“I go in and let the inspiration happen as it comes,” we had the pleasure of sitting down with Australian indie breakout Shannen James to chat about her creative processes, releasing music during a global pandemic, and her sparkling single Superstitious.

Shannen James burst onto international radar in late 2020 with her stellar EP Arrows. As she looks to the year ahead and celebrates touring milestones, James takes a moment to reflect on where she is at in her career ahead of a virtual performance at this year’s SXSW Music Festival.

Shannen James joins our Zoom on a quiet weekday morning in late March. Her presence is immediately uplifting and her energy is infectious; this is one case where the singer undeniably matches the energy of their songs. James is an exciting, new talent in the indie pop/rock space. Her EP Arrows made waves in late 2020; there’s an immense warmth to the songs, they are sprinkled with steady percussion and melodic acoustic guitar. Feelings of nostalgia and carefree summer days are blended with moments of gorgeous lyrical vulnerability.

Each thing that you do leads to the next

Fans of Fleetwood Mac, HAIM and Kacey Musgraves find an easy home in her discography. All of these artists, James says, have influenced her music in some way. She has a relaxed approach to her own songwriting, noting that she never goes into the studio with too much of a plan. “I go in and let the inspiration happen as it comes and not necessarily think about it too much,” she says. “Everything that you’ve consumed in your life tends to play out within what you write and what you sound like.” We are all a product of what we consume, the world around us, and more importantly, from where we draw inspiration. James is no different.

“Sonically I knew that I wanted to make something that felt like it was somewhat throwback. It feels like it’s inspired from another era but it has modern textures and is grounded in today.” After each subsequent listen, one finds themselves picking a new favorite song. Looking back, she sees Arrows as a vital stepping stone toward the rest of her career. James is always moving, always creating. Her drive and creativity is apparent in the way that she describes her music and plans for the future. “Each thing that you do leads to the next,” she says.

The bizarre nature of releasing music during a global pandemic wasn’t lost on James. “It was one of those surreal moments. I’ve released this EP but I’m also sitting at home on my couch,” she says. The music industry continued to push forward with a “show-must-go-on” mentality despite the limitations of the pandemic, so James knows that she is not alone in her experience. At the end of the day, she speaks on this release with nothing but pride, “It was a really good body of work for me to then expand on in the next songs that I’m releasing,” she says. “Now it has its own story.”

There’s joy in being with someone, in this moment all coming together and the stars aligning

2021 saw the release of her newest single Superstitious. An absolutely gorgeous follow up to Arrows, Superstitious sees James maintain her lane of feel-good, catchy indie pop with lyrics that hit close to home. The magic of the song is further supported by the simple yet wildly effective music video, a collaboration with her friends Natalia (choreographer) and Ellena (director). James thrives under collaboration and goes into all creative endeavors with receiving energy. “It’s a really open conversation,” she says. By working with long-time friends and people she trusts, she’s able to tap into the talents and creativity of others with full confidence that they have the best intentions. Having the confidence to speak an opinion when something isn’t working or the courage to try something unfamiliar are elements of the process that James truly values. This strength and self-assuredness comes across so beautifully, both in her songwriting and production as well as in her visuals.

Superstitious tells a story of new love that is so relatable it hurts. “There’s joy in being with someone, in this moment all coming together and the stars aligning,” she explains. “It feels too good to be true.” The music video is set against a cloudy sky, yet James is dressed in a bright yellow suit, dancing. The melody is playful and bouncy, but upon closer listening, James tells a story of doubt and fear in losing a love. “When you have a really fun, upbeat song, you have to have those little moments that pull it back down to reality.” James toes the line between the inherent happiness in pop music and the reality of her lyrics expertly. Superstitious has one experiencing these doubts right alongside James.

I like playing with colors and I think it emotes different things in different people

The yellow elements seen in both the music video and the single artwork aren’t the first examples of James playing with color. She often experiences sound-to-color synesthesia when creating, describing and visualizing her music. “When we’re recording something I’m like, ‘The bass needs to feel a little more purple,” she laughs and continues, “I don’t know what it means either but that’s how it feels.” This comes across in a major way with Arrows. “Every time I spoke about the EP I said it felt really warm to me,” she muses. For someone whose music is so vibrant and full of life, it is no wonder that she associates strong, musical emotions with various colors. And, she doesn’t think this will be the last time she places importance on that visual cue. “I like playing with colors and I think it emotes different things in different people. I think it’ll be a continuation of that, for me. I can’t tell you too much, but…” she concludes with a smile.

We were able to get a small taste of what a Shannen James show looks like during her fabulous virtual performance at this year’s SXSW Online. This launched her into her first headlining tour in Australia, which she wrapped up in May with two sold out shows in her hometown of Melbourne. “I remember, even a few years ago, being like, ‘If I could sell out a show at the Northcote Social Club, that’s a dream.’” It is an absolute joy to watch this rising star accomplishing her goals. We conclude our chat with reflections on SXSW and our desires to be in person in Texas next year, listening to music together. We cannot wait to see what the rest of 2021 and beyond brings for this true talent.

Shannen James would like to bring more awareness to the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre in Melbourne. This charity is important to James and her family; she credits the staff for their generous support and kindness during her grandmother’s illness. You can make a donation here.