Shelby Lynne: A True Revelation
Shelby Lynne has been making music since 1988 and she has seen the way the industry has changed, how making records has changed and how much she as a person and an artist has changed. One thing for certain is the same, her drive, honesty and voice.
“Many many things have changed, my hair for instance, you’ve seen all the facets of what I’ve done musically and otherwise. I was just telling a friend that what Taylor Swift has done, the way she’s handled herself and her business. I’m so proud of her and how positive she is. If I’d have known just a little of what Taylor knows at 23 I think things would’ve been different. But the business wasn’t that way then, you make a record, put it out send it to radio and hope it sticks. That wasn’t it for me though, to make records somebody told me to make.”
“After I knew for sure the Nashville thing wasn’t for me. I did that Temptation,that swing thing you know cut my hair off. I’ve transitioned through the whole thing and I was trying to figure out who the hell I was.”
“When we did Suit Yourself was kinda flailing out there. Cut the record and had Tony Joe Walker on there. There are some great songs on there, really don’t know what to say about that record other than I’ve got some great things on there.”
“Just A Little Lovin’” the Dusty record had to be made. Barry Manilow told me I was the one that should do a Dusty Springfield record. I had the songs and Capitol pretty much told me ‘what do you want to do since the last one didn’t do so hot,” so I said I want to do Dusty and have Phil Ramone produce it, he was old enough to know the songs. I’m so damn glad I did we did that record in 5 days, 2 songs a day. Heck I wasn’t going to give them any more than that.”
The Dusty tribute album did very well sales wise, but Shelby knew that it pretty much was over doing a normal ‘record deal’ being as instinctive and smart as she is she decided to create her own label. So Everso Records was born. “It wasn’t it for me anymore, I couldn’t make the music I really wanted to make or have someone tell me what to make and who is buying music anymore anyway?”
“Tears, Lies and Alibis,” was released to critical acclaim and proved that people wanted the iconic ‘voice’ of Lynne as well as her intrinsic, write what you know lyrics. In 2012 she released “Revelation Road,” a record she pretty much had to make. “Within everything that has happened both good and bad, the only way I’ve ever been able to deal with it, is to write and sing and this gave me the opportunity. Very cathartic to be able to do this record and have such a great response when I play these songs live.”
Shelby honored me by giving me a sneak peak of her new music. “Call Me Up,” is the first track off the EP “Thanks,” due out in November on Everso Records.
“As a musician, these songs are a way to express my love and gratitude to the universe and to all of the music appreciating souls out there for the friendship and fellowship that music brings us all in the name of love and sharing. Southern blues music and gospel music go together church raising optional. Sam Cooke, Otis Redding and James Brown came straight out of the Georgia churches and went straight onto the charts singing the blues that came from gospel revivals across the south. Maybe it’s in the water or the clay, but I feel a certain freedom when I sing spirituals. I have no certain church or religion that I have taken to. My personal relationship with my creator is personal and a personal relationship it will remain.”
Artists like Shelby Lynne don’t come around or show up on the scene everyday. In a way it’s better that way. Then you get to enjoy the talent and the richness of what their music has to offer, in many ways what Shelby has done is reminiscent of a young and feisty Kris Kristofferson and here is to hoping we get a collaboration between the two soon.
Photo Credit Kelly E Schultz Photographer kellyeschultz.smugmug.com