Meet Shannon Walden

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shannon Walden. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Shannon, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
Creativity for me has always been an escape and a way to get out my emotions. It’s not always easy for me to express how I am feeling in a conversation but I can get it out in a song or a script. Sometimes I don’t even realize how I am feeling until what I am working on is done and I can look back on it. I also recently realized how important creativity is to me and how it helps me feel truly fulfilled in my life. I am a bit of a workaholic and have been working non-stop since it was legal for me to do so. I rarely took days off, never took vacations, and worked 12-hour days consistently, and at the end of 2020 I realized that I was burnt out. I took a few months off from working and instantly my creativity had flooded back. I didn’t realize it but I hadn’t done anything creative for myself in years and all of a sudden I was writing music again and filming a series that I wrote. I did go back to work but now I make creativity a priority in my life. I even take vacation days just to be able to have time to sit and create.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a vocalist for the punk band He Said. I have been working in the production side of the entertainment industry for over 13 years. I have worked in LA and NYC on all types of projects, talk shows, award shows, reality TV, commercials, and even VR. As the “Me To” movement showed unfortunately there is a lot of dangerous misogyny present in the industry. With the number of years I had been working with men feeling like I didn’t have a voice or being labeled “difficult” if god forbid I ever did speak up I hit a breaking point. That is why I started the band He Said. I wanted a place to have a voice, where I could write music about how I felt and show other women that they also have a voice and it’s okay to use it. I wanted it to have the feel of the music I listened to growing up. So, a mix of Blink 182, Avril Lavigne, and obscure bubble gum pop like Hoku. I also wanted my music to be something people could dance to. That’s the best part about pop punk is you can write about something difficult but the song can still sound fun and upbeat. We have a new song coming out “Credits” on December 1st and our first EP will be out in early 2024.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Something that was important for me to learn early on and still inspires me every day is that if you want to do something do it. I know it’s a bit of a cliché but I think that’s the hardest part of any new journey, just starting. It’s what separates people from following their dreams and never getting what they want. It’s scary to start something new and you will probably fail more than once but that is okay. I learn the most from my failures even when they are embarrassing or painful. The important part is if it means something to you don’t give up. This is how I felt when I started a punk band at the age of 30. Most people would think I was too old or it was pointless to even try this late in life. For me, it was something I had dreamed of doing, and really had no idea what I was doing when I started. I definitely made a bunch of mistakes and will continue to do so but I am proud of where I am. I have music recorded and released that I love, I have a band that I love to rock out with, and we are finally starting to gig. None of that would have happened if I simply didn’t just start.

The second thing that was most impactful on my journey is learning to not care what people think. In this age of the internet, people are going to give you their opinion whether you want it or not and regardless of what you do there will be negativity. I was so scared when I started singing, it was hard to even sing in front of one person. Early on I told this to my dad, and he gave me the advice that “You sing for yourself not anyone else so it doesn’t matter if people like it or not as long as you do.” He was right, I love to sing it’s my happy place, so it doesn’t matter if people enjoy it or not. If I do find people who like or relate to my music along the way well then that’s just a cherry on top.

Lastly, it’s important to be dependable. If you say you are going to do something, do it, if you say you are going to be somewhere, be there and on time. Shockingly this will separate you from the crowd. Your time and other people’s time is precious, it’s not okay to waste it. I am blessed and honored that I have the privilege of making music, but I couldn’t do it on my own. My vocal coach, my producer, my band, and so many people in my life make it possible for me to create, so the least I could do is be respectful to them by being dependable.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
When you find something, you are passionate about I think it is important to find a mentor in that field you can learn from. I was lucky to find that person in my vocal coach, Violet Grae. She may have started as just my vocal coach but has turned into so much more, my manager, co-writer, mentor, supporter, and friend. She has been in the music industry for years and has so much knowledge of how it works. I have learned about writing music, releasing music, performing live, the list goes on and it is all above and beyond just learning how to use my voice. Most importantly she has always supported and encouraged my art. I didn’t think it was even possible to write my own music until I started working with her. Having a mentor can help you know how to start, can help you get out of a rut, and to show you the right way of doing things. It’s really important to find someone you trust and can learn from.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Sean J. Daly Violet Grae Nick Giggans-Hill

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Productivity
Where do you get your work ethic from?

We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic

Productivity
Tactics & Strategies for Keeping Your Creativity Strong

With the rapid improvements in AI, it’s more important than ever to keep your creativity

Productivity
From Burnout to Balance: The Role of Self-Care

Burning out is one of the primary risks you face as you work towards your