Rising Stars: Meet Shannon Howell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Howell.

Hi Shannon, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. The oldest of four children. I come from a huge family. I have been singing full-on grown woman songs since I was five years old. My Aunts and Uncles always remind me of how I use to sing a lot when I was a little girl, in front of anyone, never scared. I grew up in church but wasn’t the ideal “church girl”. As a teenager, I did get pregnant and had a baby girl, Shellby. I was a straight a student with a promising educational career ahead of me, a good girl. I had a baby, though. Me having my baby at such an early age caused a wedge between me and church, which led me to RNB music. I’ve always loved music deep in my soul. I can remember having a tape recorder and recording music from the radio, playing my tapes over and over again- those tapes started me writing my own songs. When I started writing my own songs, music became a passion, a dream.

At 18 I recorded in a recording studio for the first time. Tyscot Records. Huge Gospel label in Indianapolis. After that, I was hooked on recording. Because I had a baby at that time, I didn’t have the luxury of focusing 100% on my singing career. So I went to college, worked a job and started recording music in Indy. I was determined to make something out of my life. After graduating from college, I met a promotor and well-known Hip-Hop constituent in Indy by the name of Lucky, DaPromo King, Smith. He really helped me by connecting me to Brian “Shorti” Coyle. Shorti, at the time, was a well-known rapper and producer in Indy. He and I created my first studio album and we had a hit song called “Wait on Me” that became, locally, a life-changing movement for us. My team consisted of Shorti, Earl “Slick 23” Barlow (rapper/producer/promotor at the time), and Candy Fields (my manager) and Lucky. We really changed the RNB game in Indy at that time.

My song, “Wait on Me” became a highly requested song on the popular radio station Hot 96.3 with the help of Disc Jockey at the time Wrekk1. I sold several CD’s hand to hand as well as in record stores at that time. It was epic and life-changing for me. That CD got me gigs all over the Midwest and Eastcoast. By that time, I had two kids (Shellby and Sidney) and not long after that I moved to Atlanta. I had done everything that I could do in Indy for my singing career. It was at a standstill and I needed to at least try to see what could become of this deep passion I had for singing and songwriting. When I moved to Atlanta, I worked with a few different producers recording music and getting my feet wet in the Atlanta market. It was very intimidating. There were so many singers and producers and they were amazing. I joined a girl group called “Lady”. One of the members of the group was Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Crystal Nicole. We decided, after recording several songs ad performing around Atlanta that all four of the ladies in the group, including myself, wanted something different for ourselves.

I loved being in the group and it will always have a place in my heart. I eventually started recording my own music again with Gee and Jim Lebeaud. At that time, they were up-and-coming producers and artist and they helped me tremendously by producing my second studio album. My CD was amazing- so good that a musician friend of mine from Indy that had also moved to Atlanta, Wil Kenon, put together a band for me and I started, then, performing with a band. It was my first time playing with a band and it drew me in deeper to wanting the success and fame and notoriety of being a performer and singer/songwriter. I gigged and became very popular and consistent in the live band circuit here in Atlanta. I’ve worked with some of the best musicians in Atlanta over time and have forged great relationships with musicians here in Atlanta. I started getting a lot of recognition for my studio work. That recognition got me in the studio with well-known artist and up and coming artist such as Jacquees.

At the time I was so intrigued by him- he knew for a fact that he would make it. I loved writing for him. I’ve recorded so many hooks and have written songs for so many artists. I had the pleasure of meeting a hero of mine, James “Big Jim” Wright. A legend. Big Jim helped me get gigs such as background vocalist for the tv show, The Trumpet Awards. I was able to sing backgrounds for artist such as: Ruben Studdard- Isley Brothers- Chante Moore- Dorinda Clark- Avery Sunshine- Mali Music- Lela James- Brick- Dazz-Con Funk Shun. All the studio work and gigging for all these years did not leave room for me to focus on why I moved to Atlanta in the first place, my music. I still have that same desire that I had the first time I heard my voice recorded or the first time I heard my song on the radio, or the first time I stood on a stage and people engaged me as I sung for them. That desire is to be an internationally known entertainer- singer/songwriter. Now, my daughters are grown women, living their own lives, beautiful and self-sufficient. My voice is better than ever, my life experiences have created a magical story in my mind that is constantly playing out melodies and musical lyrics. I am confident and free in my mind as a person.

