What is your name and role within the band?
My name is Chelsea and I am the lead singer in SHAED.
How did you start?
I met Max and Spencer when I was in high school and we instantly became best friends. We we’re always writing music together but we weren’t able to fully immerse ourselves in a project until we started SHAED in March of 2016.
Where are you based?
We’re all based in the DC area but we’ve been writing all over the country this past year, especially in Outer Banks, NC. This gives us the chance to be inspired by new places.
Please give an example of your music writing process?
Our writing process is very collaborative. Recently we’ve been writing more organically with just a piano and a drum pad instead of working off a track. We are there with each other from the conception of an idea to the finished song.
What are you working on right now?
Right now we are focusing all of our energy on writing new material and getting ready for festival season.
What is your gear setup?
All I know is that we use Ableton and we have two Apollo Quads. The rest is way over my head. Spencer and Max do all the programming, play all the instruments (guitar, bass, drum pad, keys), and create the light show. I just show up.
What do you like to do outside of music and does it affect your music?
We love to cook, read, and explore the outdoors. These things inspire us but never get in the way of our music.
How would you describe your music genre?
This is always a tough question! I would say our music can be described as vocally driven poppy music with strong electronic elements.
Do you know any music theory?
Unfortunately I don’t, but I definitely wish I did.
What are your plans for the future?
Our plan is to keep doing what we love, which is making music.
How did you get into music?
I was raised around a lot of alternative 80s – the Smiths, The English Beat, and the B52s – so I was always singing along to the most badass tracks. When I was about 11 or 12 my parents bought me a karaoke machine and it became my best friend. I would spend hours in the basement singing songs to the point where I would drive my parents crazy. My Dad, knowing that this was my passion, then signed me up for voice lessons and I haven’t looked back 🙂
What are you listening to at the moment?
Sampha – Reverse Faults
Sigrid – Don’t Kill My Vibe
WESLEE – Gassed.
Who are your top 5 influences and icons?
Collectively we all love Radiohead, especially the Kid A album. When I first started out I was really inspired by women with big voices like Patty Griffin and Tracey Chapman.
When are you playing next?
We are playing Firefly on June 16th.