We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful DJ Shannell B. (Baynard) . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with DJ Shannell below.

DJ Shannell, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful project began for me In 2020 when the pandemic began. The world changed for myself as a dj. by 2020. I was well known to the Baltimore and Washington dc area as a mobile dj and karaoke host. However, when the pandemic began, I was able to expand my client base to additional people, businesses and non profits due to becoming global through online portals such as facebook, zoom, periscope, instagram and twitch. By djing online, I was able to support other cities and countries by providing music as a a therapy and support women, men and children through media skills to help them journey through virtual platforms as social distancing arise. Many individuals who were quarantining could not socialize, to fill the void, I began offering virtual karaoke events along with dj-ing parties to bring people together. As this continued, there became a need to help people celebrate life, promote awareness to various wellness causes, or learn how to cope with grief and depression. Overall, dj-ing became a joy to do because it saved so many other’s lives. This realization brought many people together on social media platforms to create a non profit organization called The BE side organization which is a group of content creators who perform virtually and in person globally to promote well being, scholarship and advancement to the well being of people through the dj lifestyle.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Dj Shannell B. (also known as DJ Shazzle Dazzle) is an American music educator, media specialist, technology coordinator and lastly disc and karaoke jockey. Raised in Baltimore Maryland, Shannell B. began her admiration for music at a young age. She is also the daughter of James Baynard, an American musician and former member of the R&B group Crown Heights Affair, who debuted their album on RCA records in 1974. Crown Heights Affair is known for their singles, “Dreaming a Dream”, “Every Beat of My Heart” and “Foxy Lady”.

She enhanced her singing repertoire with music affiliations such as the Baltimore City Police Youth Choir. Under the direction of officer Roderick Dotson, her experiences earned her opportunities singing with The Baltimore Ravens, The Baltimore Orioles, Shania Twain, Vitamin C and other city wide musical performances.

Shannell left the choir after being accepted to Bowie State University as a Fine and Performing Arts Vocal major. She worked heavily with the university choir, gospel choir, marching band and the genre of Opera where she learned to perform in French, Italian and German. During this period, she has toured to Innsbruck, Austria with the International Chorus.

She then obtained two Master’s degrees at Towson University in instructional technology and Music education, which allowed her to combine her love directing choirs, bands and STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) labs in the DC area.

As an educator, many students from the DC Metro area have now traveled between St. Louis to Canada to either perform or compete in STEM related competitions under her direction as a SMART lab facilitator, choir/band director or media specialist.

As an entertainer, Dj Shannell B. is widely known and highly experienced for her abilities to offer great entertainment whether it’s Saturdays on WEAA 88.9 on the audio infusion radio show, Parties in the DMV, National conferences, the Essence Music Festival or Caribbean Islands. She has been an opening dj or host for acts such as Eric Roberson, Avery Sunshine, Q. Parker, Frank Ski, Kid Kapri and many more. Whether she’s performing through hosting, djing and talent though vocal music, your next event is in great hands.

As of 2022, DJ Shannell B. has been voted 2022 Most Creative dj on twitch and offers dj mixes through a keepsake media flash drive called THE B Side MEDIA MIXTAPES. As an Open format DJ to some of your fav musicians, music lovers, restaurants, festivals and Karaoke singers, you can join DJ Shannell B. at various events around the world or on twitch.tv/djshannellb on selected Mon-Fri at 7pm EST and special events on the weekends.

The most proud accomplishment this year (2023) will be creating THE BE SIDE organization that will allow others who love music to explore new projects in various musical fields, obtain job placement and enhance their well being through music therapy, awards, enrichment and many other events.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

A creative never fits in a box. Sometimes the ideas are unique and not known to many. It is also possible that many creatives need to be distant from fellowship every now and then to recharge. Some are free spirited, while some are private. They see the world in a different light and thats usually due to a gift from a higher power. To harness into that journey, at times, many, such as myself, will need to disconnect from socializing in order to gain better insight on their craft. This at times can be seen be a non creative as a struggle. This is also very hard to conceptualize to many who feel that jobs with 9-5 hours are necessary to survive. Some of the great creatives need days just in nature to give some of the best projects that the world has seen. I am a big witness to this, which is why I appreciate organizations who support the arts and the artists through grants and project based activities and retreats. I feel that our communities should provide supported spaces that will allow for creatives to have peace which will allow for new concepts.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

As of today in 2023, I have been focusing on a particular music goal and that is to promote well being to individuals through the art of djing and soulful music. Music heals, and through soulful music and the projects that incorporate promoting these activites, I look forward to sharing my creative journey and passion with the world. More information can found at theBEside.org

Contact Info:

• Website: www.djshannellb.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/djshannellb
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/djshannellb1
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannell-b/
• Twitter: twitter.com/djshannellb
• Other: https://twitch.tv/djshannellb