How Music Shapes your life with R Shelley

We are keeping the music going with our feature Artists! R Shelley talks about the EP she wrote during the pandemic and her inspiration and her career

When we were young is her newest EP and you can check out the song on Spotify!
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4vJ6tcBxoOdqJ3MzQysi4t

Check out R Shelley on instagram at 
www.instragram.com/rshelleymusic 

It's nice to look back at memories and progress because of it 

Please check out her YouTube video R Shelley!

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Email us at divaontheradio@gmail.com

Transcript

Carlene 0:00

Hi, I'm Carleen, and this is D.Va Tonight. Hi, I'm Carlene, and this is D.Va Tonight. We have with us on the Zoom call Shelly, and uh, she is an artist. She's been performing for a long time, 14 years, and she has a background in music, and we are gonna be talking about her new single, which is kudos to 2020. We'll never forget, you know. Correct. Yeah, yeah. So hi Shelly, thanks for being a guest on the show. How are you? I'm good. Thank you so much for having me. This is this is gonna be great. Yes, I'm excited to talk about the creation of your single and just life now, your journey. So, for those who don't know you, where did you grow up?

SPEAKER_02 0:53

So I grew up in Toronto, born and raised in the suburbs, I would say. I live pretty much downtown now. There's a big, especially growing up, there's a big music culture in the city. And, you know, it's just it's it's before the pandemic, I would say. It's amazing to just just once you start getting out there, it's really amazing how many people you'll meet. And it is a big, big industry in Toronto.

Carlene 1:16

It definitely is. I did work at a talent agency. I don't know if you've heard of this one. I've you I worked two places. So I worked at, I'm not going to mention their name, but they have a big Canadian roster. And I've I've met a few artists and I've seen a few performances. And it's interesting to see how the music industry works. It's a very busy industry, especially if you're on a roster with a management company and they're booking you. Uh, you know what I mean, as yourself as an artist. It's like you have a manager, then you have a booking agency and they book all your shows and your concerts, and it's a lot of work. It's like, where are we booking you? Are you gonna be performing at the Scotiabank Arena? Are you going to be performing at the horseshoe? Like wherever here in the city, we obviously miss it, but at least we can listen to your music while we're at home or walking or wherever we are. Thankful for things like Spotify, right?

SPEAKER_02 2:10

It is accessible. Even though we can't see live music, at least it's accessible via you know, Spotify, YouTube, whatever else is out there now.

Carlene 2:18

And you are on Spotify. So if anyone um is curious and be like, I've never heard of R Shelly before, yeah, you can check her out, right?

SPEAKER_02 2:27

Just to be correct, the artist's name is R Shelly. So when you search it, that is what we're searching for on YouTube. Yes.

Carlene 2:33

R Shelly. So Shelly, let's talk about your the song that you created last year when we were young. I just watched the video and uh it's nice, you know how you have a accolade of memories. And I think even the photos that you're posting in the video that you created for your song takes us back because now we're at a digital age. I don't even know like when was the last time you developed some photos.

SPEAKER_02 2:59

Well, I um I do like photos, so I try to get them printed regularly, but I actually had to go and print a whole lot more for that video when I made it. So yeah, I I think honestly, it's really nice to look back on memories like that. And for me, that was kind of the inspiration for the song. But yeah, I did not have all those photos readily available, but you know, I made it happen.

Carlene 3:19

And what was the inspiration for the song when we were young?

SPEAKER_02 3:24

You know, looking back on photos is kind of it's just very nostalgic. And nostalgia is it's a it's a way to cope with things. It's been proven that it causes serotonin and all these different things. So when I look back on my memories, I'm very fond of those memories and those photographs, and it just made me want to reconnect with people and it made me, I don't know, this song just kind of formed from that. And my hope is that it kind of resonates with people because we're all missing our friends, we're all missing our family. So I feel like looking back on your own photographs is kind of a good way to do that during this pandemic and make you feel a little bit maybe a little better than than you might if you didn't do that.

Carlene 4:08

Music makes us go back in in time and it gives us like a positive feeling if we're feeling down or it uplifts us. And I guess for you, um, because you've grown up in the city here in Toronto where there's so many music festivals, that's probably been an inspiration for you to create music. But who is your like mentor or who is the person who has inspired you to become an artist? Wow, good question.

