This article was written by a University of Brighton journalism student who previously managed an independent music publication and interviewed prominent UK and international artists. The interview was first published in 2020 and since has been revised for style.
With her incredible and unique voice, singer-songwriter Shana has captivated a global audience, even earning the attention of five-time Grammy winner Billie Eilish. You can hear her music in many French cafés and restaurants; a friend once Shazamed one of her lovely songs and shared it with me. Not only were her vocals incredibly impressive, but they also completely captivated my attention and left me spellbound.
I am not suggesting that her music is inherently upsetting; quite the opposite, in fact. Her music possesses a unique quality that compels me to confront and express the deeply concealed emotions within me — emotions I don’t always feel comfortable sharing openly with the world. The songs she composed allowed for profound introspection, enabling me to regain clarity and self-understanding after I linked them with my deepest feelings, reflected in the title The Depths of My Soul. To be perfectly clear, this was the title of the song I luckily found, marking the beginning of Shana’s involvement.
It was late on 3 December, at precisely 10:11 p.m., that our team received an email from Nate Sirotta, Shana’s publicist, expressing his interest in our earlier request to conduct an exclusive interview with the celebrated star. An email from the singer herself, received the next day, confirmed that our request had been successfully processed and approved. We were ecstatic and immediately started researching this talented artist’s remarkable career.
Her father’s legacy as an Academy-recognised musician blessed her with both a prominent place in music history and a strong inclination towards composing. She is the daughter of Richard Bernard “Dick” Halligan, an American singer and composer formerly with the jazz-rock band Blood, Sweat & Tears. His Grammy for Best Instrumental Performance was for Variations on a Theme by Erik Satie, from the Blood, Sweat & Tears album recorded on 9 October 1968. Coming from a family of musicians, Shana cultivated a distinctive musical taste, adapting to the modern era.
She first came into the spotlight with the band Bitter. She did not hesitate to apply after meeting Rick Torres and Kiran Shahani and finding their Craigslist advert in search of a singer to fill an open position. Shana recalls that after a mere three songs were recorded, a record deal was offered to them. Like many performers, she had the typical pre-performance anxieties and nervousness before a show.
She always remembered the night at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles as a momentous occasion. Overwhelmed by jitters that night, she confessed to the band, “We shouldn’t even be playing here; no one’s going to come!” Self-doubt plagued her backstage. “Then the curtain opened, and it was sold out, packed wall to wall with screaming die-hard fans who seemingly came out of nowhere. I was so taken by that beautiful audience,” she acknowledges, realising how fortunate she was to be part of such an enormous occurrence.
Her music has been incredibly successful, appearing in numerous major films and TV shows, including Sex and the City, Desperate Housewives, Grey’s Anatomy, The Devil Wears Prada, NCIS: Los Angeles, Smallville, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Dirty Laundry is one of her songs featured on Billie Eilish’s Teen Party Spotify playlist.
Her projects and compositions are invariably praiseworthy. Her records are still discussed years after their release. YouTube comments, for instance, identify both The Depths of My Soul and No More Disguise as 007 soundtracks. “While the band Bitter was considered for several James Bond films,” Shana remembers, “that wasn’t planned; I was simply captivated by the alluring, romantic, timeless, and dangerous sound we created, reminiscent of the spy genre.”
Invited by Rob Garza of Thievery Corporation to contribute her “vibes” to his “beautiful idea,” which became The Depth of My Soul, she characterised the song as both haunting and dreamy. She loved collaborating with Rob and Thievery Corporation, having known them since they remixed her song Bitter.
Recently, she also wrote a song titled Rise, which is “all about rising from the ashes,” with her friend Verskotzi. She dedicated this song to her father and promises “the most stunning string arrangement for it” with the help of Serj Tankian from System of a Down, the astounding and Grammy-awarded musician. The best part, Shana mentions in our interview, is that it is “absolutely a dream to hear that track one day as the end title song for the next Bond film.” Could that be a possible hint? Even if it is not, we hope the record will please not only her fans but also all the dedicated admirers who enjoy the 007 soundtracks.
There are not many prominent names in stardom that can balance both family and fame at the same time. Mostly, the juxtaposition of these two has one thing in common — love. Usually, it becomes laborious to keep both in control. It is tough to find a partner with whom you can share both, but for Shana, it was not only one; it was a plus one.
