Solo Singer/Songwriter & Producer.
Shasta’s new album, “The Outsider”, is a seamless fusion of Americana, Country & Rock giving this Modern Bard a genre-bending sound rich with melodies and texture.
Originally, from Connecticut, Shasta began writing poetry when he was growing up in New England. By his teens, hearing Bob Dylan influenced him to turn his poetic efforts into songwriting. On a move to California to hone his musical skills he chronicled his journeys in song. There, he also became known as, “Shasta”, after a soul-searching quest upon the mountain of that same name. After spending years out west he returned east during what he refers to as emotional weather. He then released his CD, "No More Smoking!" The title cut a sarcastic rant on smoking bans.
Now, after a move to Nashville, Shasta releases, “The Outsider”,where he taps into ideas and thoughts that ring with familiarity but which are presented in original fashion. On the first track of , “The Outsider”, ("Hair Much Shorter Than Mine") Shasta tackles in hilarious fashion his take on short haired women. (all in jest of course) ”I’m inspired by life, people, ironic circumstances or an interesting story - whatever is happening around me at the time." From diverse directions, he gets the audience's interest, delivering sharp lyrical observations, like: "Yea, I really dug her dress, those long smooth legs showing more than less, but when she took off her hair extensions - I just got too depressed!” Or about UFO’s from, “Ballad of the Bard”: “Oh, the Air Force doesen’t know a thing, the government is mute! - Maybe we’re just ruled by Reptilians in suits!” -
The Artist at Work:
Shasta moved to Nashville on advice of a friend a couple years ago and the influence is evident. from the start of, "The Outsider”. Shasta met and teamed up with Tim Shean of Herringbone Records in Nashville who brought in top notch local musicians (Tim Calhoun, Shane Keister, Dave Santos, William Ellis, Larry Crew, Joe Spivy, Dave McCormic, Joe First & Jim Kirby) to create the lush open sound of this project..
In 2008 Shasta won as a Top 20 Finalist for Unisong International ‘s 11th Annual Songwriting Contest in the Specialty Novelty category for his 2007 hilarious rant on smoking bans, "No More Smoking!" - Corbyn Bricie of Unsigned said,”This one’s for the Johnny Cash & Bob Dylan fans.....if you like your Country/Americana with directly clever lyrics with a socially conscious flare then this one is definitely for you.”
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