WHAT IS PULSE?
Pulse Music Journal is Saskatchewan’s hub for music indulgers. We ‘eat/sleep/breathe’ the music and entertainment industry – plug into our outlet while we highlight new music, recap live performances, and interview the biggest names, local legends, and the newest initiatives surrounding our local music scene. We are honoured to be a leading cultural staple in the Saskatchewan music and entertainment scene.
WE SUPPORT SASKATCHEWAN’S ENTERTAINMENT & MUSIC SCENE
Whether it’s reaching out to a newly released project, musician or creating a spotlight for local talent to be heard on any of our stages, as well as opportunities to be heard opening for larger acts on our full-venue stage. We look forward to reopen and launch our newest concepts that strongly support the local music in our city. The local music scene is super important to us – we are a small city, but we have big dreams. Let’s grow and support each other – putting Saskatchewan on the map for premium music and entertainment experience.
“I’VE NEVER BEEN MORE READY, OR MORE HUNGRY”
– SHANTAIA
FROM THE PRAIRIES OF SASKATCHEWAN TO NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – SHANTAIA IS MAKING NOISE IN THE COUNTRY MUSIC WORLD.
Growing up in Saskatchewan, Shantaia’s country music dreams came at an early age. Writing songs about her life and experiences, entering music competitions, winning music competitions, and performing at major music festivals. Shantaia dreams as an artist and performer are coming true, and she has earned every minute of her career. The recent success of the ‘Chapter One’ EP has earned her major radio plays and huge streaming numbers. If we said her music was about to get even greater attention – that would be an understatement. Shantaia is making a big move for her career in Nashville, Tennessee. Saskatchewan could not be more proud of the songstress.
Shantaia joins us to talk about her successful 2019 and 2020, the new ‘Chapter One’ EP, the method of her songwriting, her big move to Nashville, her Nashville venue bucket list, what musicians inspire her music, future dreams of collaborating with the biggest names in Country Music, and so much more.
COMING OFF OF A SUCCESSFUL 2019 AND INTO 2020.
HOW DID YOU USE THE 2019 SCMA EMERGING ARTIST RECOGNITION TO FUEL YOUR CRAFT IN 2020? WHAT DID THAT PROVIDE YOU?
SHANTAIA: Winning an SCMA award is such an honour, and it has definitely helped my resume in many ways! This award helped me grow my team in 2020, and also was a huge factor in helping me get my O-1 Visa approved for moving to Nashville! I can’t wait for the next SCMA awards now that I have released new music!
YOU RECENTLY RELEASED CHAPTER ONE EP
WHICH FEATURED THE SONG “TWO CENTS” AS TRACK #1. FOUR MONTHS LATER, “TWO CENTS” IS HAVING CRAZY RADIO AND STREAMING SUCCESS. HOW DOES IT FEEL TO HAVE ALL 4 TRACKS OF YOUR EP MAKING NOISE? TELL US THE STORY ABOUT HOW “TWO CENTS” MADE IT ONTO THE EP.
SHANTAIA: It means so much that all of these tracks on “Chapter One” have connected and resonated with so many people from all over the world! It’s crazy how we can reach such a large audience with streaming and digital platforms. “Two Cents” is particularly special to me, as it was written with a fellow Saskatchewan Native Ryan Sorestad, who has been been living in Nashville for about 7 years now. It was the first time we were ever meeting, let alone writing a song together, when I was on a trip to Nashville about 4 years ago now. Ryan and I 100% clicked as friends and co-writers, and he’s now my go to guy for a co-write, and for a peptalk! The song has always had that something about it that always felt like ME. The message, the sound, and the sass of the song is completely in line with me as an artist. Getting this song on the EP was somewhat difficult, as a few people along the way didn’t believe in it as much as I did. But I knew it was meant to be, and was determined for it to be apart of “Chapter One”. Here we are, and it’s a fan favourite!
Click this “Two Cents” Single Cover to listen
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YOUR LYRICS ALLOW YOUR FANS TO CONNECT ON A DEEPER LEVEL.
WHAT INSPIRES YOUR MUSIC, ARE THEY ALL PERSONAL EXPERIENCES? DO YOU WRITE ALL OF YOUR MUSIC YOURSELF OR ARE THEIR OTHERS YOUR COLLABORATE WITH?
SHANTAIA: Many things inspire my lyrics! Mostly personal experiences, but I often like to write from someone else’s perspective or even make up a fun story, kind of like im acting in someone else’s life. That’s the beauty of music, it’s all about being a creative! I do write alone a lot but prefer to co-write with some of my favourite writers. Two (or more sometimes) heads are better than one!
WHAT WAS IT THAT FINALLY MADE YOU DECIDE TO MAKE THE MOVE TO NASHVILLE?
YOU HAVE A LARGE SUPPORT SYSTEM HERE IN SASKATCHEWAN, ARE YOU HEADED THERE SOLO? OR WILL ANYONE BE COMING ALONG WITH YOU?