His name is Otis, and at only four years old, he has already started showing an interest in music. Without putting pressure on him, his mother “loves watching him bloom.” Noticing his growing attentiveness to music, he recently told her that he “really likes the vocoder on vocals.” She joyfully added, smiling, “Maybe he will become a producer!” We are certain that prosperity will follow him in whatever purpose he desires.
Despite the challenges, having “a wonderful man” by her side “helps tremendously.” Making decisions has become much easier for her, and now she only takes on projects that are worth her valuable time “to take me away from my family,” she adds. “I say ‘no’ more easily to things that don’t make sense instead of saying yes to everything. But when I do say yes, it’s because I know it really means something.”
Presenting herself as a strict professional, she wants to be “a strong example for my son, so it’s important for him to see me follow my passion.”
When Alicia Keys turned her chair on The Voice, she didn’t just see a woman with a beautiful voice but a distinctive individual whose talent was gleaming on the stage. It happened in 2018 when Halligan was one of the contestants on the show. The industry had changed a lot since her last triumph with Bitter. She decided “to try something out of the box,” reflecting that it was “a different time. PR is not the same as it was with my previous albums.” Her decision was “a way to find my fans again as a solo artist.”
The constant truth Alicia had mentioned was that “there was something unique” about her performance. Her rendition of Nancy Sinatra’s Bang Bang left the crowd impressed and applauding. During the competition, she remembers the positive atmosphere she was in.
When asked about her time with Alicia, she said, “Alicia is a lovely human and a true artist. Naturally, being in her presence was impactful, and I felt grateful to be in her energy.” Alluding to her experience on The Voice, Shana said she didn’t regret it, although she wouldn’t want to do it again, realising that she’s not a competitive person and that “music is not a tool to compete with.”
Creating music authentically and organically — she wasn’t able to “find a connection in that type of environment.” She also believes that for some, the show is a tremendous platform, “particularly if you haven’t had as much experience as I had touring and putting out albums I created from my soul.”
Vocalists, over time, develop their own technique for singing. When Shana was asked about hers, she replied confidently: “The number one gift you can give yourself as a singer is to be you. Inspiration always plays a huge role in creating a sound for yourself, but it’s when you are singing either the words that you wrote or a song that resonates so deeply with every bone in your body that you are not even on the earth anymore. You are your best self. Your highest self. I’m not saying that when I was young and first learning, I didn’t go through periods where I emulated or focused solely on technique. I absolutely did. But when I really stepped into my own voice, that’s when I felt free. People will always connect with something that is real. I choose that over any vocal technique or coaching, every time.”
The tricky question for her was about being an independent artist. Explaining that she has been on both sides, working with a team that “provided the PR, marketing, and spent a lot of money and time making sure the music was heard” during her Bitter days, she admitted that it was much better than self-promotion.
“Social media is not my forte, and I’m a big believer in surrounding yourself with people better and more experienced than you. My forte is creating, and I was lucky enough to solely be able to do just that,” she adds. Particularly interesting was the fact that “there are so many artists out there; it’s very difficult to stand out and be discovered without a magical viral situation or something very fortuitous that sets you apart.”
When Shana started out in music, she thought being an independent artist was “a great thing.” Now, her inner self tells her, “truthfully, I would prefer a strong support system and a label that can help connect some dots.”
Favourite artists are often those who inspire our lives. Without us, their fans, they wouldn’t exist, and conversely, without them, there wouldn’t be any motivating forces, revolutions, or encouragement. Can you imagine life without the ability to express yourself openly? The world would be immovable.
Shana is influenced by artists like Marian Hill, Odesza, James Blake, and Billie Holiday. At this moment, she is also a fan of Billie Eilish, who is “losing herself” between her brother’s production and her sultry, dark vocals.
When Shana Halligan visited the United Kingdom to perform at the Royal Albert Hall in London, she also took on some recording work. Spending time in Kentish Town, Camden, Shoreditch, Brighton, and Portobello Road, she experienced the different energies throughout the city. However, her food preferences were won over by Indian cuisine. Spices have captured the hearts of millions from different nationalities — and even Shana’s.
