1. How would you describe this week in a sentence?
Oh.
This week was nuts. It's been… I really did have to put on a mask to show up to this. I'm excited to interview, but to be honest, having a lot of, just random health issues that are very confusing right now. So it's been nuts, and I've been trying to push through. Because the release is coming up, and that's a lot of exciting energy, but then also trying to sift through some health things. So it's been chaotic.
Thank you for finding the time. And health comes first.
2. An artwork that inspired you this week. It can be any medium.
I really like Marji Shemanski’s new album [This is the day]. I've been listening [to it] on Bandcamp a lot. I got introduced to her music because she asked my bandmates to play in her band, and I was a little salty about it. But I went to one of her shows, and I was a little bitter or whatever, but her music is so beautiful, I couldn't be bitter. It was all kind of a bit anyway. I'm really, really enjoying her songs, and they're constantly stuck in my head.
3. A memorable moment from this week?
My partner moved in with me this weekend, so that's been lovely, and really sweet. Their cat Sonny has also moved in with me, has been moved in with me, and it's just been really sweet, settling in through everything. And my dad helped us move, so that felt pretty supportive, to have his help with everything.
That's wonderful! Congrats!
Thank you.
4. This is a two-part question, feel free to answer either, or none.
A motto you swear by and/or any advice you received and would like to share?
A motto I swear by is... Huh. Can I think about it for a second?
Of course. Yeah, this one, most people -
Get stumped?
Yes.
I think.. I'm big on generosity, and not hoarding resources and trying to push myself to give what I can, even if it can be sometimes uncomfortable. I feel like it's better to give. It's better to give, even if it sometimes can be hard. If you can.
It's a matter of treating your friends when you go out, you know, not asking them to Venmo request you for coffee or something like that, or just lending a hand when you can. I guess that's something I feel is pretty consistent.
I'm big on sharing.
And some advice that was shared with me - My mom is a nurse, so she's been helping me with all this medical stuff. And it's been really distressing and confusing, and she basically [said], I mean, it's a religious thing, and I'm not religious, but it's - ‘this too shall pass’. And I guess it's a comforting thing to think about; I might be in a bad spot right now, or going through some hard things, but it’s a hopeful statement of, like, in the future, you'll look back on this and think, ‘Wow, that time period passed, and things are better now.’ you know?’
Thank you
Sorry for these long answers
No, no, that's beautiful, and so grounding. That's why I like having those kinds of conversations, because it's very true, and inspiring, and important.
No.5 What would you like to share about your upcoming single?
I really just, I'm telling everyone about the music video, because my partner Andy made an animated 16mm film music video.
We did the animation together, but they led the whole project on filming and everything, and the animation stand. We worked really hard on it, especially them, and I really want people to recognize their work, because it's a song I wrote for them. It's called For Andy, and it's for my partner Andy, and I'm like, ‘Andy has to make the music video’. And so I really want people to focus on that part of the project, and I'm really trying to get people to come to my show so that Andy feels that support and love from strangers in the audience, because it really is such a beautiful masterpiece, and I saw how much work went into doing that. [I] really appreciate people who do film, and especially video. It's so much more complicated than using CapCut, or whatever people use now to make videos online, and I really appreciate how much work that took, so that's what I want to share about that song.
That's so exciting!
Is it common for you to have a visual component to your music?
I think so. If I could have a music video for every song, I would. I feel like my songs, I'm trying to tell stories, or share really big things in my life that have happened. For example, this music video, For Andy, it shows us two as little characters, and we're doing the things in the music video that I'm talking about, and I feel like it helps paint a better dream world. I feel like even when I'm writing songs I'm picturing things visually in my head when I'm writing out, so I think they work together in that way. But I know other people are better at making that come to life than I am, visually at least.
It's not easy, I mean, like you said, there's a lot to it, to execute an idea, even if you have a clear visual in mind. It's not always as straightforward as you would hope it would be.
You mentioned you're from Ridgewood, this neighborhood, and that there's a great music scene here. Any venues or artists that are your go-to or that you would recommend checking out?
