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Shauna Cardwell is a singer/songwriter from Ireland, playing both guitar and piano, Shauna started out writing songs at a young age and has been ever since. She started off making YouTube videos with videos ranging from original music, covers and creative videos. She is influenced by many artists and her main genre is country/pop, she is working on her very first EP release with the song Summer Rain.
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
Shauna Cardwell: I grew up in Ireland in a small little village, I have always had a passion for music ever since i was young, I would always do school talent show and perform in choirs. Music is what I think about 24/7 i get so much joy from it and cant imagine doing anything else.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
Shauna Cardwell: I just used my real name, I never really thought about having a stage name because I want people to know the real me, to know my music and show that I am passionate about my music, although stage names are always fun!
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Shauna Cardwell: I think online music sharing is amazing, I don’t know what I would do without it, it has helped me so much to get my music out there, to share with people all around the world and for them to give feedback on it. I think giving your music away for free can be good, but I also think music is valuable and artists put a lot of hard work into their craft just like any other person does, it can be good to give out unreleased songs for free or give fans something extra when they buy your music!
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
Shauna Cardwell: Getting started is the hardest part, to me I am still getting started and have a very long way to go but if I had to give some tips, it would defiantly be work hard and love what you do. Reach out to people, send emails, post videos, produce songs well and submit music to Internet radio as a start and build your way up.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
Shauna Cardwell: I think everyone makes mistake during performances even if its little things its nothing to worry about, just move on and improve your performance skills, don’t stress out about it if you played the wrong guitar chord or fell on stage, just laugh it off, if you can laugh at yourself then everything will be fine!
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
Shauna Cardwell: I have never been on tour as I’m just starting out but it would be an absolute dream of mine to travel the world, play shows and share my music with everyone.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
Shauna Cardwell: I gather my songwriting inspiration from everywhere, it is always different, I usually write more songs at night as things happen throughout the day i can write them down and even gather a song from that. I get song ideas from real life situations, movies, even just looking out my window i can think of song lyrics. They don’t always come that easy though some songs have took me 10 minutes to write other have took me a week. I am very passionate about telling a story through my songs so songwriting is one of my favorite things to do
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Shauna Cardwell: My website is www.ShaunaCardwell.com I also have a YouTube channel: www.YouTube.com/shauna646 I made this channel about 4 years ago and this is where my music began to take a journey, it really helped get my talent across and I have gained many amazing fans and supporters from it.
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?
Shauna Cardwell: Im so not ashamed to say I have one High School Musical song on my iPod, it’s just so fun and such a good musical number to get yourself pumped up with!
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
Shauna Cardwell: I would do some good with the money, people and animals who actually need help and could benefit from it. I loving helping it just makes me so happy and I cant stand to see anyone suffering. I may also move to Hawaii and buy a few more guitars, or even travel the world!
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
Shauna Cardwell: Currently i have my own mini home studio with the help of a friend who is producing my songs, I want to upgrade some equipment for better sounding songs that my fans can listen to!
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Shauna Cardwell: I do a lot of my promoting online, through various social media sites, I reach out to people, send email to radio stations. I also haven given out flyer’s and talked about my music anytime I am out to anyone who will listen! Promotion is very hard to do, especially with no label or help from anyone who can get your name out there, you just have to think of creative ways to promote and work hard at it.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
Shauna Cardwell: If I could perform anywhere it would be in a huge arena anywhere in the world and with any artist it would be Taylor Swift, Hunter Hayes and JoJo, there are many artist i would love to perform with but this interview would be way too long!!
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Shauna Cardwell: Currently I am working on my very first EP release, I have only released a few of my original songs on ITunes but I have wrote many songs and I hope to get it out this year, I am beyond excited for everyone to hear it.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Shauna Cardwell: I couldn’t imagine doing anything else, but if i had to choose I would be either be a photographer or be a part of an animal rescue group.
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?
Shauna Cardwell: We first had cassette tapes when I was little and I remember lying on the kitchen floor listening to Britney Spears all day. Then when CD’s came along my first CD was by the singer JoJo, I think the album was released in 2004 and leave (get out) was my jam!
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
Shauna Cardwell: I like to plan things out ahead of time and know what im doing and get it done that day instead of trying to cram everything into one day, it can be hard juggling everything but you just have to do your best.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?
Shauna Cardwell: Fans should look forward to my first ever EP release with all song written by myself, it’s a feel good country/pop EP with fun songs that I cant wait to share. There is so much more to come and this is just the beginning, I cant wait to show everyone what I can do!!