SHANTAIA: The big push that helped me in deciding to move to Nashville was my trip back there in September 2019 for my AmericanaFest Showcase. I hadn’t been back there in a while, and it really restored a lot of inspiration and determination. I spent the whole year planning and educating myself on work visas and truly worked extremely hard to get to this point! I will be going solo, but I have a lot of friends and a huge support system in Nashville as well that i’m excited to get to!
Shantaia performing at AmericanaFest 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee
FROM THE PRAIRIES, TO TORONTO, TO A COUNTRY STARS BIGGEST DREAM.
WHAT DOES THE MOVE TO NASHVILLE MEAN FOR YOUR CAREER? DO YOU HAVE ANY VENUES ON THE BUCKET LIST ALREADY IN NASHVILLE?
SHANTAIA: Thank you! It has definitely been one crazy ride getting here, but its happening! And I’m so grateful! The biggest and the best come out of Nashville, and lately I’ve had the opportunities to work with and get aquatinted with some of the biggest and the best from Music City. I truly think it is going to be a constant grind and hustle, which I’ve never been more ready, or hungry for. Moving there means that I have the chance to really flourish as a songwriter and artist, and put it all to the test! And that is one of the most exciting feelings ever! I’m excited to be playing shows at The Row, Belcourt Taps, Alley Taps, and maybe even The Listening Room. Without a doubt, The Bluebird Cafe, The Listening Room and Whiskey Jam are on the top of my list and I hope to be able to announce a show or two in that direction within the coming months!
WHAT IS YOUR PLAN ONCE YOU TOUCH DOWN IN MUSIC CITY?
HAVE YOU PREVIOUSLY GAINED CONNECTIONS IN THE CITY OR WILL YOU BE STARTING OUT FRESH?
SHANTAIA: I do have a lot of friends and connections in Music City! I have built them over the last 5 years of travelling there to record and write music! My manager, Jordyn Elliott is also living in Nashville, so i’m excited to get to work with her more in depth once I’m there! There may be new music in the works once I get there, but you’ll just have to wait and see for that announcement!
WHAT MUSICIANS INSPIRE YOUR MUSIC?
DO YOU FIND YOURSELF GAINING INSPIRATION FROM PRIMARILY COUNTRY MUSICIANS OR IS THERE ANOTHER GENRE THAT INFLUENCES YOUR SONG WRITING?
SHANTAIA: I definitely get a lot of inspiration from new country music, but also pull inspiration from current pop artists like Halsey and Julia Michaels! Major country influences right now would be Maren Morris and Kelsea Ballerini!
IF YOU COULD COLLAB WITH ANY A-LIST COUNTRY MUSIC STAR, WHO WOULD IT BE?
SHANTAIA: That is such a hard question, but I have a list of 4 people that come to mind immediately, and that would be; Martina McBride, Maren Morris, Brett Eldrege and Morgan Wallen. I grew up loving and adoring Martina, and she is definitely one of my idols and vocal inspirations. Maren, Brett, and Morgan all have such unique sounds that I have adored for years, and their genuine artistry keeps me so intrigued in whats to come next from them. True talent from all of these artists and I would be honoured to even just meet them some day!
SASKATCHEWAN IS ONE OF THE LARGEST REGIONS OF COUNTRY MUSIC SUPPORTERS.
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO HAVE HAD YOUR MUSIC CAREER START IN SASKATCHEWAN? AND HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A ROLE MODEL FOR ASPIRING COUNTRY MUSICIANS?
SHANTAIA: I am such a proud Saskatchewan girl, and so much talent comes from this province! To be apart of that at all, is an incredible feeling. I think for many years a lot of people underestimated the talent in Saskatchewan, and I can honestly say that I think it’s almost impossible to NOT notice the amount of outstanding talent that comes out of here! It’s inspiring to see! I just want to make Saskatchewan proud, and all the radio stations, venues and fans that have supported my journey since the beginning! It means the world to me, and I’m proud to be a Sasky girl!
WHEN DID YOU KNOW YOU WANTED TO BE A COUNTRY MUSIC STAR?
WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE TO THOSE FOLLOWING YOUR FOOTSTEPS?
SHANTAIA: My parents started me very young in music, 3 years old to be exact. I was a very outgoing, determined little girl, and I know that every time a teacher in elementary school asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, every answer was “Superstar” or “Country Singer”. So I guess you could say I kind of always knew this was what I was destined to do! It just became apart of who I was, apart of my identity, and I don’t think I would know what to do with myself if music was taken away from me! The best advice I could give aspiring artists would be work hard, educate yourself on everything, and I mean EVERYTHING. You can never stop learning in this business. And remember, it is a business, you don’t just sing and write songs, there is much more to this than just that. Last but not least, stay grounded and humble. You’re never better than anyone else, and the minute you act like you are, you’ll learn some hard lessons. Support everyone around you, especially if you’re a woman in this industry! Women tend to compete with each other because were told we need to do that, but we need to lift each other up and help one another out. The music industry is about more than just you!
TO SUPPORT SHANTAIA ON HER MOVE TO NASHVILLE – CLICK HERE.
UPCOMING EVENTS
WHAT EVENTS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO…
LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT’S TO COME…