SPEAKER_02 4:36

I would say that from a young age, I kind of just started writing like like when you're really little, you write like bad poems and stuff, you know, and then those turn into like like silly lyrics and things like that that you can like just sing on in your head kind of thing. But in terms of mentors, I did go to Coalition Music, the artist entrepreneur program, which is called Music Incubator these days. And that was a huge eye-opener for independent artists like myself. We learn all about everything, and I would say the people who work there are some of my mentors. I did it back in 2012, and to this day, I can still go back to them and they will welcome me with open arms. So yeah, the guys over there are are just awesome.

Carlene 5:18

So tell me more about that program. I I think that's interesting. You know what I mean? That you you obviously it gave you some knowledge into the music industry and what it's like to be in the industry, and it is a competitive industry, you know what I mean? You have to not only create music, but tell me what knowledge it gave you for those who are artists.

SPEAKER_02 5:36

Yeah, for sure. I mean, creating music is such a small fraction of the whole picture for an independent artist, even a big artist as well. But when you're independent, you you have to learn how to do it yourself. So that's what they tell you. They they tell you about um publishing, they tell you about royalties, they tell you about songwriting and co-writing and how it's split. They talk to you about rights as an artist, even SoCan was a big one. Uh, if you're a Canadian artist, you want to be on Sokan. And we also got to collaborate on a song together. They put us in groups and we got to write a song and actually record it at their facility, which was really cool, but also challenging because as an independent artist, a solo artist myself, I don't, I don't really, you know, write with many other people. And it's something that I should do more. I just haven't really uh had a chance to do it yet. But that's something you kind of have to get out of your comfort zone to be able to do. I did have a backing band one time for for like one or two shows in my career, but it's different because my band was playing to my songs. So that's a whole other different thing as opposed to collaborating and writing together. So um, yeah, it's it's interesting. You learn a lot, it's it's fast. Um, so you have to, I would say, like take a lot of notes because everything you learn is so important, but it can be overwhelming. But at the end of the day, what's most important is getting yourself out there and playing in front of people, you know, when we're allowed to do that again and just keep writing, you know.

Carlene 7:09

You know, as an artist, I think uh, you know, in any art, there's that whole thing about being a starving artist. But do you work in any other field or any other industry?

SPEAKER_02 7:19

Like uh I know you've been doing this a long time, so yeah, I would say that this is my side gig right now, um, and it has been for a while, but uh, but I I just enjoy it mostly. So why would I stop? What I do as a career professionally is uh I'm a VFX coordinator, so I work in film and television.

Carlene 7:38

Very interesting. I like that. That's such a good combination. Not only are you in film and television, but you're also in music, which is they kind of go hand in hand when you think about it. Like, you know, the show, they have the music in the backdrop, you know what I mean? Like the theme of the show and everything like that. How long have you been working in film and television?

SPEAKER_02 7:59

About four or five years now, I want to say. Yeah. I kind of well, probably more than that, actually. I started working in recording studios, like interning at first, and then um I worked in a post-audio facility where they they wrote jingles, they would do voiceovers and stuff like that. And then I eventually moved into like post-production world, and now I'm in visual effects, which is just really cool.

Carlene 8:25

Wow, visual effects. So tell us a little bit more for those of us who like don't even know that side. There's there's so many elements to a show. Like you read all the credits, right? And there's so many moving pieces. So tell me how it works.

SPEAKER_02 8:39

There's production and post-production. Uh I would say pre-production as well, but a pre-production is part of production. Production is when they film the actual show or movie or whatever it may be, and then post-production is what they do afterwards. So editing, coloring, anything that adds embellishment and puts your show together. But VFX is interesting because it has its own like layers. Um and there's just so many other like so many different things. There's like 3D, and then there's 2D, and then there's animation, and then there's lighting, there's compositing, there's so many things um that you have to. I mean, I don't I'm a coordinator, so I'm not the artist, I don't do the work, but I manage everything that goes in and out. So yeah, it's it's very cool. It's very intricate, and there's a lot of hard work that goes into it, but the end result is usually pretty cool.

