Artist to Watch: Shannon Corey
October 13, 2009 by Editor
Filed under Artist to Watch, The Local Scene, US - Northeast
One of the cool things about my line of work is the wide variety of artists and music I’m exposed to. I briefly met Shannon Corey during a photo shoot last summer. Afterward I started to check out her songs and videos posted online. The music from her debut album, unsaid, was very impressive. Corey has a great sense of meter and phrasing with a unique voice and songs that are instantly catchy and charming.
It’s no surprise that her new EP, Overdue, released on September 10, exhibits the same characteristics, but Corey’s skills have not remained static. There’s a discernible maturity in how she now approaches her songwriting and vocal performance. She’s really become quite good at not just simply knowing which notes to sing, but knowing how to sing them to accentuate the meaning and emotion of the music. Hopefully Shannon Corey will be an artist we can watch for a long time to come.
Biography
Infectious, heartfelt, and enchanting are not terms thrown around for just any artist, but for Shannon Corey, they are more than fitting. Drawing from personal experiences and classical training, Shannon’s soulful lyrics and captivating musical stylings truly reflect a beautiful new vibe of sensuous class. “…nothing but elegant vocals and piano, a storm cloud atmosphere, and a subtle, wistful sexiness.” (Michael Gallant Keyboard Magazine)
When it comes to musical experience, Shannon has more than enough to go around. At the young age of 3, Shannon began taking classical piano lessons on the Upper East Side of Providence and by 16, was composing her own music. “I started writing when I was fed up with playing classical,” says Shannon. “It was my high school best friend’s birthday so I wrote her a song and played it in front of the entire school. Everyone wanted a copy to give to their friends. I’ve been writing ever since!”
Photo by Kristen Pierson
The attention generated by her music at such a young age has only grown as the now 28 year-old singer/songwriter/pianist has come into her own. Recently featured on an episode of MTV’s The Real World: Cancun, Shannon’s music is now reaching a much larger audience than in her high school days.
Born in New York City and raised in Providence, RI, Shannon has found inspiration from such artists as Ben Folds, Fiona Apple, Joni Mitchell, and Tori Amos. After pursuing a college degree in musical theatre while living in Manhattan, Shannon decided to take the jump into the NYC singer/songwriter scene and has never looked back.
Releasing her debut album unsaid in January 2007, Shannon’s talent did not go unnoticed. Since the release, she has been named Keyboard Magazine’s Unsigned Artist of the Month, High Times Magazine’s Unsigned Artist of the Week, and was a Pop Featured Artist at CD Reviews By You. She also struck an endorsement deal with Yamaha, joining their roster of talented musicians.
With so much recognition from the music scene and fans eagerly awaiting another album, Shannon decided to go back into the studio and record the EP Overdue. The five-song disc, named after one of Shannon’s newest fan favorite songs, is appropriately titled. After two years of touring, writing, and composing, Shannon displays her growth as not only a musician, but as a singer. “The new EP is much more advanced by way of writing and vocals,” explains Shannon. “My voice has turned into something very different since unsaid; more emotional and influenced by artists like Jeff Buckley and Rocco DeLuca.”
Shannon’s vocals are not the only thing that has advanced since unsaid, however. On Overdue, her songwriting has also become more involved and experiments with time signatures, an influence she attributes to the band As Tall As Lions. “Let Me Out”, a new track from Overdue, is an emotionally driven song that has become a hit during live shows, and a live performance video is featured on her Facebook and personal website www.shannoncorey.com.
When describing the title track, “Overdue”, Shannon states that it is “catchy, but not typical”. “Overdue” is one of many songs that Shannon has poured her heart into, a trait that can be heard throughout the relatable lyrics. “Hold On”, one of the songs featured on
The Real World: Cancun, shares this attribute and exemplifies Shannon’s use of lyrics for emotional release. “I love being able to say things in a song that you can’t say to someone’s face,” explains Shannon. “I find it rewarding playing songs for people and then having them say, ‘I know exactly what you mean’.”
Armed with an infectious pop-rock-classical sound and a growing fan base, Shannon is building up her name in the music world. When asked what the future holds for her, Shannon’s response is simple, “I more than anything want to promote the music,” says Shannon. “Write, record, and tour. Hopefully get more placements on TV and Film, too.” With all of the groundwork Shannon has put forth so far, it will be no surprise to see these dreams come to fruition in a short time.
Having known Shannon since she was a child, it is really invigorating to see how she has developed as an artist. My wife and I have seen her perform several times in the past couple of years and are truly amazed at how she has grown even in that short period of time.
It is time for her to make it in the “Big Time” so maybe somebody will see her and ask her to perform on a nationally broadcast program like David Letterman.
That’s my Shannon! Love that girl, and might I add I love that blue shirt! : D Can’t wait to play our show with her on December 10th at the Parkside Lounge in NYC!
It’s so exciting to see Shannon’s talent grow and mature, while she remains refreshingly humble and down to earth!!
Shannon’s Aunt Kathie introduced me to Shannon and her music, and I will be forever grateful. I never tire of her songs and feel certain that when she’s on Letterman or Ellen, I’ll be able to say “I knew her when”. Looking forward to watching her grow and develop her voice over the years. She is definately worth watching!