Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to SHN. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi SHN, thanks for joining us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?
I’m happy now. But that fluctuates more than I’d like it to. Most times, you put in a lot more energy into your work than what you get back. It’s hard, but whenever I wonder if I’d be happy having a regular 9-5, I’m quite confident I wouldn’t be.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m a singer-songwriter who loves to tell stories. I have my songs out on digital streaming platforms like Apple Music, Spotify, etc. I’m always most proud of my latest works, the ones that excite me are the ones that keep me going.
My new EP came out on the 18th of August. It’s called “shotgun” and it’s about discovering independence. It centres heavily on lyrical storytelling and mood-specific soundscapes. I imagined it would be a good body of work to listen to on a night drive where you reminisce about a past life.
I also have a website now which is really cool.
https://www.helloshn.com
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
I think, most of the time, society will only see the polished product placed in front of you. It’s hard to see the value in creative products or endeavours because the amount of hours, thoughts, emotional investment, financial investment, etc. is not tangible or calculated.
I think it would benefit creatives greatly if society as a whole gave more thought into how the finished product is made, and with it, hopefully, a sense of appreciation and value to the product. It will turn that product/service from something merely entertaining for a minute to a profound experience and understanding of art as a whole.
Go to shows or installations to support your favourite local artists, buy their merch or art or albums, share the joy of discovering your favourite songs with your friends.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
It’s hard being a creative because you put so much of yourself in your work, it becomes an extension of yourself. And if it doesn’t do well, you try not to take it personally, but that’s difficult to do.
But when you do have encouragement from fans, or when you play a show and they sing every word you wrote back to you, it is far greater than any doubt I had that I had chosen the wrong thing to do. It’s that human connection, that level of camaraderie, of knowing and being known.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.helloshn.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helloshn.ig/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/helloshn
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRYuImQsz5yi3RbiTJPb1ng
Image Credits
Aidan Ho