Miss Shauna is a sassy bi-sexual singer guided by a new reinvigorated vigor. Her music is about trusting who you really are in a criticizing world where noise gets in the way of individualism.
Her stage name comes from a brief but fabulous stint dancing at a gay bar. She also has a background in being a comedic actor—she's generally an overall, captivating, performer. She's also a huge advocate for the LGBTQ2S+ community and performed at the Port Coquitlam Pride Festival last year.
Shauna’s voice has been shaped by singing along to soulful queens like Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys, and Celine Dion. Throw in the '80’s edge of one of her all-time favourite artists, Prince, and the nostalgic yet modern grooves of Dua Lipa and you’ve got Miss Shauna.
She discovered her voice when she was nine years old after her mother, a classical pianist, sat down at her piano and asked her to try singing something for some voiceover work. Her mother’s musical ear instantly recognized that there was a lot of potential in that little girl’s voice. She worked with Shauna on a few basic vocal techniques and that sparked an instant and infinite passion in Shauna’s heart for singing.
Miss Shauna's passion only grew. Every moment not at school or in ballet class, Shauna would mimic the vocal prowess of singers like Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera and then the magical talents of Alicia Keys.
Now she’s stepping out of her comfort zone and feeling empowered enough to share her original music with the world. Shauna lives by her heart and right now, her heart says “it’s time to sing your own words.”
Thank you for taking this interview! How has the New Year been for you so far as an artist?
Thank you for asking me! My new year has been so great so far! I’ve been doing a lot of growing and exploring, like I’m a two year old again haha! I've done a lot of stepping outside of my comfort zones. I’ve been pushing for those higher notes, taking the stage with more gusto, started taking dance classes again after a 15 year hiatus and made some pretty big overall lifestyle changes. It’s been really rewarding and freeing. I can really see the changes in my body, mind and soul and the creative energy just flows more freely.
Can you tell us how you've transformed from the beginning to now as an artist?
Yes! I’ve always been a performing artist, I’ve been on stage since I was 7 years old. I started off as a classically trained ballerina, did some musical theatre and then started performing with live bands at local venues as the years went on. But I had that authentic, passionate part of me locked in a cage and buried deep somewhere inside my chest for many, many years. Before COVID hit I had been working professionally for almost 5 years as a singer/comedic actress. It was AMAZING for honing my vocal skills, stage presence and teaching me how to engage with an audience in a meaningful way; but I was doing other people’s work, covering other people’s songs and doing what I was told to do. I used to think “well, if I could just sing for a living then I’d be happy” and then I got there and something was still missing, something was still calling. When COVID came along and basically shut down the live entertainment industry I had the time and space to create and that’s when I learned that there was a part of me that was yearning to sing my own words and perform my own creations. It’s been simultaneously terrifying and liberating to surrender to that vulnerability. I’ve had ups and downs within that, not performing broke my heart so I also learned that singing, dancing, performing and creating aren’t just desires for me; they’re what I must do. So, after this break and time to do all this inner work I’ve discovered an artist within me who’s much braver, bolder and more sensual than I ever imagined. I’m FINALLY letting her out. It’s never too late and I won’t shy away from this calling within me anymore. I’m so excited to see where this journey leads me.
How did you come up with your latest project?
Oh, that was magical! This was something that snowballed from something tiny to something wonderful where everything just aligned. It was like someone else was orchestrating it all, right down to the initial creation of the song. I was just sitting on the couch staring out the window (sounds like such a cliche artist moment but it’s true!) and my partner, Dave Dombrowski, was just noodling around on his guitar and came up with this beautiful, melodic phrase. He just kept playing it over and over. Then I was overcome. Words and melody just came through me, it happened so fast. I took out my phone and just started recording it all on my voice app and that was it. The song was basically written right then and there. They were words I needed at the time too, just such a beautiful moment for me. Dave and I put together a rough scratch track and sent it off to our talented friend, Anthony Fiddler of Fiddler Productions, and he flipped the whole song on its head. I LOVED it. The magic of collaboration. I’ve learned to let go of expectations with Anthony and let him work his magic. He really knows how to bring my music to life. He really pushed me out of my vocal comfort zone to create a whole new sound and I’m so happy with it.
The music video was another part that just came together in a blur. All the right people were there and available and willing. I had an idea and suddenly it was coming to life. This was another collaborative effort where other people’s creative touches flipped my initial ideas upside down to make something better. Co-creation at its finest!
Where are you from originally?
My dad was military so I’m kind of from all over the place. I was born in Kingston, Ontario but I did a good chunk of my growing up in Shilo, Manitoba and then I went to high school in Fredericton, New Brunswick. I ended up in British Columbia after living a few years in Montreal, Quebec. I haven’t moved since. It’s the longest I’ve ever stayed put in one place. It’s definitely home to me, I love the natural beauty of BC.
Where do you live now?
I’m currently living in Mission, British Columbia with my partner, Dave.
Do you think where you live impacts how your music is made?
