Shannon Venasse

Artist Information

Biography

º°‘¨§hãnnøn¨‘°º is a singer/songwriter/guitarist who was born in Pembroke Ontario and moved to Toronto when she was 21 years old. As far back as Shannon can remember she's always had a passion for music of all kinds. Although she didn't start playing the guitar until she was 23, once she learned she never looked back. Lessons soon followed from various guitar teachers and in the process of learning to play cover songs Shannon discovered her voice. Over the years Shannon has been complimented by many people about her unique and passionate singing voice. Cover tunes became a staple as Shannon started playing at open mic nights in downtown Toronto. Later Shannon got invited to have a small part in a play called "3 women" at the Hamilton Fringe Festival. It was then that she discovered how enjoyable it is to play live for an audience, no matter how nerve racking it can feel. Like all artistic people Shannon eventually wanted to let out her creativity by writing her own songs and playing them live. Her first few attempts were quite compelling for having zero experience with song writing. It wasn't until Shannon quit her job at the time and embarked on a road trip across Canada and the United States that some very radio friendly songs started to surface. Upon her return Shannon continued to write until she had a library of over 25 songs. It was then she decided to start recording with her guitar teacher. Shannon later met Kenny MacLean the former keyboardist/bassist from the popular 80's band PLATINUM BLONDE. He heard her demo and said he was impressed with her catchy yet deep songs and also with her strong singing voice. Kenny recorded 2 songs for Shannon from his home studio to give the then rookie musician an idea of his style. Kenny is a very talented pop producer. Shannon finished her debut album 'The Lion's Share' in October 2007 with Ashton Price from Morph Productions. Shannon is currently living in Halifax, Nova Scotia selling her CD and playing live gigs. Music is Shannon's life and true love. The goal for her music career remains driven yet simple...play, play, play!

www.myspace.com/shannon.venasse

www.shannonvenasse.com

Instrumentation

Meagan Lanchbery - keyboard, Guitar and Back-up Vocals

Discography

The Lion's Share - release date November 2007

Official Website

http://www.shannonvenasse.com

Audio

• Met Your match
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• Life's Little Questions
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• Days Roll By
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• The Lion's Share
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Lyrics

• Met Your Match
• Lifes Little Questions
• Day's Roll By

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Pembroke Musician Releases her first CD [+ Show ]
  

  After only seven years of playing the guitar, Pembroke Ontario native Shannon Venasse has released ... After only seven years of playing the guitar, Pembroke Ontario native Shannon Venasse has released her debut CD entitled 'The Lion's Share'. This has been a long-time in the making for the 30 year old.
  
  As a youngster she recalls joking around and pretending to sing although she was shy and never really thought it would amount to anything. Her mother, Helen Venasse, always believed her only daughter could sing, but Ms. Venasse didn't take her mother's advice until she moved to Toronto when she was 21 years old.
  
  Ms. Venasse shared her passion for music with her mother, who listened to every type of music imaginable. She was always supportive of her daughter's interest in music, but unfortunately she didn't get to see Shannon succeed fully since she died in 2003.
  
  When the long process of making a CD was complete, the decision to dedicate it to her mother was an easy one for Ms. Venasse. "I wanted to dedicate it to her because I know she would have been proud," she said.
  
  Her father Norbert Venasse, who still lives in Pembroke, is proud enough for the both of them. Although, it took a long time to get to the finished product, she is hapy with the end result of all of her hard work. The CD includes what she considers 10 "radio friendly" original songs with a rock/pop sound.
  
  Soon after moving to Toronto, she took an interest in the guitar and her friend taught her how to play. Formal lessons followed. After learning to play and sing cover songs, she wanted more and decided it was time to start writing her own lyrics and music.
  
  A trip across Canada and the United States with a friend in 2001 provided a lot of down time and experience to write about. "I don't have any formal training, but I thought I would try it out," she said recently during a telephone interview from her home in Halifax, Nova Scotia. "I was writing pretty decent songs."
  
  She kept writing until she had 25 songs. When she got back to Toronto she started working with a producer and did some recordings, but she wasn't pleased with the final product. She began her quest to find a band by putting up posters in Toronto. She met Kenny McLean, former keyboardist/bassist from the popular 80's band Platinum Blonde. they don't really have the same style, but she was happy to receive his advice.
  
  She is looking for different ways to sell her CD online and she is busy planning a tour of clubs across Canada to promote the album. Since she had to leave her band in Toronto, it's just Shannon and her guitar on stage. She has received a warm response to her songs at events she has played at in the past.
  
  She currently lives in Halifax, where she is playing local clubs and gathering material for her sophmore record.
  
  

• Interview at Dal
  

  My first radio interview done at Dalhousie Universtiy in Halifax 88.1fm on Novemeber 14, 2007.

• New singer/songwriter's talents in full bloom [+ Show ]
  

  Reviewed by Carson James Shannon Venasse/The Lion’s Share Shannon Venasse is a new artist of p...Reviewed by Carson James
  
  Shannon Venasse/The Lion’s Share
  
  Shannon Venasse is a new artist of promise, some of which is in full bloom on her album, The Lion’s Share. Venasse is a talented singer/songwriter who will eventually evolve into something special. You can hear the future in “Met Your Match,” wherein her singing is reminscent of Chrissie Hynde’s bittersweet glow, and in the K.D. Lang-ish dreamy romanticism of the title track. Those songs are so good that they threaten to outshine the remainder of The Lion’s Share.
  
  Nevertheless, with repeated spins most of the cuts on the album start displaying qualities that make this record a worthwhile purchase. “Days Roll By” features sun-gold mandolin that gives the song added spice while the jubilant trumpets in “You Lost Me” inject it with a ’60s vibe. I love how naked and sparse Venasse’s voice is in “Surprise,” and “Life’s Little Questions” has her sharpest lyrics.
  
  The production is a cut above the usual indie scale, which is important in relatively mellow singer/songwriter offerings such as this.
  
  http://www.myspace.com/shannonvenasse
  

• Radio Interview [+ Show ]
  

  I was interviewed by the morning announcer Nick Sawicki at Mix 103.7 fm in Fort McMurray Alberta for...I was interviewed by the morning announcer Nick Sawicki at Mix 103.7 fm in Fort McMurray Alberta for the show called Northern Spotlight. They also played 2 of my songs.

Setlist

2 hour set of:

-my originals
-co-written songs
-several covers

Basic Requirements

Calendar