There are so many good ones. I'm gonna say my dear friend Steve, he's got a project called Bloodman Stticks and it's only on Bandcamp. I feel like he's so underrated and doesn't realize how talented and special his music is, and I wish more people would listen. I just wish there were ways for some of my friends to get the exposure that I get sometimes. I know I put work into it, but, I don't know, there are so many hidden, really talented musicians that are out here blowing my mind at an open mic or something, and I wish the world could hear this music. I'm also gonna say Zoë Pete Ford, because I always say Zoë Pete Ford, too. She's a freaking rock star. I mean, I think she's really killing it out there. Everyone loves her, everyone's going to her shows. And she's starting to tour more, and I think she's starting to pick up momentum. Every time I listen to her music it brings out a different side in me, in a good way.
We were introduced through Julie Keefe, a wonderful human being, head of Bad Press and a bunch of other creative endeavors. How did you meet? Or what would you like to share about your connection?
Julie and I met because she asked me to play a show, a house show, with this band called Tractor Beam. And we put two and two together, that we were both connected through an open mic in New Jersey, I would say deep in New Jersey, because it's not in Jersey City. It was a random coffee house open mic, and we both put the pieces together that we had both been there, and we had mutual friends and stuff. And now I'm going on tour with Tractor Beam, that band that I played with in September.
That's wonderful!
Yeah, it's [a] full circle, it's so awesome.
Where would you be touring?
That one's going to start in Canada. I think we're doing Montreal, Toronto, I don't remember exactly where we're going. And then I'm going to continue a leg of the tour going back down to New York with another group.
Ah! I should have talked about Keta Eater , that's another band I really like.
Please -
Well, there's another band I've been obsessed with called Keta Eater, and they agreed to join me on my leg of the tour. I just immediately was obsessed with their whole album. I get addicted to albums sometimes. It's hard for me to find ones that I'm fully addicted to, but I'll just keep listening, keep going for months. And that's been my recent obsession, is Keta Eater, for sure.
Another artist Sheila wanted to highlight is lilith. All artists are linked at the bottom of the article.
Since you mentioned albums, and you have an upcoming single, is it a part of an album you're planning on releasing?
It's gonna be a standalone single. It's a love song, and I feel most excited about it. It feels really special to me, and I feel like it stands alone. I haven't released music in a while, so I want to lead with that one positive love song, and then I'm gonna go into kind of darker topics with an EP. Release that, actually, physically; that chapter is done. And then I have an album of my gems that I'm really precious about. I got a lot of scheming, a lot of songs ready to go.
That's beautiful.
Thanks. Thank you.
You mentioned Bandcamp twice, is that where you find your new music?
It's not where I find new music, I won't lie, it's where I go to listen to music that's on repeat for me, and to listen more intentionally especially in an album mindset. I think it's really refreshing to shift my head into that space of listening through an entire album. That's how albums are supposed to be listened to.
I drive a lot for work, and so I'm constantly listening to music, and it's easy to just put on an album and not skip through songs and not give them a chance. I use Bandcamp mostly for myself to listen to albums I'm obsessed with, and mostly to support friends, immediate people in my community and music circle, and people that I get really addicted to their music. I want to support them directly, so that's really what I do. So I'm building my collection slowly.
It's very important to support indie artists, and Bandcamp is a great outlet for it. It's very popular, but I think it can be more popular, it can be more, quote on quote ‘mainstream’, or a mainstream way of listening to music.
You have an upcoming single release show, and you’re sharing the bill with two other artists. Would you like to talk about the show at all?
Yes. I'm just, I'm really excited. My partner Andy is going to be screening the music video, and that's how we're gonna start the set, by screening the music video. I really want it to be about the music video, and then I'm gonna play a shorter set. My partner Andy suggested a band called Cal Fish that I'm really interested to see. I don't know much about their music, but I heard they play flute, so that's cool. And the other band, Fawn Ridge, Julie also knows [them]. We connected through the internet somehow and ran into each other in real life and made that connection. And so, I'm excited. And I'm excited to play Nightclub 101, I haven't played there yet, so [it] feels exciting.
Any other venues you love around town, or in Ridgewood specifically?
I love the Windjammer, and I love Purgatory. I mean, there's so many good ones. I played at Cassette a bunch of times. There's a lot going on here.
This will be published after your single is released, and I'm excited for everyone to listen to it.
Me too. Can I share one more thing? About the For Andy release that has been a challenge?
Of course! Yes, please.
I am leading with love, and I'm so excited about releasing this song, but it did come with a set of challenges. Because I work in a very male-dominated industry, and it's very conservative, and I'm very secretive about my personal life; and so I basically outed myself publicly on social media by being like, ‘this is my new love song, and it's a queer love song’. That was challenging for me to just be like, ‘fuck it, I'm just gonna do it’. So that's been a little bit difficult for me, but I feel like in the end it's worth it for the song and the music video, but definitely comes with that other side of it.
