Photo interview: Dallas musician Shanti Michelle

by Zach Lewis of Zlew.net

Two of the most prolific parts of my blog are: Live music pics/reviews, and studio pics/portraits. I thought it might be interesting to meld the two worlds together a little bit and do a studio photo shoot with an artist, and accompany that with a really simple interview with a few basic questions. The first in this series is the very talented and lovely Shanti Michelle:

Zlew.net: Name, Rank and Serial Number:

Michelle: Shanti Michelle, 28 years old, Hometown: Grand Prairie TX

Zlew.net: How long would you say you have been a musician?

Michelle: Since I was six. I actually have a recording of me on the guitar when I was six playing a song that I wrote. At seventeen I really started to pick music back up. I was a long distance runner and after I blew out my knees, mom taught me the dulcimer to help me pass the time. I played in coffee shops during high school as a hobby, but it was at twenty six after living in Mexico to study the guitar that I figured out that this was my calling and what I wanted to purse in life.

Zlew.net: Can you tell me who a few of your favorite local artists are?

Michelle: Becky Middleton, Eric Tipton, Joshua Ingram, Brad Thompson, Johnny Rollins, Molly Venter (Austin)

Zlew.net: If you could only keep three of your possessions, and get rid of everything else, what would you take with you?

Michelle: I would take my Guitar, my cat, and my bike Bike (Trek 5200).

(More on her bike, which I must admit I lust after, in a bit.)

Zlew.net: If you could only listen to one album, what would it be?

Michelle: My parents are both musicians, and when I was young they recorded an album together; that would be the one album I would keep if I had to choose.

Zlew.net: You have played in quite a few venues around the Dallas and Fort Worth area, what are some of your favorites?

Michelle: The Listening Room (Club Dada), Opening Bell (South Side on Lamar), and 8.0 in Fort Worth.

Zlew.net: One of the things I struggle with is trying to define someone’s sound or style. I think “folk” and “indie” are overused and most times don’t do justice or accurately describe any given music. How would you characterize your style and sound?

Michelle: That is a good question. I would say that my music is mellow with a little bit of blues and country influences.

Zlew.net: In one sentence, how do you want to be remembered?

Michelle: As an expression of unconditional love.

I have been giving Shanti a little bit of grief over the fact that I can’t buy her music anywhere right now, and I really wanted a copy of her song “Fools Are a Long Line Comin’” for my play list at home. After we finished with the photo shoot and the interview, she broke out her guitar, her iPod, and a microphone that plugs into the bottom of the iPod (I didn't know that existed). She then went on to play and record that song, and a few others for me right there on the spot. Pretty sweet!

Shanti will be leaving Texas soon, but she will be riding her bike back from New Mexico in about a month. Make sure to keep an eye out for her shows around town; I promise you won’t be disappointed. You can listen to some of her music and check her calendar on her MySpace page. Give a listen to “Fools” and the other music and videos she has posted. The review of her recent show at the Listening Room is righhhht-chooowwww, and more pics from that photo shoot can be found here.