My 3rd studio album is called Love Train and I am excited to announce that it is available on all digital platforms now. I met Dwayne Kelly some years ago and we started working together in his studio, Sound Resort Studios here in Atlanta. I came to him with the idea of us exclusively doing a project together and he was here for it. Love Train is my expression of falling in love too soon- breaking up and admitting my faults- embracing my curves and my sensuality and sexuality- it’s me admitting that I like men with money and prestige and being unapologetic about it. Love Train is the ride of your life from the moment you meet someone to the day you walk away or stay, your choice. It’s the possibility of love taking you anywhere you want to go. My first single is the title track Love Train and the music will be released February 14, 2021. It is ten songs of me pouring my heart and soul into my music- I have created a work that caters to love, making love, having fun and having what you want. It is my best work yet. I want people to feel every word that I wrote. My producer, Dwayne Kelly, produced all of the tracks. The tracks, oh my goodness. He helped me find my sound. I’ve worked with a lot of producers, but this project is different, thanks to “DK”.

My life has been a lot of hard work. From being a teen a mom to taking care of two kids while in college, working a full time job and pursuing my singing career all at the same time. I have been through the fire and have had to fight my whole life for an opportunity. I always say, “Give me the opportunity.” Give me the opportunity and I will take it and I will put my all into the process. For me “the process” has been so many years and not once have I given up on anything. Moving to Atlanta was a hard decision for me because I have a close loving tight family. Moving my kids far away from our family, hard. With that, I believe that none of this is in vain. I believe that it took this long for me to be in this space, confident and ready because the process was and still is a part of my purpose. I can not wait for the world to hear my music.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It most definitely has not been a smooth road. I have dealt with a lot of insecurities throughout my life. The insecurities have been very stifling. I struggled with not “good enough”, not “pretty enough”, forgotten about by God and heartbroken and rejected. I felt as though I let down my family when I got pregnant as a teen. I lived with that the whole pregnancy and having a baby while in high school. I was embarrassed. I felt that I became the statistic that I never wanted to be. Once I had my baby, Shellby, that changed. I became more determined to be successful. For her. Everything that I said I was going to do, I did it. But I started thinking that I wasn’t good enough, because I was constantly fighting for everything. Nothing was easy.

Then I started to feel that I wasn’t pretty enough. The constant rejection from record companies and not being able to have a substantial relationship with men or loyal long standing friendships with women. Everyone rejected me. even my own biological father. I over achieved the things I could control because I had no control over my relationships or the way I looked. It sounds crazy, right. Now, I am in a completely different place. I freed my mind of fitting in or needing to be accepted or fearing rejection or abandonment. I am beautiful! People would tell me that before and I didn’t believe 1 word of it. My heart is beautiful, my spirit is beautiful, my voice IS beautiful, my face is beautiful, because God made me unique and 1 of a kind. How can I reject that.. how can anyone reject that part… I am free!

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a singer/songwriter- a performer! I have a new album called Love Train out now on all digital platforms. Performing music in my is the most exciting thing for me. Being in the studio and creating songs, the process is euphoric for me. It is my happy place. The idea that the world will hear my music blows my mind… because I know its going to happen. I am so proud that I never gave up. I am proud of the growth. I am the best me right now that I have ever been, in spite of the fighting to be heard or seen by my community. What sets me apart is my story. My story plays a major role in the connection that I gain from strangers. My story, I believe will be the catalyst that opens doors for me along with my music. I believe being transparent will help someone else keep going and never giving up on themselves.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Ha! Ok. I am scared of the dark and scared to drive over bridges. I have to either have a small light on or the tv in order to sleep or its not happening. Now, if I had someone to hold me at night, I wouldn’t need a night light or that tv. I’m just saying. Bridges- Oh my goodness, the amount of anxiety and heavy breathing that takes place if I have to drive over a body of water. It could be a lake a river an ocean a pond. I do not care- I get terrified.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @rnbshannon
• Facebook: Shannon Howell Fans
• Twitter: Shannon Howell
• Youtube: Shannon Howell
• SoundCloud: Shannon Howell

Image Credits
Mel B. Elder Jr.