About
My name is Shannon Rose and I live in Ottawa, Ontario with my guitarist husband, Steve, and my 13-year-old cat, Maddie. I’m a singer-songwriter who is forever humming and thinking of new melodies. Most of the songs I write never see the light of day, but they always lead to a new song that I love enough to bring to the guys in the band to work on. Creatively, I work really well under pressure. I like working with deadlines which is partly why I decided to release four seasonal EPs this year. It’s kept me really busy with music in 2011 and I’m really looking forward to bringing the new songs to people on stage in the new year.
I grew up in Pembroke, Ontario, and met my guitarist husband when we were both working part time at the same market research firm in Ottawa. We moved to Toronto together where I studied English and he worked at a music video company, and wrote film score. Five years ago we moved back to Ottawa, got a band together, and began turning my early bedroom demos into my first album, Sing Me A Song. Now I'm hooked.
I grew up in Pembroke, Ontario, and met my guitarist husband when we were both working part time at the same market research firm in Ottawa. We moved to Toronto together where I studied English and he worked at a music video company, and wrote film score. Five years ago we moved back to Ottawa, got a band together, and began turning my early bedroom demos into my first album, Sing Me A Song. Now I'm hooked.
Free Time
I like to be cozy. I spend a lot of time on my own, reading, writing and sometimes baking. I also love to spend time with family and friends - having tea and playing cards or Scrabble. In the summer I spend Saturday mornings treasure hunting at yard sales, and Christmas is hands-down my favourite time of year.
Inspiration
I often tap into subconscious ideas when I’m working on music, but it also helps me work when I have a space that’s tidy and homey. I prefer to be alone to record vocals or write a new song. I like the house to be very quiet, and I like to keep the curtains open so I can see outside. I’ll set up the microphone at the window and watch the weather, the birds and squirrels, and people walking down the street as I work. All of these things inspire me as much as life stories. And of course the art and music of other artists is a huge inspiration for me.
Husband
My husband has been a major influence on my craft. In the very beginning he encouraged me to keep practising guitar, and to keep writing songs. Since I started he’s given me so much of his time and effort. He helped me get a band together, leaves the house anytime I need to write, and he’s worked really hard to produce all of our albums so far. Without his encouragement, I’m sure I wouldn’t have ever stood on a stage to sing one of my songs for people. He even rolls up his sleeves to help me make merch for shows!
The Work
In 2008 I released my first full-length album, Sing Me a Song, and in 2011 decided to write and record four five-song EPs inspired by our beautiful Canadian seasons. Now that all four EPs are finished and released as of December 2011, we are happily booking performances to share these songs with people. In our band, The Thorns, we have guitars (Steve Matylewicz), bass (Dean Watson), drums (Tim Watson), and piano and horns (Michael Schultz). Steve produces, we record at the Gallery Studio, and our songs are mastered by Philip Shaw Bova at Bova Sound. Also, I'm still writing (always writing!).
