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ITALIANO
Questo viaggio intimo nel mondo incantevole di Monica Marengo (nome d’arte: Monica Shannon) e' la testimonianza perfetta delle vette di professionalita' tecnica e creativa alle quali un artista indipendente puo' aspirare oggi. Dotata di una voce sensuale e di pensieri da condividere, e sostenuta da una squadra tecnica organizzata e ben attrezzata, Monica non ha nessuna difficolta' nel cantare col cuore in mano dell’esistenza umana, dei rapporti umani e dei problemi globali, e a fare conoscere i suoi pensieri al mondo intero. I suoi testi scivolano facilmente su uno sfondo musicale dominato dal pianoforte, dalla tastiera e dai ritmi, che fornisce una profondita', spessore e varieta' ad ogni brano senza mai entrare in competizione con la voce e il messaggio dell’artista stessa. Le influenze celtiche (irlandesi) sono evidenti sin dai brani di apertura e sono apertamente dichiarate nella scelta del nome d’arte e la decisione dell’artista di cantare quasi esclusivamente in lingua inglese, ma le influenze mediterranee non passano inosservate nell’arrangiamento musicale dei brani e nell’accento caldo e accativante dell’artista. L’album “Beyond 9” ricorre alle esperienze personali di Monica e alle esperienze di coloro che le stanno vicino nella vita quotidiana ed e', nelle parole stesse dell’artista, una specie di ‘concept album’ basato sui quattro elementi: terra, aria, acqua e fuoco. Cio' nonostante, per quanto riguarda l’ascoltatore rimane, soprattutto, un’incursione delicata nei pensieri privati di un’anima sensibile che si preoccupa per l’uomo, il futuro del mondo e i suoi abitanti precari.
ENGLISH
This intimate journey into the enchanting world of Monica Marengo (stage name: Monica Shannon) is a perfect testimony to the heights of technical and creative professionalism to which an independent artist can aspire today. Gifted with a sensual voice and thoughts to share, and backed up by an organized and well-equipped technical team, Monica has no difficulty in pinning her heart on her sleeve regarding human existence, human relationships and global issues, and in letting her thoughts be known to the world at large. Her lyrics slide smoothly on a musical background dominated by piano, keyboards and rhythms that provides depth, breadth and variety to each track without ever entering into competition with the voice and message of the artist herself. The Celtic (Irish) influences are evident from the opening tracks and openly declared in the choice of stage name and the artist’s decision to sing almost exclusively in English, but the Mediterranean influences do not pass unnoticed in the musical arrangement of the tracks and in the artist’s warm and endearing accent. The album “Beyond 9” draws on Monica’s personal experiences and the experiences of those who are close to her in her daily life and is, in the artist’s own words, a sort of concept album based on the four elements: earth, air, water and fire. Nonetheless, as far as the listener is concerned it remains, above all, a delicate foray into the private thoughts of a sensitive soul concerned for man, the future of the world and its precarious inhabitants. - Imisound
Mixato da Claudio Borroni e masterizzato da Bill Jacobs a New York, il lavoro di Monica merita di essere ascoltato per la qualita' dei panorami sonori, l'accuratezza del timbro della voce e anche per gli arrangiamenti. La separazione tra le tracce e' ben fatta ma l'amalgama c'e' tutta ed e' molto piacevole e naturale. Una bella produzione, non c'e' che dire.
Luca Pilla - Mixxnow Hall of Fame
Discography
Beyond 9 - Copyright 2007
Produced by Monica Shannon
All songs are:
WRITTEN by Monica Marengo (Shannon) except Up and Down, The Shadows among the Trees, I'm Aware and My Sheltering Sky by Monica Marengo (Shannon) and Riccardo Prestianni.
ARRANGED by Riccardo Prestianni and Monica Shannon except The Shadows among the Trees by Stefano Pulga and My Sheltering Sky by Valerio Vado.
MIXED by Claudio Borroni except The Shadows among the Trees by Stefano Pulga.
MASTERED by Bill Jacobs - Sonikwheel Productions NY
ARTWORK by Mariangela Zabatino
The album is now available on Cdbaby and Apple iTunes.
Album Story:
I am “9” and you?
You know, behind your birth date there is a number.
If you add all the numbers of your birth date, you will get it!
This special number tells about your general features, interests and dreams.
It is really curious and interesting to compare your number with the one of your parents, partner and friends.
But, for sure, there is something more “beyond that number", that’s your innermost spirit, that’s you!
Now you know the reason why I chose 9 songs for my first album!
I conceived my album thinking about the four elements.
The Island and Up and Down are WATER. They are completely inspired by the sea and its creatures. The Island is dedicated to an enchanting place in Ireland, the Skellig Rocks. Up and Down draws its origin from my love for whales. It has been written during my journey to the Azores Islands, in the heart of the Atlantic Ocean.
