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The best artists display gifts that are beyond the reach of the rest of us. It’s as if they’re channeling a higher power, an energy, speaking words that couldn’t have possibly come from them, singing in a voice that defies mere mortals. Shannon Nicole is like that. Despite countless attempts at vocal lessons—from the coaches of such celebs as Jessica Simpson, Destiny’s Child and Justin Timberlake, even—she “never followed the rules. I wanted to do it my own way,” she admits, “so I guess I’m self-taught.” The same is true of her piano skills. Young Shannon began plunking the keys at just three years of age; formal lessons soon followed. “The same thing happened. I play by ear, so I would start to follow the sheet music, and then make it my own, which wasn’t well accepted.” So Shannon forged her own path, following the music as she heard it inside her head, letting the words pour from someplace deeper than her heart. What resulted was a blend of contemporary and classic, as Shannon incorporated the gospel leanings of her Southern Baptist upbringing with the sounds of more modern, piano-driven songstresses such as Sarah McLachlan or Tori Amos. From teenage home recordings to a deal with UNIVERSAL REPUBLIC, Shannon has never lost sight of her target—or, rather, targets. “I only had three major goals growing up,” she reveals. “The first one was a record deal, the second was singing a jingle for Diet Coke, and the third was diving with great whites.” She smiles warmly. “Only two more goals to go!” Still, Shannon’s in no hurry to check things off her list. “Right now I just want to write as much as I possibly can and record an incredible album. Nothing else really matters at this point. I just want to share my stories with the world; the rest will happen in time." “I really feel I ‘made it’ the day I got a showcase,” she continues humbly. “Most people don’t ever get that kind of opportunity in their lives. I’m just enjoying the ride. It could go away tomorrow, so I’m cherishing every single moment.” Her down-to-earth nature comes through in both lyrics and performance; onstage, she radiates personality and accessibility. Anyone can do this, she seems to be saying. Anyone who closes her eyes and ears and opens her heart to the music inside.
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