Shanna Zell profile picture

Shanna Zell

(Not-so) chick rock.

About Me


Check out the LATEST PRESS!! (click here)
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"The word "passivity" pops up in Zell's track "The Dig" and it just doesn't sound right coming out of her mouth. That's because there is no passivity in this young singer-songwriter's power folk that channels Tori and Ani in equal measure, with a ripping rock core."
Download.com Editor - www.download.com

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For 22-year-old Shanna Zell, sex, drugs and rock and roll is old news. She has been singing about the gritty details of love, the truths of sex and teaching veterans about rock since she first picked up a guitar at 16. With her dark, intelligent lyrics and sexually charged, emotional performances, Shanna transcends any notion of chick rock and opens up a new genre; she's a contemporary kind of drug.
After only one year in New York City, Shanna has entertained large crowds at notable venues including The Knitting Factory, Southpaw, Rockwood Music Hall, Mo Pitkin's and Makor. The release of her first full-length album, Hurricane Season, is already receiving rave reviews. The album was featured in the CD Spotlight on L.A.s 104.7 FM iRADIO LA, on Cincinnati's 88.3 WAIF FM and her song The Flatlands is included on the soundtrack of the feature film, "Dykeotomies." Shanna has recently been selected as an Editor's Pick on www.download.com and as of April 2006, by popular vote, Shanna has been selected as a GEM on Radio Crystal Blue (www.radiocrystalblue.com/gems) where she receives featured airplay and ongoing promotion for her hot new album.
Hurricane Season features an all-star cast of players including Matt Walker (Smashing Pumpkins, Veruca Salt), Bill Ruppert (Beach Boys, Tony Bennett) and Alan Berliant (Rachel Yamagata, Mavis Staples). Producer Jon Seiller has worked with artists including Kaiser Chiefs, Lisa Loeb and Shawn Colvin. From the flamenco-style trumpet solo in the violently active The Flatlands, reminiscent of Loves Forever Changes, to the echoing, somnolent piano of Kitchen Light, Hurricane Season is a tumultuous experience that reels you in and spins you around, but sets you down gently.
Within a moment of song, Shanna captures the actual experience. She combines the deepness of wants with imagination and with a magical twist, can explode the briefest second into all of its parts. Whether singing of Hells Kitchens street walkers, sitting under a dimming light in Scotland, or loving people goodbye, her visual lyricism, strong and sensitive alto voice, and vulnerability while still standing in the wake of honest realizations, lead to Shannas proud heritage in the canon of female rockers such as Pat Benatar and Lucinda Williams.
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My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 2/7/2005
Band Website: shannazell.com
Band Members: Shanna Zell - Lead Vox, Rhythm Guitar, Keys

Featuring a rotating cast of talented co-conspirators:

Misty Boyce - Piano, Backing Vocals
Jamie Alegre - Drums
Matt Wigton - Bass
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Debbie Miller - Piano, Backing Vocals
Jeremiah Birnbaum - Lead Guitar, Slide
Jorge Pertuz - Drums
Paul Ogunsalu - Bass

Influences: Leslie Feist, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Tori Amos, Ani Difranco, Elliott Smith, Nick Drake, Aimee Mann, Frente, The Decemberists, Radiohead, Lisa Loeb, Damien Rice, Bjork, Modest Mouse, Stevie Wonder, Jeff Buckley, Jamie Lidell, David Bowie, Laura Veirs, M. Ward, Pat Benatar, Heart, Sparklehorse, Iron + Wine, The Beatles, and due to a copious amount of listening to the Beach Boys and Peter, Paul and Mary as a child, probably them, too.
Sounds Like: a little like alanis

Type of Label: None

My Blog

www.truththroughaction.org

I haven't written a blog in years.  Am doing this right? But this deserves a posting!!  Check out www.truththroughaction.org to see what I mean (and listen closely for my song "The Flatlands...
Posted by Shanna Zell on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 09:25:00 PST

I've been blogged!

Doesn't that sound ever so dirty? Maybe I just have a dirty, dirty mind. Anyway, for a great read - check out my friend Pete Harris's blog at www.indiesoundsny.com. And in other exciting news - I've b...
Posted by Shanna Zell on Fri, 13 Apr 2007 08:38:00 PST

Please help me get a gig in LA!!

I am going to LA (and Portland, OR) from May 26th - June 5th.  If you have ANY music connections or friends out there, please help a sista out.  I would love to play on the west coast and he...
Posted by Shanna Zell on Tue, 14 Mar 2006 08:31:00 PST

BUY THE ALBUM!!

album price .. SHANNA ZELL: Hurricane Season $12.00 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Choose how many, and click ...
Posted by Shanna Zell on Sat, 04 Feb 2006 09:06:00 PST

It's off to Chi-Town

It's back to the windy city and back into the studio.  It's been a long time coming, getting these songs out on CD, and I have a good feeling about the outcome.  (Too presumptuous)? Well, co...
Posted by Shanna Zell on Mon, 01 Jan 1900 12:00:00 PST

"The Whimpster"

Courtesy of the ever-so-wise, Lauren Greis: http://www.blacktable.com/elder040212.htm
Posted by Shanna Zell on Mon, 01 Jan 1900 12:00:00 PST

"Maybe in a paper boat we'll both just float away." -B&S

Well, this will be round 2 of trying to post a blog on myspace. Let's see if it works. I just had my first intake of caffeine in about 3 days (surprising, right) and boy what a cup-o-joe can do to...
Posted by Shanna Zell on Mon, 01 Jan 1900 12:00:00 PST

Early Morning Jam

It's 7 am, my body tired from restless, overmedicated sleep. And I don't know how to feel. Glancing at the technicolor green that rages behind broken lines, I think I don't know how to perceive time...
Posted by Shanna Zell on Mon, 01 Jan 1900 12:00:00 PST