Carlene 9:38

Wow, that is very cool. I like that. You know what I mean? Like, it seems like you're well versed. So I hope, like, you know, when things reopen, this is gonna be like it's good. It's gonna be, it's gonna be exciting. I think like a lot of us who weren't going to concerts, it might ignite the flame. And, you know, I think if anything, this pandemic has shown us we have to think about the future and like having a backup plan and the fact that you are in both worlds, but you're also pursuing your dreams and you've been doing this, uh, creating music for a long time. And you know, I listened to Sink or Swim and I really, really like that song. Oh, thank you. You know, tell me about that song. What was the process for you coming up with that idea? I think uh a lot of us can relate to that for sure.

SPEAKER_02 10:24

Yeah, I think so too. I mean, that is my goal. I think when I wrote Sink or Swim, I was really at this point where I didn't know what to do with music. So it is about music itself, actually, when I wrote it. It was like, do I pursue this and swim or do I not and think? And that's why I felt like I was treading water. And it's almost kind of relatable now, too, because everything feels so stagnant in the world that we're kind of just like treading water and we don't know what to do, where to go, kind of thing with this pandemic. So I just hope people can relate to it. That's that's my whole goal. If you can feel something after listening to my songs, then you know that that is that's all I want.

Carlene 11:06

That's beautiful. Yeah, you know what? That's that's a good way of putting it as an artist yourself, someone who's been doing this for a long time. It's great that seven years later the pandemic hits and then it makes you think back to when you were younger. Because when I've talked to other people, I feel like we're we're we are going back. We're we're trying to remember a time, a different time when things stop because it's not like we're going and doing the things that kept us busy as a society. It's a simpler time right now where we're going back to our memories. And, you know, I don't know about you, but I've been watching things that I didn't even think I'd be watching. I started watching Dawson's Creek, never watched the show, but then all of a sudden it's like you're going back to those memories, right? When when we were young and uh listening to music when we were younger, listening to new music, and you your music to me is new because I until like a few weeks ago when we first talked, I hadn't heard of your your sound, but it's very calming, I find. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_02 12:09

It's it puts yeah, I I hear that a lot.

Carlene 12:13

I'm sure you do.

SPEAKER_02 12:14

Yeah, I think when you said a simpler time, that is absolutely true. And when I recorded when we were young, I did it myself at home almost because of the pandemic, you know, not almost in spite of it, but definitely because of it. But like I had never done that before. I'd always recorded at a facility. So I just said, like, what else can I do here? I I I'm stuck, I have to do this myself. So it's a very stripped-down song because I did it myself, you know, it's so simple in that, you know, the progression and everything in the chords. But I think that we have to kind of be simpler as people sometimes to kind of just just to come back to our roots, kind of like even the fact that there's a pandemic and we can't go and do the normal things we used to, we have to even think simpler. Like most a lot of people are going for walks, which is just like it's so basic, but everyone's doing it. People are going to parks again, it's like so basic. And we used to do that when we were kids, you know, we're just trying to find things to do. And there are some good things that can come out of situations like this. And I think that those are some of them. And it forces us to get creative too, a little bit, you know. If we're stuck at home, we got to find things to do. And so you kind of get creative in that. And a lot of people are cooking, a lot of people are making their sourdough breads, you know. So for me, that was okay, I can't record right now. How do I do this? So I literally went out and bought a microphone and recorded it because what else?

Carlene 13:45

What else could I do? You know? You know, as an artist, you have to be creative to begin with, but now it's taking you to a different place in your head where you're like, well, I want to get the music out there and I want to create, and this is how I'm gonna do it. And I hope that, you know, I think it's it's it's not hopeful. I think I know that um a lot of people will definitely listen to your music as a form of like memories of like when we were young, or even when you feel like you're singing. It's true though. Like, you know, you said you're you're thinking about singing and swinging in terms of your your career and where you were starting off. But a lot of us think about that. Like it's like if I do this, I don't know what the outcome might be. I think in a lot of ways we can relate to that as individual people. And in life, you go for the goal, you go for the dream. Like they say to go focus on your dreams, pursue your dreams. But sometimes you're like, oh my gosh, why am I still doing this? It's it's not going the way I want it to. Like nothing is perfect. But if you keep consistent, then yeah.

