Originally Posted on Dec.27th, 2023
Today I’m going to be talking about our new Artist of the Week, Rockabilly Band Shanda & The Howlers!
Here’s their story in their own words, as told by Shanda and Luke! Enjoy!
VMS: “When did you start writing and performing your music, What’s your backstory and current lineup.”
Luke: “We started the band in 2015 with the idea we were going to do originals with a few covers mixed in. Our first show was a few months after we solidified the line up.”
Shanda: “It was all Luke’s idea! He knew us all from the musician/friend circuit. From the first practice, we all vibed and we were instantly on the same page when it came to style.”
VMS: “What artist or bands inspire you and your sound.”
Luke: “I think myself, Shanda and Trevor are all super fans of Otis Redding and 60s’s soul and that has always been what we modeled our sound after.”
Shanda: “Luke’s right. Sam Cooke, Lavern Baker, & Wynona Carr are some of my big influences.”
VMS: “What’s your writing process and inspiration for your music.”
Luke: “Usually Shanda and I talk about what we wanna do next in terms of sound and lyric ideas, then I’ll bring a song to her with basic lyrics and melody and we’ll try it out just with an acoustic guitar. If it works, we’ll bring it in to the rest of the band, if it doesn’t work, we scrap it.”
Shanda: “What he said.”
VMS: “I love your songs “Close your Eyes”, “Want you Anyway” and “Good Morning Heartache.” What is the inspiration or story behind these songs.”
Luke: “Thank you! “Close Your Eyes” is about someone that went through a bad break up and with their heart smashed into pieces, goes to an old love interest for comfort. “Want You Anyway” is about falling for someone and having them treat you badly but not wanting to let go, because what you have with them is better than being alone. It’s kind of sad actually (haha). “Good Morning Heartache” is about waking up on a Sunday alone after a night of drinking at Dino’s and that horrible feeling of wanting to have someone to spend the day with, while coping with being alone.”
Shanda: (on “Close your Eyes”) “Oh, I thought he was a really good friend with the undertones that it could blossom into the real thing because she knows him so well and comforts him. “Want You Anyway” is more rebellious than that. (Haha!) I think it’s you know they’re bad but F it! Life is short. I’ll deal with the heartbreak later. It’s also kind of our ode to The Sonics. “Good Morning Heartache” is what happens after Want You Anyway.”
Luke: “Shanda explained them better than me actually (haha)”
Listen to Shanda and the Howlers on Spotify:
VMS: “What do you want your audience to feel and experience at one of your live shows.”
Luke: “We want people to have a good time and hopefully fall in love with our songs!”
Shanda: “And if any of our songs make them feel less alone in their feelings, even better!”
VMS: “Tell me about your 2022 Album “It Ain’t Easy”. What was your writing process and message of this album.”
Luke: “We really wanted to make a Motown sounding record and hopefully we succeeded. We branched out a bit with our arrangements from the prior album and really spent a lot of time producing each track.”
Shanda: “We wrote most of this album in 2020 and took our time fine-tuning the songs before we began recording in 2021. Living through a pandemic and global shut down wasn’t easy. I think it was pretty scary for most of us. We felt the title would resonate as we also felt the same, “It ain’t easy” out there.”
Listen to “It Ain’t Easy ” on Spotify:
VMS: “Which local artist would you like to work with and why.”
Shanda and Luke: “I’m not sure there is a local artist we wouldn’t want to play with. There’s so much talent here. I really appreciate interviews like this and articles with the local music scene. Las Vegas caters to tourists, so you’re going to find top 40 cover bands everywhere you look. Articles like this help people find their way to the local music scene and what could be better, really?”
VMS: “What’s your overall theme or message of your music.”
Shanda: “Matters of the heart, lol. The majority of our songs deal with different aspects of romantic relationships from meeting someone to breaking up. I would say the rest are either about the feelings of loneliness and hopelessness that we all struggle with from time to time or going out for a good time after dealing with it.”
VMS: “What does the future hold for Shanda and the Howlers.”
Shanda: “Being discovered by Jack White? hahaha! I kid, I kid. My plan is to just keep doing what we’re doing until we can’t do it anymore.”
Luke: “We’re always working on new stuff, we’ll have a new single out within the next few months.”
What I’ve always loved about Shanda and the Howlers is how they can make music that feels throwback and modern all at the same time. Their music takes me back to the days of that cool 50’s and 60’s rock, mixed in with some classic Motown elements, all the while feeling that it was written yesterday. I love that they deal with universal topics we’ve all struggled with; toxic love, heartbreak and going through tough times.
Their music is a beautiful combination of wanting to get me to dance and have fun, but than It can also make me feel something I haven’t felt in a while. They can take me back to a special place and time, which I always appreciate artists who can do that. There is something so magical about time traveling through music. No other medium I can think of you can really do that. With Shanda’s beautifully strong and commanding vocals, and a range to die for, (I genuinely feel her heartbreak, but also I feel she could kick some serious ass. Lol) and Luke and the gang’s incredibly skilled guitar and drum work, which compliments her vocals so well to tell the story, I really cannot wait to hear for what they have in store next!
Whatever journey they wanna take me on, I’m down for, I just gotta make sure I got my dancing shoes on.
For more information about Shanda and the Howlers please visit their website:
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/shanda_and_the_howlers?igsh=aDB5aHdpMmp6bmcz
Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/shandahowlers?fbclid=PAAaZ8rt5zI-PORymtxMzDSf6mIdsDYaxLgJtHMXEkKzIdIqn7O0bvyBz8wXY
Shanda’s Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/shanda.cisneros?mibextid=ZbWKwL
———Vegas Music Scene