What was their reaction?
They're not really talking about it. They're kind of pretending they didn't see it. But it has made me feel a little weird at work, for sure, because they all follow my music account.
I’m the only girl at my job, and then on top of that the only gay person. It's been challenging, but I feel like it's worth it for the music and the project. And I'm proud of my partner. I'm happy to be more open to the world about our relationship, but definitely came with a set of uncomfortable feelings and stuff. But, yeah, that's just another thing I wanted to share.
Thank you for sharing, and I'm glad you did. And I wish it would have not been a challenge. I wish it wouldn't be a ‘weird’ thing, but I think by sharing it, you're making it less…
They'll be okay.
They'll be okay. [laughs] Exactly, they'll be okay.
May I ask where you work? We don’t have to add it.
Yeah. I mean, it's kind of interesting. I do have an interesting job.
I work on a ship. I'm an engineer, so I run the engine room, and it's for the City. I run the sludge vessels, it's these huge ships in the New York Harbor that move around, and they transport human waste, which is anything that you flush.
Wow.
I know. You probably weren't expecting that. I can't believe we made it through the whole interview without me mentioning the ships, because I'm always like, ‘I work on a ship’. [laughs]
Can we add it?
Yes, yes, of course.
How did you get into that world?
My older sister was the first one in my family to work on ships. She was traveling the world before she was even 21. She was sending pictures from Guam, and Croatia, Italy, all these places, and I was like, well, I want to travel the world. Because growing up, I'm one of four kids, so our version of vacation was camping upstate, which I do appreciate, and I know it's hard to travel with kids and go on big vacations. But I think just seeing my older sister go to all these cool places, I really latched onto that life, and the fantasy of being on a ship is so cool, and traveling the world and stuff. I just basically followed her footsteps, but I went the engine side. She's more deck side, driving the ship, and I'm running the engines, so a little different. I followed her footsteps, and I went to school for it, and I did sail around the world for a little bit, but it's not for me. Because they go out on voyages that are three months at a time, four months at a time, sometimes six months, and then you kind of miss your life at home. And I'm a homebody, I like my little life in Ridgewood, and coming home to my bed every day. I still work on ships, but I get to go home, which is nice. But, yeah, that's how I got into it.
Wow. That is the coolest thing ever.
Thank you
You wouldn't necessarily associate New York and ships.
Right.
That's incredible.
Thank you. Yeah, it's not a typical job.
Well, if that's your day job, you can face any challenge.
Yeah, I know, right? I feel like when I tell people stories about my job, hearing myself say it out loud, I'm like, where am I? What world do I live in? Just the characters I work with sometimes. It is a cool job, but I work with only men, where our political values do not align and all which have pretty big personalities. But yeah, it is a cool job.
Thank you for sharing. Is it challenging to balance this kind of a job and making music?
I would say yes. It's better than most jobs because I work typically three days a week, and I work 40 hours in three days, so it's 14 to 15 to 16 hour shifts, depending on the day sometimes. So I get overtime if it goes over or whatever, but it could be a really long day. And on my time off, I have to recover for a couple days. It is hard, but I feel like it is the best scenario for working a full time job and doing music. I wanted this specific job for that reason. But I think energetically, some of the things I discussed, my job can drain me in certain aspects. And then having to show up creatively can be like I have run out of steam, or energy. But most of the time it works well together.
Snapshots by Rachel Bard
Keep up with Sheila’s upcoming projects -
https://shepup.net/
https://shepup.bandcamp.com/album/wave-honey-barge
https://www.instagram.com/shepup/
Watch the For Andy Music Video out now - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ymc0o5CPPnw
Artists mentioned in the interview -
Marji Shemanski - https://marjishemanski.bandcamp.com/album/this-is-the-day
Zoë Pete Ford - https://zoepeteford.bandcamp.com/album/one-of-the-guys
Bloodman Stticks - https://bloodman1.bandcamp.com/track/darkest-moon
lilith - https://lilithhh.bandcamp.com/album/snippets
Tractor Beam -
Keta Ester - https://ketaester.bandcamp.com/
Cal Fish - https://calfish.land/
Fawn Ridge - https://fawnridge.bandcamp.com/
Bad Press Booking - https://linktr.ee/badpressbooking