Harry Cordew on Bass Ben Hoffstein on Organ and also in charge of humor and sarcastic comments John Celentano on Drums Me on Vocals and the electric blue acoustic
Influences
Aretha, XTC, Etta, Genesis (ala Peter Gabriel), The Carpenters, Led Zepplin, Donny Hathaway, Pink Floyd, Sly and The Family Stone, Marvin, Michael, Stevie, Grizzly Bear, Regina, Gaga...anything
She’s cool, with a frankness and roughness of a fiercely independent woman, quick with a self-deprecating joke, full of anecdotes to warm up her audience – by all appearances, normal like you and me.
It’s when she opens her mouth to sing that you fall back into your seat, with the sound of her honeyed, lush vocals wrapping around you…completely captivated. It’s then you realize there’s nothing normal about her—
Shelly Bhushan is exceptional.
The Texas native has been belting her soulful heart out practically since birth. She’s sung in many projects, everything from choral to swing, funk to classical, but always wanted to do her own thing. She moved to New York City to front a soul-rock act, and when the band broke up that opportunity came. New to songwriting after years of being “just a singer”, her musical direction changed course as she carved out her own musical path in the NYC music scene.
She’s not "too cool for school" because she doesn't meander and isn’t dissonant all the time. She focuses on strong melodies...even hooks. She doesn’t sing about mannequins - although she does have a song about a Unicorn. She’s not anti-folk, underscored by a "caberet-ish" croon and she doesn't whine about "nothin" and PBR.
She’s a real singer and her band is legit and they rock live. Shelly sings about stuff that happens in her life and things that she observes in life. And if you can get past the fact that her pants aren't too tight and that she refuses to wear glasses with fake lenses we think you'll like her. In fact, you’ll love her.
Her keyboardist (Ben Hoffstein) is infatuated with Genesis, her drummer (John Celentano) plays like Bonham and her bassist (Harry Cordew) used to play with James Brown.
Give her a shot, you won't be disappointed and if anything…her vocals will fry your mics. ;) and that's a promise!
Shelly is finishing up her latest recording produced by Mark Turrigiano (Ingrid Michaelson, Lissy Trullie). A 5 songer called “Make Believe”, due Winter 2010.
Buy "The Shelly Show" or "Picking Daisies" at:
...and a billion other online retailers...
Listen to Picking Daisies:
Be a Fan!!
Feisty, kick-ass soul from Bhushan and her band...We think she’s great.
-- Time Out NY
Shelly Bhushan is a Texas native who has been wowing audiences since birth. Prepare to be captivated by her exceptional vocals. Her new album, Picking Daises is available through CD Baby and iTunes. Pick it up if you like what you hear. Be sure to check out the featured tracks Beautiful Me and The Nest.
--Billy Zero, XM Satellite Radio
2008 Recipient of the Abe Olman Scholarship Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Past notable winners: John Legend, Morley, Susan Cagle.
Love "Beautiful Me and Shelly's Voice"......
--Phil Ramone
What does record need to be labeled as a real "soul" album? A great voice, real musicians and good songs. Picking Daisies, the first full length album by New York singer Shelly Bhushan scores 3 out of 3. And like on all good soul records she sings about guys messing with her feelings.
Shelly Bhushan is from Texas and brings a tough of the deep south to the funky Motown heavy musical backing. She uses a real string section, live horns and thus brings back the glory days of late sixties pop. This lady should make it ten times as big as Joss Stone.
--Here Comes the Flood
omg u will never believe what i heard today on my yahoo music thingie...YOU!!! i was like wait i know this singer hahahaha it was awesome. anyways love you like always take care :D!!!!
stories of triumph escape from being captured - soul within piercing eyes gazing skyward, silence beacons and it, begins heavenly sight given, an angelic face graces, both that and the one therein and alas we have a molded glistening element with the name of Gwendolyn
transcendental light, illuminating the hazened sky, kept, our minds rewind ahistorical reference, her, if she, those lips could speak, words maligned a sun-found seraph caught here among the cumulous sphere, we found - kind and visage found fallen, beauty finding us, although searching, intertwined.
lastly here I stand heart racen – in that in which we many do not see paradigm shifted, and I, quite lifted, with memory for once without a fee
happiness defined in that of moments, here, I alas, have found one kept, this is one I share with you, I have, and now, the day is. done.