Marina’s Tale and Soul Portrait are FIRE. They talk about love at first sight, a strong emotion and a boundless passion. Marina’s Tale is the adventure that my friend experienced in Australia, a marvellous place so faraway from ordinary life. Soul Portrait is a love story, an unmentioned love, representing my best friend’s soul.
The Iron Train, The Shadows among the Trees and I’m Aware are EARTH. They are about important realities and how much it is important to find the meaning of our lives. The Iron Train is the longest train in the world, crossing Mauritania, from the heart of the country to the Atlantic Ocean. It is a goods train, carrying iron ore but people living there, consider it a “hope train”. In fact, they travel through the desert, three times per week, lying on the iron for 16 hours, just for a few coins and a piece of bread. Unfortunately it is true, unfortunately it is real. The Shadows among the Trees is dedicated to all our dreams, to remind us that we have to follow them, always and forever, finding the meaning of our lives. I’m Aware is inspired by a letter that one of my friends wrote after travelling to Laos, one of the countries where people fight, every day, against unexploded landmines. This song is surely dedicated to all those people who devote their lives to help and save the others.
My Sheltering Sky and Infinita Infinita' are AIR. They are inspired by our instinct and from where it comes. My Sheltering Sky is our spiritual guide, because, when we make a choice, we are never alone. Infinita Infinita' is our soul and its immensity.
Enjoy!
Love, Monica Shannon
Photos
Bio
Welcome to the world of Monica Shannon.
I have been singing and writing songs for more than ten years. When I was 12, I started playing piano and noting my first inspirations. I had a great teacher, Mr Aldo Garavini, musician at “La Scala Orchestra” in Milan. He introduced me to the magic music world of Prokofiev, Bela Bartok, Debussy; he taught me how poetry inspires music and vice versa. I remember that when I played the piano, he used to read a poem and, during one of those sessions, I got to know Dylan Thomas and Octavio Paz as well...unforgettable lessons!
Then, when I was 17, I started singing and, at the same time, I wrote my first soundtrack for a comedy in my home town theatre, “La Verita' di Mezzanotte” (Midnight Truth). In order to improve my vocal technique, I took jazz style classes with a famous singer, Tiziana Ghiglioni. During that period I was invited to be the lead vocalist of a jazz-swing band performing standards in pubs and theatres.
I have always been looking for my innermost artistic direction and I thought that travelling was the right way to start and open my mind towards different cultures and music styles. The place where I started this adventure is Ireland. A lot of songs of mine are actually inspired by traditional celtic music and then arranged in a modern key.
An increasing collaboration with other artists has also improved my creativity. First of all, with my previous band, the “Diadema”, I produced a quality demo of my repertoire and most successful concerts. Later, thank to the support of two talented songwriters and producers, Riccardo Prestianni and Sebastiano Barbagallo, I had the opportunity to re-arrange some of my best songs. Together with them, I recorded two of these songs at Fragile Studio - Lodi, with the great collaboration of the sound engineer Bobby Boughton (Lisa Stansfield).
After various journeys, I am now getting into humanitarian causes. Being a passionate ocean lover, I am totally against the hunting of whales and I think that the way these gentle giants are killed is absolutely appalling. For this reason I decided to become a Greenpeace Ocean Defender. Then, thank to one of my best friends, who visited Laos for a long time, I got to know another important battle against unexploded landmines. I will do my best to support these causes through my music, the aim of which is to convey all my feelings, sensations and emotions and listeners’ feedback will complete the dialog.
I have recently produced my first album “Beyond 9”: an album which includes 9 songs, 5 written by me and 4 in collaboration with Riccardo Prestianni. It was arranged and recorded in Italy but mastered in New York. "Beyond 9" collaborations: Stefano Pulga "The Shadows among the Trees", Valerio Vado (Reverie) "My Sheltering Sky", Claudio Borroni mix, Bill Jacobs - Sonikwheel Productions New York master, Mariangela Zabatino artwork. The album is available from CD Baby and Apple iTunes and has already received some very good feedback from listeners.
Important web sites like Ethereal Voices (Florida), IMIsound and Lineamusica (Italy) have shown their appreciation for my music and offered me a free promotional page.
I have been invited by a Swiss radio station, Radio 3iii, to be their artist of the week, presenting my music and my first album. Other radio stations from the US, Europe and Australia added my album to their playlists.
My song “I’m Aware” has been selected for the Global Rhythm January-February CD compilation that will be distributed in the US, Spain, France and Italy, together with the magazine.
Moreover, last year, after my album release, I started performing with my wonderful ensemble.
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