Shawn Helwig
Singer/songwriter
With energy, charisma, a great voice and great music, Shawn performs on stage with his own brand of enthusiasm. He takes audiences on a roller coaster ride between good ole' Honky Tonk fun and heart stopping ballads. As Shawn puts it,
"Connecting with the fans is what it's all about."
Having been a musician nearly all of his life, Shawn takes full advantage of the gifts that he's been given. He has been performing on stage since he was 15 years old and if you ask him, that is where he feels most at home. "The feeling I get on stage is hard to describe. It's not a nervous feeling but more like an anxious anticipation, like when you were a kid waiting in line for a ride at Disneyland." Well that "anxious anticipation" has brought him many accolades over the years, the most recent finishing as a top finalist in the Colgate Country Showdown in 2004.
Not long after the Showdown, Shawn was approached by Producer Kevin Schumaker and soon was signed to a multi-record deal with the Northern California Indie Label Shu-Dog Records. His debut CD Long Tracks Of Steel will be rolling off the press in the early spring of 2005, followed by a summer tour. He is currently working on promoting his new album and is also writing songs for his follow up effort with Shu-Dog Records.
Between owning a restaurant, owning and playing on a nationally ranked amateur football team, buying a new home and having many other responsibilities you would think that a music career would be out of the question. "Everybody comments on how busy I am. They often ask me if I ever get tired, or they ask me why don't I just give some things up and make some time for myself. My response to that is, why? So I can hang out and relax?" As he adjusts his Stetson, he continues, "What they don't understand is that it is the creative energy that keeps me going. I don't ask myself, why am I so busy all of the time, or how am I going to make some time to relax. Instead I say, I have some extra time here and there, what else can I accomplish in that time? Call me crazy but those are just the ABC's of me."
With all that Shawn has to offer, he remains remarkably humble and grounded thanks to the influence and support of his family and friends. Their encouragement and inspiration completes him and reminds him of the important things in life.
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