Shanny Brooks has been involved in music since the age of four years old. As she watched her older sisters taking piano lessons, she decided to take things into her own hands. As her mother believed she was too young to take lessons, she taught herself how to play by ear and copied what she heard her sisters play. At the age of six, Shannys mother finally allowed her to take piano lessons. Shanny was thrilled but later found out that she hated having to read sheet music, preferring to play by ear as it allowed her to express herself freely. Stopping lessons at the age of 10, she continued to play the piano daily, writing her own tunes in private, composing but never had the confidence to perform her works and so they went unheard.
Throughout her school life Shanny was always involved with the music departments. In her high school she was involved in two separate a capella groups and it was with these where she realised just how much she needed music to be part of her life. With the help of a teacher who became a true mentor in Shannys life, she ended up joining a band called Experiment 3. It was her 2 years with E3 where Shanny finally broke out of her shell and found herself.
The years of 1998-2001 were the most formative for her musically. She took classical vocal lessons for many years and developed her voice with the help of her teacher, Barbara. In early 2001 Shanny was introduced to a band by the name of Scotia. She was handed a track and asked if she would like to be featured on it. It was her first experience with experimental electronic trip hop, but was determined to give it a go. Having been given the liberty to go for it she wrote the lyrics and added her touch of jazz to the track. This was later called Outside looking in and made it to Chris Hos international top hits in Singapore. She continued to record for the band for numerous other tracks, with only one other track released. In the meantime, she spent her time writing, performing and occasionally appearing in venues such as blues bar, Crazy Elephant.
In 2001 Shanny moved to Melbourne and has lived here ever since. She completed a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne, majoring and Criminology and English Literature. However throughout this time, she kept on writing, recording tracks for university sound projects and assignments for the department of Creative Arts. One of these, entitled Poem was arranged and recorded by Shanny, using words from a poem written by Langston Hughes. She also found herself working as a volunteer vocal coach for Community Music Australia, on one of their projects from November to December 2001. It was during this project when she wrote Flown. Although not meant for the events of September 11, it was used in another university sound assignment and the news recordings were added at a later date.
Since her time in Melbourne, Shanny has been part of the Melbourne Chamber Choir and Astra. She was also part of Loyola Musical Society where she was part of their production of Fiddler on the Roof. Not being a stranger to the stage and large audiences, Shanny continues to write and perform. Currently she is working on a number of acoustic tracks, in which she writes about her experiences from the past 3 years. She dedicates her musical inspiration to one of her closest friends, Brad Martin to whom she feels she owes everything. He saved her life and without him, she would not be here today. She continues to record tracks for musicians from time to time, but prefers to work on her own songs, as she can truly reflect herself with no creative restrictions.
I haven't been on this myspace thingymebob in so very, VERY long!!! Your tunes are kick ass missy!!! I very much like the harmonies on the first track...we should totally form a Wilson Band...oh dear, that was a very dorky thing to say, wasn't it? Were you listening to Portishead when you wrote the third one by any chance??? He he...you're gonna laugh at my techno extravaganza...he he... see you tomorrow at work...blargh.. love ella xxx
Hey Shanny, you have such an awesome voice...... Goosebumps every time i hear it. Hope your well, and we see you at work really really soon, we really need a night out. Oh, I showed Rach your tunes also she agrees. WHAT A VOICE. :)
hey honey!!!
ah are you in brisbane!?
i hate stef im so jelous hes goin to stay wiv dan over christmas
im still in london and dont have plans to leave til i start uni, whenever and wherever that may be .. UK/AUS? haha but im dieing to get down to see the royals again and to catch up with yourself again! i love your songs they are so good, brings back old cantabile memories haha :P so what else are you up to these days?
very glad the cd arrived safely to OZ!! Thanks for supporting me and my music! Hope things are going well with you and your music. still sounding great!
psshh you were a fine host. a clean bed and a copy of empire strikes back for me to watch? it's all gravy baby.
i finish my masters in september 2007, so am planning on a fairly long holiday from september till december, just may have to pop by sydney and melbourne for a visit but will surely let you know.
plus, after actually working in a salsa bar, and having one of the girls give me lessons, i can promise you no more half-arsed attempts.
yes, star wars. my heart still hurts from the beating i took. one day, i'll pick a game i can rock on.
btw, nice tunes, very impressed, nice recordings too (i'm not much of a musician these days, focus on recording thought get very lazy with recording vocals)
blughhh stilll drunnnnnk, and not as sloppy as when i visted you in melbourne (my sweet mopped floors and dusted shelves), need to sleep... take care!
Experiment 3..yes..Those were the days. feels like another lifetime!! Liking the tunes hun. Keep doing it. If you re ever in london town we shoud definately write some stuff!!! A
