Artist description Nineteen year-old Central Coast singer/songwriter Shell Lee is a fresh fusion of piano-pop ballads, sitars, with a contagious warm voice.

Music Style Intelligent Pop

Musical Influences Bjork, Michael Jackson, The Carpenters

Similar Artists Vanessa Carlton, Michelle Branch, Tori Amos, Lisa Loeb, Sarah McLachlan, Jewel

Artist History Shell had a formal musical upbringing, with piano lessons at the age of five; flute and music theory at 11, clarinet at 13, and teaching flute at 16. She's performed at schools, conventions, churches, fundraisers, eisteddfods, television and shopping centres, and backing vocals for other artist recordings. Shell also has a passion for radio announcing, which she was a dj at local community radio station LakeFM 97.3. Shell began writing songs about 'life as she felt it' at 16. At first she wanted her friends who could sing, to perform her songs. But when their questions became constant, Shell decided to sing the songs herself. She has written and co-written over 60 songs. Most of the songs were written when Shell was woken up, to write the lyrics in the dark. Shell kept her music a secret, from her parents, for 3 years. The music was written in the 5 minutes that her parents drove off to town to do something, or the afternoons that they went fishing. Shell's musical influences are crosshatched from her classical upbringing; her fascination with Scandinavian artists (Ace of Base, Lene Marlin, Robyn), instrumentally driven storyline-techno (Robert Miles, ATB, Enigma), and the daring organic sounds and experimentation of artists such as Meja and Bjork. Shell's first demo was finally birthed locally, after one and a half years of fine-tuning (December 2001). These four songs were recorded live first-takes of Shell and piano. Another twelve months later, and in October 2002, Shell Lee received a music grant from Australia Council for The Arts 'Buzz' initiative, for emerging under-26 artists. This allowed Shell to finally record with Brisbane producer and Festival Records songwriter, StuartStuart, who could help deliver Shell's artistic vision to commercial airwaves. This 3-track demo recorded at Chartsong Studios (Brisbane), showcases 'Choose Me', a déjà vu-vibe sonnet about 'saving love that's lost', 'Utopia Girl', speaks for all the girls who see life beyond the superficial main crowd, and 'Let It Go', is the next step after 'the break-up'. Shell wanted to contribute as much as possible with the production process and wanted her keyboard efforts to be on each track. "The effect of listening to my music, is to challenge, to inspire within yourself to find your communicative medium, to heal old hurts, to live the way you want to be. I hope it gives you also the 'warm fuzzies', like curling up beside the fireplace away from the storm, or the atmosphere at Christmas time...every day." - Shell Lee

Group Members Shell Lee (vocals, piano)

Instruments Piano, Flute, Clarinet, Percussion, Co-producing

Press Reviews "'Choose Me' is great! I think Shell Lee has got a big future!" Adam Barratt, Sea FM 90.9 (Gold Coast) "Her cd is very very good... Shell Lee could be the next Delta Goodrem!" J Grae, Sea FM 101.3 (Central Coast) "I really liked Shell Lee's song 'Choose Me', I think she's definitely got talent and obviously merit the awards and accolades which she has received." Donna Puechmarin, B105 FM (Brisbane) "WATCH OUT for Shell Lee, upon first hearing the track Choose Me, my mind melted with Shell's soothing voice & upbeat pop effort. Secondly my favourite, Utopia Girl, really grabbed me, the inclusion of sitar into a pop song really highlight's this girl's talent. Let It Go, has an uplifting beat & almost has a Mandy Moore, Eurovision-type feel. SHELL LEE: AN ARTIST TO WATCH OUT FOR IN 2003!" Michael Evans, 2NBC 90.1FM (Sydney) "Shell Welcome to Radio Airplay on the South Coast. 'Choose Me' sounded AWESOME ON THE AIR. Another spot play tonight, and lots of requests." Brendan Englebrecht, HOT30 Power FM 90.4 (Nowra) "Shell Lee's voice is great." Peter Billing, Universal Music Australia/Top Billing Enterprises "That all sounds great - can hear the passion & excitement. Good to see you have direction and focus, not to mention the obvious love for music and performing." Peter Bayliss, Manager, National Board of Directors (International Music Managers Forum - IMMF) "Wow, and triple wow. Great music, great web-site - great forum - You so have your sh*t together! I've had a really good look around and I'm super impressed." Barbara Griffin, Producer/Songwriter Sony ATV (Leah Haywood), Keyboardist (Alex Lloyd, Amiel) "A new voice on the unique soul scene...check her out ladies and gentlemen...and pass it along. Talented, gifted and uniquely soulful is how I find this young lady. A fresh element with variety is how I am reading her south hemispheric vocal vibe" Marcel Schooler, KhaiMar Management (USA)

Location Newcastle, NSW - Australia

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