Shije
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Shije

New York City, New York, United States

New York City, New York, United States
Band Americana Singer/Songwriter

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This band has not uploaded any videos

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The best kept secret in music

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"Shije Debut CD Review"

Hometown Singer Debuts CD
A hometown musician makes good music with an impressive range of musical styles in her debut self-titled "Shije" CD. Her name is pronounced SHE-ah, like Sheila with no "L". By any name she’s a versatile performer with brains, range and talent. If you like getting lost in the moods of Neil Young or Tori Amos, or you’ve grown tired of Alanis Morissette et al, then Shije’s debut album is well-worth discovering. From the dramatic opener Skin, the grim Dirty Money or the passionate, bluesy reading of Mellencamp’s Martha Say, there are many fine moments. See My Eyes is an imaginative adaptation of The Temple from Jesus Christ Superstar with additional words and music by Shije and the CD’s coproducer and guitarist Brian Monroney, whose credits include gigs with Gloria Estefan and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Her other colleagues on this CD claim credits with Bonnie Raitt, Jean-Luc Ponty, Mark O’Connor, Paul McCartney, Taj Mahal, Jann Arden, Amy Grant, Buddy Guy, Ronnie Wood, Julio Iglesias the impressive list goes on forever and they are as diverse as they are delectable. But its Shije’s own moving words, music and interpretations that make the album. The dark and rocking Skin comes across like a grunge dirge for a Gen-X drug casualty: "He had to get out of his skin/handprint on a dusty day/He was my friend/nine years trying to kick it/finally got out of his skin/no-show mary/notifying next-of-kin/april babies/need somebody now to let them in." My choice cut is Santa Ana Winds , a dreamy affair with a view from Flagstaff, Arizona which hits you like cool night air. The song also allows the listener a moment alone with Shije’s tender vocals and the mood generated is almost hypnotic. Think folk-era Joni Mitchell wailing Ventura Highway. Bliss.
Hip-hop, gospel, jazz and reggae influence combine in the spirited Dig Yo Grave. The high price of selling out is the pithy theme of country-rocking Fools Gold and struggles for survival are artfully chronicled in the plaintive Dirty Money and Julie Someday, both fragile songs which head for the soul, the latter climaxing with a loud cry of organ and wailing vocal. Every Road Leads Back To You is a wistful wanderer’s Jewel-tinged anthem. Her voice is warm and balanced, yet tunes like the grooving See My Eyes prove wholeheartedly that this gal can belt ‘em out with the best of ‘em. The CD also includes two poetic odes to love lost. The soulful Anything postulates: "We are hummingbirds, butterflies, fragments of light, seeking to find our way home." Shije’s emotional range is showcased in the moving Alone With the Fire: "I wanted your fire/but love, you burn me/There’s a hole in my pocket/I feel a hole in my heart/I know I’ll never stop my crying/so I won’t let myself start."
From slow tempos, rhythmic grooves, radio pop, to loud rockin’ blues, this record covers much terrain.
The Texas-born singer grew up in Las Vegas and Los Alamos, New Mexico. The Shije CD is played on KRSN-FM, Los Alamos and has been No.1 for two weeks and in the top ten for several weeks at New Mexico State's radio station KRUX-FM.
This is an indie release, but hot property won’t remain on the market long and I won’t be at all surprised when the bidding war between major labels erupts soon for Shije’s signature.

Content compiled August 1999 from
Las Cruces Sun-News, S. Derrickson Moore
Vicious Kitten Rock ‘Zine, Denis Gray
21st Century Women, KUNV-FM
Los Alamos Monitor
LV CityLife Magazine, May 20, 1999 - Las Cruces Sun-News, S. Derrickson Moore


Discography

Shije, the self-titled debut of 12 songs won Top 20 Demos of the year from Music Connection Magazine, and 1st choice for "pop-country" comparing her to Bobbie Gentry of "Ode to Bille Joe" fame.

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Bio

To a click track, the dancers and singer have done halftime shows at sold-out sports events. Shije regularly sings her national anthem at NHL, NBA & baseball events. As a special events soloist, by March 2008, Shije had sung the song "Let There Be Peace On Earth" for five years in the U.N.
"Something different about my band is we love doing meet & greets, and have become known in some markets, like Las Vegas for arranging to announce our gig & play live on the radio for the FM Rock station's morning disc jockeys 9am Traffic Jam show. Makes our shows packed when radio works with us like that, so we'd be good for venues that already have that local radio scheduling connection. "