SPEAKER_02 14:51

I mean, I was there for a long time, even just a few years ago. I had a lot of I wouldn't say de maybe doubt, but I was stuck, I think, in terms of music even before the pandemic. But uh it was tough. I was I was at this point where I was like, well, I don't even know if this is like, why am I doing this kind of thing? Why am I doing this? That was the question. But I never stopped. And I think it as long as you just keep doing it, if you love it at the end of the day, that's your reason to do it. Like, I don't have to be putting my music out there, even if I love music, I can just do it myself at home, right? Um, but there are some messages that I feel like I want to share. And when we were young in my last album, are some of those messages? And I feel like, you know, what I said before is just as long as people relate or they feel something from it, um, that's really all I can ask for.

Carlene 15:48

Definitely. I see you performed at a few venues that are pretty cool. The Hard Rock Cafe, it's not there anymore. I thought I'd bring that up because I'm like, what was it like performing there when it was open?

SPEAKER_02 16:01

And uh actually, one of my favorite venues, to be honest. I performed there twice. One was this charity um event that I did a few songs at, and the other time was for Canadian Music Week, actually. And yeah, that was the time that I had a band the first time ever. The one time ever, actually. And uh so cool. Yeah. Yeah, it was it was really fun. The sound there was amazing, the crowd was great, and I'm actually really sad it closed down. It was like one of the best places to be. And it's so it's what's funny is like I have a photo of me on the stage there, and it says like the big hard rock Toronto and stuff. So it's like it's very photographable, I guess. Um, and it's like a landmark almost, or it was anyway, but uh it's it's really too bad it shut down.

Carlene 16:49

It's a shopper's drug mark now, of all things. I've only been in there once, and I'm my friend and I went there because it was closing down and you know we had something to eat. And I'm like, you know, I wish I'd come here more, but it's it's it feels like a lot of the things that we remember or have good memories associated with it, like you said, that's one of your favorite venues. It's like it's now gone, but at least you have the memories from that. And Canadian Music Week, I just that's a very busy time. We haven't had that happen in like la this year or last year. So, you know, it's obviously when that comes back, it'll be fun. But what was it like to perform at the opera house?

SPEAKER_02 17:28

I love that venue, just like going to see concerts there. And I went there in 2019 to see a concert. And like it's such an it's a it's a beautiful venue, first of all, because it's an old theater, but also it feels more intimate than other big places, like big theaters. I don't know. It even feels more intimate than the Danforth Music Hall, I think.

Carlene 17:49

Really? I've been to the Danforth Music Hall too, and you know, a lot of different alternative bands I find play at uh, but you know what? Let me not say that. I've seen Indiare E there, I've seen Charlotte Cardan to name a couple, you know what I mean? So it is a venue that different artists go to, but um Yeah, for sure.

SPEAKER_02 18:09

I mean, I had the opportunity somehow, I don't remember how, but I mean, I you can't say no to playing the opera house, right? Like it was so much fun. I get again, like it's a great venue. The the sound technicians like super know what they do, they're doing. And I don't know, yeah, it was just really fun. And it's fun, it's cool when you also like have played there and then you go to see a concert there and you're like I was on that stage too. It doesn't really matter because at the end of the day, like it's just a stage and like who cares, but it's just cool to see like it's just different perspectives, I guess.

Carlene 18:45

What do you enjoy about creating music for others to listen to? What motivates you to keep creating?

SPEAKER_02 18:51

I think it's it's when people come back to me and say, I was going through a really tough time and your song really helped me through it. That's what it is for me. If like one person says that to me a year, like I'm good, you know? Like that's that all makes it worth it. It's it's just a matter of trying to relate to people, and I'm human too. I go through my stuff as well, and half of my stuff comes out as songs, to be honest, but it's a relatable feeling. And I remember a friend of mine actually, and and yes, she is a friend, so she she does listen to my stuff, but you know, you just you don't know when people are are listening or if they actually listen. So one time she uh she unfortunately got into a really bad accident. She's okay, which is great. But I remember she came to me afterwards and said, Oh, your song Make You Brave really helped me get through this whole thing. And I I was just floored because I had no idea that that it could make such an impact.

