Artist description Female, songwriter, singer, guitar player from Virginia.

Music Style Airy, wispy pop

Similar Artists Edie Brickell meets Nelly Furtado

Artist History Up and coming Virginia singer/songwriter Shannon Montsinger may be new to the art of making music but not to the music scene. The daughter of a rhythm and blues saxophonist (Lawson “Buzz” Montsinger), Shannon grew up on the East Coast going to outdoor concerts, festivals, and night clubs– watching her Dad play with some of the best musicians in the business. It was in sixth grade that she got her first guitar (from her Dad) – a mini classical, built to suit her long, lean fingers and slight frame. She took lessons for a brief stint, picking up the basics of guitar chord progressions, and played alongside her closest, childhood friend who was taking lessons on piano. “My best friend Casey and I have been writing songs since we were like eight years old. We used to give concerts for our parents and their friends singing and playing anything we could get our hands on – drinking glasses, bongos, guitar, piano – whatever. We must’ve lip-synched to the Grease soundtrack a thousand times. And we’re still writing songs together today.” Over ten years later, and after a few brush up lessons from her musically-inclined boyfriend, Shannon picked up the guitar again along with a book of poems she'd been writing over the years. "I'm not really a singer, but I reached a point where I had to let it all out. Writing songs and playing them out loud is a great release. It's an extra plus if someone actually enjoys and appreciates something you wrote.” In the Spring of 2001, Shannon enlisted fellow JMU alumni, friend and musician/producer, Steve Van Dam (of the band Everything best known for their hit single “Hooch”) to produce and play on her first effort, recording at Van Dam's studio in Sperryville Virginia. The result of her debut effort is a 3-song demo with a light, airy, pop feel to it. "Most of the songs I’ve written, so far, are about living life to the fullest, owning your actions, and seeing your dreams through to fruition" says Montsinger. "There's definitely a "girly anthem" theme running through there, but I think that all kinds of people can relate to basic the sentiment." With a collection of about ten originals and a few choice cover tunes in her repertoire, Montsinger is getting ready to try her hand at playing out live in her native Richmond, Virginia. "The worst thing that can happen is that I totally blow it when I get in front of people, but at least I'll be able to say, I tried it and can check it off my list.”

Location Richmond, Virginia - USA

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