Shana Halligan’s distinctive vocal style has earned her a global following, drawing attention from high‑profile artists including ten‑time Grammy winner Billie Eilish. Her music has quietly travelled across borders, often surfacing in the background of French cafés and restaurants, where new listeners encounter her work by chance. One such discovery came via a Shazamed track shared between patrons — a moment that underscored the magnetic quality of Halligan’s voice, which consistently commands attention and leaves an everlasting impression.
But there is no indication that her music is inherently melancholic; quite the opposite, in fact. Her songs possess a unique quality that compels one to confront and express the deeply concealed emotions within; feelings that don’t always feel comfortable sharing openly with the world.
The songs Halligan co-produced throughout her career allow for profound introspection, enabling the majority of her listeners regain clarity and self-understanding after connecting themselves with the deepest feelings reflected in the record, The Depths of My Soul.
Emerging from a family of musicians, Halligan cultivated a distinctive musical taste, adapting to the modern era.
Her father’s legacy as an Academy-recognised musician blessed her with both a prominent place within the music industry and a strong inclination towards songwriting. 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.
She first came into the spotlight with the band Bitter:Sweet after meeting Rick Torres and Kiran Shahani when discovering their Craigslist advert seeking a singer to fill an open position. Halligan recalls that after a mere three songs were recorded, a record deal was struck. However, with the swift success came typical pre-performance anxieties and nervousness, a common trait among performers like her, before taking the stage for a large crowd.
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 perform at that moment.
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. Even Billie Eilish’s Teen Party Spotify playlist featured her record, Dirty Laundry.
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 recalls, “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 Bittersweet Faith.
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.
According to Halligan, who shared her thoughts during our interview, the most thrilling element is the potential for this track to be featured as the concluding theme song in the next installment of the Bond film series, a prospect she deems an absolute dream. But even if it won’t, the record will please not only her fans but also all the dedicated admirers who enjoy the 007 aesthetic.
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 under 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.
With regard to his developing passion for music, he confesses to her that he “really likes the vocoder on vocals.” Halligan ponders, saying: “Maybe he will become a producer?”
Despite the challenges in finding a balance between motherhood and her music career, having a wonderful man is a comforting part of her life.
With a partner by her side, making decisions has become much easier for her. At this point in time, she only takes on projects that are worth her valuable time, that do not disturb the serenity of her family life. 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.”
She strives to be a professional role model for her son, and Halligan believes it’s crucial for him to witness her pursuing her passions.
When Alicia Keys turned her chair on The Voice, she didn’t just witness a singer with a sonorous 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:Sweet. It occurred to her spontaneously that she was at a different point in her professional life. Citing that public relations is not the same as it was with her previous albums, the decision was to find a way to reconnect with her fans as a solo-artist.
Alicia Keys stated that her performance was distinctive. 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.”
Shana reflected on her experience with The Voice, saying she had no regrets but wouldn’t do it again, as she understood she wasn’t competitive and, in her personal viewpoint, music is not a tool to compete with.
Authentically creating music proved difficult for her in the 2018 setting of The Voice, as she couldn’t find a connection to the type of environment the show has. She also feels the show offers a significant opportunity, particularly for emerging artists lacking prior experience in touring to promote albums that genuinely reflect their artistic integrity.
Vocalists, over time, develop their own techniques 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 trickiest part for her is being independent of music labels. Having experienced both sides, she shared that working with a team to handle PR, marketing, and significant investment in music promotion during her Bitter:Sweet era was far more effective 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. 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.”
Halligan 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. The overall impression of her time in Kentish Town, Camden, Shoreditch, Brighton, and Portobello Road was a positive one.
This article was written by a University of Brighton journalism student who previously managed an independent music publication and interviewed UK and international artists. The interview was first published in 2020 and since has been revised for style.