Carlene 19:52

The last EP, what are the songs that are your favorite? Like you really liked, you know, that song did resonate with you, and there was a strong message behind it for you that like you know, the 2020 song or the 2020 EP.

SPEAKER_02 20:06

When we were young, it's special to me because I did everything myself on it. And I had never done that before. I just I just tried, you know, it's special to me because of the time that we're in, because it was 2020 when I wrote it, and we're all trying to, you know, navigate this weird world that we're in. And it's just special to me because when I recorded the video, all the photos that I was looking at, it just made me want to see those friends again and it made me miss those people, even some people I haven't spoken to in years, you know. It's just sometimes that happens between friends, right? You kind of lose touch a little bit. It doesn't mean we don't like each other, it just means, you know, life happened, right? And uh it made me really miss people, it made me miss just hanging out with people. So that is a special one to me. Um, and off the EP, I think I really like running off my EP. It's just about home doesn't necessarily mean that's where your heart is. The one of the lines is, I found mine, my home in the soles of my shoes, which means you kind of just wander around, like you haven't, you're not necessarily home when you're at your home, right? So I kind of like that meaning is just you you find yourself wandering. It doesn't even have to be physically, it could be mentally as well. You don't really feel at home. So I I do like the concept of that one as well.

Carlene 21:32

That's great. I'm Carleen, and this is Diva tonight. We have with us Shelly, and we are gonna play for you her song off her 2020 EP When We Were Young.

SPEAKER_01 21:44

Hey, you it's been a long, long time since I've seen you. I hope you're doing fine. I hope that you'll be together. I know this, they will last forever. Just gotta remember. Remembering the laughs and all the sailing faces, all the different sights and all the different places. Looking at a photograph. Memories were made when we were young. Hey, friend, sometimes I can get bad. Just know I'll end. I'll lend a helping hand. I hope that sooner will get better. I know this they will last forever. Just gotta remember. Remembering the laughs and all the silly faces, all the different sights and all the different places. Looking at a photograph, memories are made when we were young. Memories were made when we were young. Just say are you I hope that we'll get through together. Just gotta remember. Remembering the laughs and all the silly faces, all the different sights and all the different places. Looking at a photograph of Memories we made, remembering your smile and all your silly faces, all the things we did and all the time we wasted. Looking back on photographs of Memories we made when we were young. Memories we made when we were young. Memories we made when we were young. Memories we made when we were young.

Carlene 24:34

Tonight we have with us Shelly. Shelly, thanks so much for sharing the songs that resonate with you, your favorite songs off your last EP last year. Have you been doing more video performances? Like, have you done that? Is that something that you have planned to do? Have you already done some online performances?

SPEAKER_02 24:53

I actually haven't. It's not something I've explored and I want to. I know it's it's a great way to get people engaged these days. So yeah, I think soon I will be doing some online performances. I don't have dates yet, but I'm gonna be probably posting those on my social media as we go. But yeah, it is something I'd like to explore. But um I can't, I just can't wait to perform live again.

Carlene 25:16

Yeah, and let's let's just say if tomorrow you could perform, which venue would you like to perform at? Where where would I come and see you? Where would you like to be? Like realistically or not virtual, like we're not virtual. Like, you know, horseshoe tavern, massey hall, you know, Dan Forth Music Hall, the Scotiabank Arena. You know, there's so many different venues here in Toronto.

SPEAKER_02 25:42

Like, where would you oh my gosh, if I could play Scotiabank, that would be great. You know, I I don't necessarily know if I'm there yet, but I do miss the Elmo combo. I will say that.

Carlene 25:54

Can you can you say that for me again? What was that? The Elmo combo. I've never heard of this venue. Wow, I'm gonna have to.

SPEAKER_02 26:02

Oh my gosh, it's like one of those like famous venues, I guess, where all these like different prolific bands have played in the past. And who and who are those prolific brands? Do you tell? Rolling Stones. I was gonna say Mick Javier, but yeah, Rolling Stones and like a lot of older bands because this venue is like that old in the city, but uh they revamped it and I haven't played there since it's been renovated. So um, yeah, I'd love to play there again. I'd play the opera house again any day, any of those.

