Shell Marie's Exclusive Interview: From Pop Music to "New Creation"

Contemporary Christian singer/songwriter Shell Marie has just released her debut EP New Creation. This new record is made to help today's generation hear about the love of God from someone they can relate to.  

Growing up in Louisiana, Shell Marie is no stranger to the music scene. Beginning at the age of three, you could find her singing at church, festivals, and in music theater.  At age 12, she began pursuing a music career in the pop genre, releasing her first album in 2015 and her second album in 2017.  Shell received recognition from Music Industry Magazines; was nominated as Female Artist of the Year and Music Video of the Year by Nashville Universe; nominated as Teen Artist of the Year and Music Video of the Year by Music Road Radio; received Pop Artist of the year by LOZ Radio; and received the Accolade Global Film Award of Merit for her song "Broken Sky".  

But, in 2017, she was faced with a crossroad of conflicting values, and after much prayer and discernment, she made the decision to integrate her faith and her music, transitioning from being a Pop artist to a Contemporary Christian artist.  For the first time, she felt a peace and certainty that she was doing what she was meant to do.  

Q:  Shell, thank you for doing this interview with us.  Let's start with yourself, how did you start off in the music industry?

Thank you for having me! I've been doing music my whole life. It all started when I was little. I used to sing along to everything. I would even sing instead of speaking sometimes! So, my parents started me in voice lessons at age 3, and my love for music grew from there. I did a lot of musical theater growing up, and sang at church and events around my hometown often. After being encouraged by friends and people in the business, I decided to professionally pursue a solo career in the music industry at age 12. 

Q:  If I am not wrong, you didn't start off in Christian music.  What brought you to sing for/about the Lord? 

Right! I actually got my start singing pop music, but in 2017 I found myself at a crossroads. I found that the longer I was in that genre of music, the more I was being asked to compromise my morals and values, which was something I wasn't willing to do. My faith has always been the center of my life, and the whole reason I was even doing pop music was to bring the light and positivity you find in Christianity into that realm of music. So after a lot of prayer and discernment, I decided to integrate my faith and my music, and made the transition from pop to contemporary Christian music. It felt so good to finally bring together who I am and who I wanted to be, and doing so, brought about such a peace and certainty that I was doing what I was meant to do. 

Q:  How would you describe your style of music?  And who would you say influence your approach to music?

My style of music is very contemporary. I'd describe it as a mesh of Lauren Daigle and Colton Dixon, with maybe a little bit of for KING & COUNTRY sprinkled in the mix. I also grew up listening to artists like Adele, Taylor Swift, Christina Perri, Tori Kelly, and so many more. All of which have definitely influenced me and my approach to music. 

Q:  You have just released a new album "New Creation."  How did this album come about?

"New Creation" is really a story; a story of me finding myself as a person, an artist, and a Christian. From start to finish it's a journey, beginning with the title song, which is me rediscovering myself as a "New Creation" in Christ; to learning how to "Shine" the light of God; all the way to the invitational song of "Come Home". I wanted people to hear my story in a way that they could relate to.

Q:  I notice that all your songs on this record are based on Scripture.  Why is scripture important to songwriting?  And how do you incorporate God's Word into your songs?

I love to write songs based on hope, and what better place to find hope than in scripture. I find scripture to be so full of encouraging and inspirational messages, and I love finding new ways to incorporate those into my music. That could mean quoting it directly, or it could just mean trying to capture the feeling you get from a certain passage or verse of the Bible into a song. 

Q:  What's the most exciting part in the making of "New Creation"?

It's so hard for me to pick just one part, because everything about the creation of this EP was exciting for me. This is the first project I've felt wholly connected to, because it was my first time getting to truly share my heart with people. I loved every aspect of it; from writing the songs, to the studio creation process, to releasing it and hearing the response from people who say they've been touched or impacted by the songs. Though, if I had to pick a most exciting part, I'd have to say it was getting to work with all the amazing people - the writers, producers, musicians, etc. - who were involved in bringing "New Creation" to life. 

Q:  How do you wish your music would impact the lives of your listeners?

My goal as an artist has always been to help the people of my generation hear about the love of God from someone they can relate to. People today are going through so much - bullying, anxiety, depression, insecurity - and I just want to help introduce them to a hope that goes above and beyond anything they're facing now or will ever face. And for me, that hope is Jesus. 

To purchase the album, click here.

 

 

 

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