Absolutely! I feel a very strong spiritual and rooted connection to BC that I’ve never really felt anywhere else. This is the first time I’ve ever NOT had the itch to get up and move. Feeling at home gives me a grounded feeling, it’s so much easier to settle into a creative mode when you feel grounded and safe. I’ve met all the right people here too who have just helped me flourish and given me that sense of safety to really discover who I am and who I’m becoming. I’m a big time nature lover too and I think BC has some of the most magnificent natural landscapes in the world. It’s so inspiring and definitely helps the creative process.
What was the inspiration to make music your career?
I just wasn’t fulfilled performing other people’s work. I love performing but something was missing. I was also struggling with self-destructive behaviors and patterns like drinking every night and binge eating, lots of negative spiraling. I was making myself ill and cutting myself off from a lot of my creative potential. I truly believe in a higher power and I was getting a lot of messages that I could no longer ignore along the lines of “ c’mon, stop wasting time, you’ve got things to do! Follow my guidance and I’ll get you there! You don’t have to understand or know, you just have to surrender and trust!” This just happens to be what “Moonlight” is about. Listening to this inner guidance, my intuition, has been the best thing. I’ve had so much burning inside of me it literally hurt. Putting that energy where it belongs has resulted in some seriously deep healing, discovery, self-love, compassion and, of course, music! Now, I just want to share my music and hopefully inspire others to see that there is so much more to life when you shake off what society expects you to do and do what your heart calls you to do. A lot in society is designed to stifle people and keep us small, scared and under control where the only way to escape is through destructive behaviors. The human capacity is huge and brilliant and I want to keep unfolding into my own brilliance. I want that to be my career; to create and perform and inspire others to listen to their own callings and live the life they desire. That’s definitely something that inspires me.
How do you want to shape your career?
I would love to get to a place where my words and music can reach as many people as possible and inspire healing and courage. I want to make people feel good and confident. The world needs people to be true and authentic right now. Each person has something important to offer and shouldn’t be shoved into a mold of society’s choosing. It’s creating anxious, depressed and unfulfilled people. We need everyone’s gifts. I believe that each time one person lives authentically and from their heart it inspires another and creates a ripple effect. I want to be a part of that. I also want to get to a point where I don’t have to waste time working a mundane (mundane to me anyway, what I call mundane could be what another calls their passion) day job to survive. I want to live my life fully and thrive off of doing what I love.
Do you work on a tight timeline always or do you go with the flow when it comes to your music?
I’m very much a go with the flow person when it comes to my music and art but tight timelines are inevitable in this industry. I’m usually able to pull out that creativity when it’s down to the wire though. A little meditation and intention is all it takes. It’s all part of listening to my intuition. It’s always there if I can get quiet enough to hear it.
How did your latest title of your music come to be?
Moonlight is sort of a theme of the song. There’s a line in the song that I love. It goes “ the moon can’t shine without the sun, and I can’t shine without your love.” The moon is representative of us and the sun is representative of that inner voice that we all have, that Divine presence. You can really shine like the moon in the dark if you let the light of the sun shine on you. Listen to your calling and go shine!
Is it hard to let go of the music when it is done?
No way! I want to let it out and share it with the world! I don’t see it as mine to keep. It’s a gift to share and I don’t want to hide or stifle that. Even if my music impacts one person then it’s done its job, although I definitely want my music to reach as many people as it can!
Do you feel an emotional attachment with your music?
Absolutely. It IS my emotions. I feel through everything. I pull emotion up from my guts to put into my voice, so it comes from my whole body. I think it’s a great thing. When you feel deeply I think other people feel that too and then they laugh or cry or dance or release whatever they need to release within that action. It all results in healing if you let the emotion rise, feel it and then let it go.
How would you describe your music in one word to someone who hasn't listened to it yet?
This is a tough one. It’s pop music with a love letter to yourself/humanity. Maybe ‘uplifting’ is the word. Or ‘inspiring’.
Where do they go to listen NOW?
Anywhere you stream music! Moonlight is my debut single as Miss Shauna. There is a lot more to come so stay tuned!
What has been the best fan reaction to your music?
I’ve had a couple of moments. I was performing an unfinished version of Moonlight acoustically and a man stopped his car, listened and ran up to give me a white rose. I thought that was beautiful, white roses symbolize purity. That was so fitting seeing as I let this song come through me, it’s purely and authentically me. I had another amazing experience where I was performing and a stranger actually went up to my partner and told him he loved my voice so much that he felt inspired to make and gift me a one of a kind piece of jewelry to wear while I perform. These two conspired behind my back and I was surprised on my birthday with this GORGEOUS ring, inspired by a butterfly’s wing. I was so touched by this, it definitely made me cry.
Is there anything exciting coming up for you?
Yes! I’ll be releasing more songs this year so stay tuned! I’m SO excited for what’s in store!
Give us all your socials and links so fans can link up with you! Thank you for this interview!
https://www.facebook.com/officialmissshauna https://www.instagram.com/officialmissshauna/ https://www.tiktok.com/@officialmissshauna https://www.youtube.com/c/missshauna https://open.spotify.com/artist/3c3bjNqeuyXvBT7Dr9sgqy https://www.officialmissshauna.com/