEMMUSIC:  You started performing very early. What motivated you to start in music?

SC: There was always music around the house from my parents’ old classic rockrecords to the pop 80’s radio stations that were on in my sister’s room.  For as long as I can remember I was always choreographing and singing along to all the songs I knew, and having little show. When I was 7 I sang on-stage for the first time at a local talent show, and then I picked up the guitar when I was about 10. I had my first band when I was 11, and from there I was in a couple of different bands, and we finally moved to Minneapolis when I was 13.

FEMMUSIC:  How do you come up with your songs?

SC:  I get that question a lot, but I still don’t have an answer. I think it’s just from what happens around me – Watching different  shows and movies, and just imagining how these people must be feeling. My songs definitely aren’t autobiographical, or anything.

FEMMUSIC: What is your song writing process like?

SC: It definitely differs when I’m co-writing from coming into the situation with a riff, or just a vibe or groove to a song, to a line, to even sometimes 2 whole verses, most of the chords and the chorus. Another big factor in the writing process is who I’m writing with. I just got the opportunity to go and write with some very amazing writers in Nashville and just their way of explaining things and how they’re organized is just so different than from writing with people here in Minnesota. It was a great learning experience for me.

FEMMUSIC:  What artists have influenced you the most?

SC: Jonny Lang for being so professional and so dedicated, and for being an all-around amazing musician/writer. The first time I ever played with a full band was with Jeff Healey and his band, so they made a huge impact on my career. I listen to a lot of different music from The Artist, James Brown, and Sly Stone to Lucinda Williams, John Prine, Dwight Yoakam, and Greg Brown. I also love classic rock like Led Zeppelin, Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, The Beatles, Aerosmith, and a lot of the newer stuff like Ani DiFranco, Jamiroquai, and Sheryl Crow.

FEMMUSIC:  What has been your biggest challenge since you’ve been playing professionally?

SC: I’d have to say getting people to realize that age doesn’t matter. What I mean by that is, I’m a musician whether I’m 10 years old or 50 years old. I’m in this for my lifetime – Not just for the next couple of years so people can look at me like a novelty act. Sooner or later all little girls grow up, and that’s when the music will have to stand on its own.

FEMMUSIC:  How has your recent “discovery” by the media, and Arista changed your life?

SC: I’ve definitely been fortunate enough to have a great family, and especially a great Mom to keep me level-headed, and she always keeps my life very well balanced. I’m definitely a workaholic, and I’ll work until I keel over, but she can tell when it’s time for me to have a day off or a day to sleep in. That sort of thing.

FEMMUSIC:  Is there anything you would do different from the past couple of years?

SC: Yeah – Not buy so many shoes!!! I’m running out of room for my guitars! No, I’m just kidding. I wouldn’t do anything differently because everything that I’ve done in my past has made me who I am today. I’m very happy with where my life is right now.

FEMMUSIC:  How does your family react to your playing music professionally?

SC: They’re all very supportive. My nephew is definitely the funniest one, though. He thinks it’s really cool that he can watch his aunt on TV and listen to her CD.

FEMMUSIC: Your CD Loud Guitars, Big Suspicions is about to be re-released on Arista Records. What are your future plans for the next year or two?

SC: To tour and promote this CD. All of us as a team work together to make the best Decisions for my career. I feel I’m surrounded with a lot of great people who I have a lot of faith and trust in.

FEMMUSIC:  What advice would you give to an artist just starting out?

SC: Always make sure that the reason that you’re in this is for yourself, and for the love of music. Always STAY FOCUSED AND TRUE TO YOURSELF!!!

FEMMUSIC: What else would you like to tell our readers?

SC: Don’t ever let go of your dreams!