Shasta’s new album, “The Outsider”, is a seamless fusion of Americana, Country & Rock giving this Modern Bard a genre-bending sound rich with melodies and texture.
Links
Originally, from Connecticut, Shasta began writing poetry when he was growing up in New England. By his teens, hearing Bob Dylan influenced him to turn his poetic efforts into songwriting. On a move to California to hone his musical skills he chronicled his journeys in song. There, he also became known as “Shasta” after a soul-searching quest upon the mountain of that same name. After spending years out west he returned east during what he refers to as emotional weather. He then released his CD, "No More Smoking!" The title cut a hilarious rant on smoking bans.
Now, after a move to Nashville, Shasta releases, “The Outsider”, which came together after meeting up with Tim Shean of Herringbone Records, who got top Nashville cats ( Tim Calhoun, Shane Keister, Dave Santos, William Ellis, Larry Crew, Joe Spivy, Dave McCormic, Joe First & Jim Kirby) to create the lush open sound of this tapestry of Americana. The songs encompass sarcasm, philosophy, mystery, UFO’s, lonesome love ballads and even death. The CD brings together musicians that fit his style adding the final touches that keep you listening.
Shasta combines his many musical influences with an unnerving need to tell the world how he feels about certain issues. Shasta has been going strong, offering his prose on fashion, UFO’s and human emotions to the burgeoning indie music scene. He has received airplay in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia and is a member of BMI. He’s traveled through 44 states playing open mikes and jam sessions in cafes, clubs, writers nights and songwriter fests.
From “Ballad of the Bard”: “Oh, the Air Force doesn’t know a thing, the government is mute! - Maybe we’re just ruled by Reptilians in suits!” - Then from , “Hair Much Shorter Than Mine”: ”Yea, I really dug her dress, those long smooth legs showing more than less, but when she took off her hair extensions - I just got too depressed...!” (see lyrics page for more)
In 2008 Shasta won as a Top 20 Finalist for Unisong International 11th Annual Songwriting Contest in the Specialty Novelty category for his, “No More Smoking!”, song.
Corbyn Bricie of Unsigned Magazine said,”...if you like your Country - Americana with directly clever lyrics with a socially conscious flare then this one is definitely for you....”
Shasta is currently working with A&R Select, a leading A&R firm in Hollywood, CA
Shasta’s New CD - "The Outsider", is available now at:
http://cdbaby.com/cd/shasta1 - Itunes, Napster, Amazon.com - & more!
(All Rights Reserved! All photos on all pages of this site used by permission of authors © 1976-2009 by authors mentioned. All other photos, words, music, logos © 1976-2009 by E. Shasta Bates and Mountain Thunder Music BMI.)
