Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shelly Fairchild. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Shelly, appreciate you joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
I started singing when I was able to talk. For as far back as my memory goes, I have wanted to make a full-time living as a singer. I started singing publicly at my church as a young teenager, and I started professionally singing in musical theatre in Jackson, Mississippi, where I was born. I played the roll of Patsy Cline in “Always…Patsy Cline” when I was 19 years old and I saved the money I made from that show to move to Nashville, Tennessee. After moving to Nashville and being prompted by my friends that were making music, I realized I better learn how to write songs. I had always been a “writer”… of poems and such. However, I had only dabbled in writing songs when I was in college.
Singing other people’s songs for so long had me confused about what I really sounded like. But when I started writing my own songs, I began to hear what “my” true voice was (*it was very awkward in the beginning). Over the course of a few years I gathered enough material (both songs I had written and songs that I loved that other people had written) to take some meetings with some music executives that I had a “6 degrees of separation” kinda connection to. Those meeting led me to more writing appointments with more seasoned and successful songwriters as well as eventually landing me a recording contract with Sony Nashville (*Columbia Records). I got my first “advance” as a recording artist and was able to write and record my first album, make my first few videos, and go on tour with some of the biggest acts in Country Music. I was making a full-time living in music and I was 25 years old.
From the time I moved to Nashville and started writing songs until now I have been fortunate to have had some amazing artists record songs that I have written. Little Big Town, Emily West, Mindy McCready, Faith Hill (song was never released), Ty Herndon, Maggie Rose, Cody Belew, Lila McCann, and Tanya Tucker/Delbert McClinton (song hasn’t been released… yet) to name a few. I have written over 200 songs for film/tv “sync” and have had over 85 TV song placements. I am currently working as the music creator/director for an animated series that will be released in the coming year and I have just signed a new record deal with the label Kill Rock Stars Nashville. I am an “Artist In Residence” with VEVA SOUND, a music tech company that has just released a new amazing file sharing platform specifically designed for music creators. I continue to work with artists and songwriters that I love and am inspired by and I look forward to continuing to earn a full-time living from all of the creative work that I do.
As for being all “easy breezy” from day 1… it has been anything BUT that. I went to cosmetology school before I ever signed a record deal and I have maintained my license ever year in case I need it. I have had to, at times, go to work in a salon so that I could pay my bills and keep my sanity. However, I have never stopped looking for ways to make a full-time living in music. It has led me down many paths and some were much more difficult than others. I have had many opportunities come and go and I have questioned whether I was doing the right thing multiple times in my career. However, the spark inside of my heart and soul that has kept the fire going for the music and this life of a creator, has never let me go too far down an alternate route. I have always been drawn back to the music and the writing and this life that I have now. It was worth the ups and downs and I believe I was mostly exactly in the place that I was supposed to be in at every turn. It has given me the story that I have to tell today and It has helped me to be able to help others on this type of journey. It’s most important to me to be able to give what I’ve learned to others who might be struggling with their purpose or feeling doubtful about their gifts and talents. If it’s truly what you are meant to do, you must never give up. A friend of mine once said that if you just “stay in the line” you will eventually be called to the front. ;)
Shelly, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am a newly signed Kill Rock Stars Nashville recording artist born In Jackson, Mississippi, but I currently call Nashville, Tennessee, home. I was named one of Rolling Stone Country’s “Top 10 Artists You Need To Know”. I have toured with the likes of Martina McBride, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Shooter Jennings, and many more. I can be heard singing background vocals on records by Jason Aldean, Eric Church, Tanya Tucker, Trace Adkins, Ty Herndon, Terri Clark, Crystal Gayle, Ray Scott, Cody Belew, and Tayla Lynn to name a few. My songs have been recorded by Little Big Town, Emily West, Mindy McCready, Faith Hill (song was never released), Ty Herndon, Maggie Rose, Cody Belew, Lila McCann, and Tanya Tucker/Delbert McClinton (song hasn’t been released… yet). With over 85 television placements, my songs can be heard on Grey’s Anatomy, Netflix’s Selling Sunset, NBC’s The Titan Games, Riverdale, Roswell, ABC and CBS, American Ninja Warrior, LOVE ISLAND, My Unorthodox Life, Selling Tampa, and more. I am a regular guest on The Grand Ole Opry and I host a show at Nashville’s Legendary Lipstick Lounge. For the past two years I have appeared on tour singing background vocals with Columbia Recording Artist Lennon Stella. In 2022 I signed with Kill Rock Stars Nashville and I’m currently writing and recording my 5th studio album.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
I signed a record deal with Sony Nashville in 2003, released the record in 2005, and was dropped at the beginning of 2006. While I was under contract with Sony/Columbia Records rumors started flying around that I was a lesbian. Although I never 100% confirmed this to be true, I was repeatedly asked to not be in public places or “show up on stage” with my “partner” or my “gay friends” by my management and my record label president. When I was dropped from the label, I had a very clear message that my sexuality played a large part in the lack of interest in moving forward with me as an artist, although they obviously couldn’t come right out and say that…legally. So, I spent the next few years COMPLETELY bitter about the bigotry and prejudices that run rampant throughout the music industry and ESPECIALLY in country music. The “gatekeepers” and “powers that be” in this good ole boy town had me spiraling. BUT….. you can’t keep a good girl down! I wrote songs about it… and I dusted myself off and decided I would not let bigotry and prejudice win over the good that I was trying to put out into the world. I believed wholeheartedly in the love in my life and the lives of those around me that were a part of the LGBTQ+ community, and I decided to fight for us. It became extremely imperative to me to not just spend time angry at the injustice, but to find ways to be bigger than the injustice. To find places for people like me, and to make it “normal” for the country music world to have all kinds of people included and welcome to “have a seat at the table.” I am still on this mission and hopefully will see things grow and change for the better in the years to come.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I grew up in the business believing that you “need” a big team of established professionals to help you get to where you want to go. I have learned that this concept is FALSE. Yes, it helps to have educated people to work with.. YES. BUT, if you have a goal and a vision and a good work ethic you can find people that you trust…that want to work hard…to help. Even if they aren’t established or experts in an area. Passion and work ethic go A LONG WAY!!!!!! It is very very hard to convince someone to work hard. They have to have it in them and you have to pay attention to that. A friend of mine once told me that if someone does not “HAVE TO” get up and go to work they usually don’t work out. I have also had to unlearn the idea that everyone knows more than I do about things. I have learned that most people are just making it up as they go along. And with the fast paced ever-changing world around us…EVERYONE is struggling to keep up. So… as a creative person, you are the ONLY one who can do what YOU do. Finding others that align with that spark inside of you…that truly believe in you…whether its a family member or a best friend.. or just someone random that you meet and automatically click with… GO TO WORK! Just do it. Don’t let anything stop you. Don’t be afraid and don’t think that everyone else knows more than you do. You know you.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shellyfairchild.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shellyfairchild/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shellyfairchild
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/shellyfairchild
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/shellyfairchild
Image Credits
Personal Photo credit: Kristina Russo All other photos by Allie Granzo https://alliegranzo.co