An Interview with Shannon Wright

Jessie Nelson, G-Spot Music Editor

The fact that making music is what gets her up in the morning is what Shannon stresses in more ways than one throughout our phone interview.  As a teenager hanging out in the punk scene, she saw groups like Sonic Youth, Nirvana, Mudhoney and Dinosaur Jr. before they had major label support.   All the bands at the time were just “…really good,”  Shannon says with a laugh.  After seeing a band called Pollen (the first band she saw that made her want to play music), Shannon was struck with the thought, “ That girl is doing things how I feel.”  From there she started a band called “Crowsdell,” toured a lot in Europe, then went solo. 

She makes it apparent that she does not have any love for the music business itself.  “I’m really excited about playing and making music but the music business is just really dumb! It has no substance to it.”  Currently hyped up acts such as the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s are of no interest to her.  “There’s no heart behind the music, nothing to grab onto.” 

On her latest album “Dyed in the Wool,” Shannon covers guitars, drums and piano: “Drums are my favorite but I never have time!”  I inquire about any formal training on her instruments, for some of us are blessed with natural playing ability and some us (namely this writer) just not that lucky.  Playing comes naturally to Shannon, due to her not putting any reservations or limitations on herself.  I ask what she strives to do with her music and the answer I receive sounds like what musicians of another time might have said: “Music is a necessity for me, it’s like blood.  All the different kinds, all the aspects, etc. It’s not easy (laugh) I don’t’ make any money.  If anything I have to battle negative feelings to quit, it’s like a tug of war.”  Spoken like an artist in her own right.

(Shannon Wright is currently on tour with Sleater-Kinney. Want more? Go to www.shannonwright.com)