Carlene 26:32

Sounds so exciting. I think you know, we have to shoot for the stars when we're in this game, you know, being in the arts and being in that industry. Um, especially you're in you're in both the best of both worlds when you think about it. But as an artist, this is very exciting. I didn't get to ask you, but what were the artists that you listened to growing up?

SPEAKER_02 26:49

I do like uh Ed Sharon. He's a big influence for me. I mean, Bruno Mars is super fun to listen to. I wouldn't say I write because of him, but I love his work. Taylor Swift as well. You know, I don't listen to her very much, but I do have some songs that I really love of hers. Who else? The Lumineers as well. They're like acoustic-based kind of sound. So I really quite like that. They're more rootsy than anything.

Carlene 27:15

Yeah, I like Ed Sharon. I feel like some of his music just like pumps you up. I like his look, you know, he's not like he's not your everyday order artist that you know has ginger, he's a ginger, right? So but um Ed Sharon's like he's he's cool. Like even Bruno Mars, I feel like he's like the new version of Michael Jackson, not exactly with the same dance moves, but like the whenever you hear Bruno Mars song, like if it's an upbeat, like you know what I mean, you want to get up and dance, like it's one of those.

SPEAKER_02 27:44

That's I think that's my favorite song ever of Town Song. Yeah, I think this is one of my favorite songs ever. Um but actually going back to Edge Haran, his song Photographs actually like kind of influenced my music video, sort of because his video for that song is all like old VHS clips of him when he was a kid, like growing up. And I thought like photographs are kind of rare, and I wanted to have them as like a distinct symbol in my video. So that's why I kind of I watched his video, and and that's kind of what inspired me for my video for when we were young.

Carlene 28:25

I like that for me. Like I relate to that in so many ways. Like my friend and I, we always like even my sister, I remember we used to go to Walmart and just bring the film. I bring the film there and I just wait for the photos to come back. And I think, like you said, when we were young, those are the memories you have. You're like, you're waiting, you're like, oh my god, did they come out well? Cause I mean, now we're in a digital. I'm aging myself by saying that, but you know what I mean? When you go and you see the photos and you see them, and then you know, just even having an album that's so retro now. It's like now I'm going through my my digital album and seeing like I'm working on a scrapbook that I've said I wanted to work on for years, and I relate to you because you are in film and television, and I worked in film and television for three years, and I realized that, you know, as someone who likes the arts, like I dance for 10 years and like working in that industry just reminds me so much of why I love movies. And for me, they've always been a great escape. But you talking about the photographs, and I watch the video and I'm like, that's so I like that. It was so simple, but it the message is there, and like that's really what it is at the end of the day.

SPEAKER_02 29:33

Yeah, and I think that's exactly what I wanted to convey, you know, have those symbols at is have those photos as a symbol for the past and nostalgia, and also just make sure that it was so simple and kept the viewer interested with the changing photos constantly, right? So you always have something to look at and it's always different, but like also it's just very, very basic.

Carlene 29:57

Definitely. I'm Carlena. This is Diva tonight. We have Shelly. Thank you, Shelly. How can people find you on social media? Like, we are the social media age. So, what's your Instagram?

SPEAKER_02 30:09

You know, you can find me everywhere at R Shellymusic Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and my website is rshellymusic.com.

Carlene 30:20

And don't forget to listen to when we were young, our 2020 song. I keep thinking back to that. Years to come, we're gonna be listening to that song and thinking back to a time where the world was shut down, and this is something that not just affected one person, but it affects everyone in very different ways. And you have created music for us to listen to for years to come. And uh I, you know, I wish you all the best with your career and see what the future brings. And thank you for being a guest on the show. Thank you very much for having me. This was great. Great, thank you so much. Hi, I'm Carlene, and this is Diva Tonight. We have a special song for you. I hope you like it. It's from R Shelley, she wrote it during the pandemic. It's called Sink or Swim.

SPEAKER_01 31:13

Taking the long way home, and it's harder on your own, but things are looking clear. So here's the thinking about it, and not do a thing about it. Thoughts will disappear. Single swing by treading water. Can't make up my own mind. Seems like I made my own mess. So things gotta get here's to remembering it, and not letting you forget it's all just how we live. Getting tired of this life.