Some artists have a truly artistic approach to life and their art in that they put it only first in their life in everything they do. I don't know Savannah that well but everything I have seen her do— or the times when I have seen her perform—have tells me that she is creating for the purpose of giving herself to her art and her supporters. But it doesn't end there. She looks to connect on a deeper level by showing a genuine interest in her supporters. I admire her for this and as a result, she has become a fixture of the Kingston art scene on so many levels. We are lucky to have her play at The Cove for the first time, solo on Thursday, February 13, just before Valentine's Day! Details and reservations here: web link

Seamus Cowan: Since I have known about you, all I can think of is that this person is inspired artistically on a different level than many. I know you have it in you that you create from a deep space within. Where does that come from?

Savannah Shea: Wow! Thank you for this kind observation and introduction. I would say that above all else I am led by my intuition. I experience my intuition as a combination of a physical feeling deep in my gut and a loud clear voice in my head saying “Do this,” or “Follow this path,” or even, “Don’t do this!” So perhaps, more than being inspired, I am just listening to that voice. I don’t force myself to create if I am not being called to it; I use non-creative time to just be a girl in the world. And when something tells me to create, paint, make music, write etc., I stop what I am doing and do it! For example, this winter I have been doing a lot of hibernating and resting. Not every season is creative!

For me, being inspired or intuitively pulled to create is typically a result of feeling a strong emotion. I feel things quite intensely and always have. Using art to release the intensity of an emotion from my body has always been very helpful.

Q: Being a musician is an incredible way to express yourself. You do it so well and you seem to like to tap into different genres, styles, instruments, etc. Do you find that having an open mind allows you to create art in other disciplines like this as well.

Savannah: I love the way you’ve phrased this question. It makes me sound like an easy going, effortlessly flowing octopus tapping into different creative ponds with each of my tentacles! And that is often how I imagine creative people I admire!

But truthfully, I usually feel like my creativity and my imagination exist so far beyond my skill level that my artistic output exists right at my edges. I would say I have an open mind, yes, but perhaps more than this I would say that I love learning new things and the minute I acquire knowledge or experience I put it into practice.

Maybe the best way to describe it is this: imagine you wanted to build an incredible Lego castle. You drew a picture of what you wanted it to look like. It has multiple storeys and wings and turrets. You go to bed at night dreaming about your creation, imagining in detail all the different rooms, colours, stairways and especially the really cool moving drawbridge. And when you wake up in the morning you pull out all your Lego and start building. It’s going great, but as you build more and more you realize you're missing some pretty important pieces and you don’t have the right colour for the highest turret, and there are no chains for the drawbridge.

My relationship with my art feels kinda like that. I’m having so much fun building the castle, but I am going to have to keep collecting pieces for my whole life if I want to make the castle the way I imagined it. And probably the real lesson is that building the castle is WAY more fun than having a completed castle.

Q: I know you have studied music at school but it seems to me you have learned more from experience and connecting within your musical community. You have been awarded the prestigious Creator Award at the 2023 Mayor's Arts Awards. This must suggest to you that you are taking all that you have learned and inspiring others on your journey!

Savannah: I think going to school was largely about the practical experiences and the community. The people I met at Humber College and Acadia University are incredible and talented and now represent a large and beautiful community of friends and acquaintances making waves in the Canadian music scene and beyond. My favourite part of being in school was constant collaboration. Additionally, performing frequently and making mistakes on stage at a staggering rate helped me to learn in my body that perfection is not the goal of music and that being present and enjoying the experience is way more valuable.

Since leaving school I have been fortunate enough to put down deep roots in Kingston and take these lessons of community, collaboration and imperfect creativity with me. I love Kingston, we have the coolest people here. I feel really grateful to be able to work as a Voice Teacher and help inspire other people in Kingston to find their voice, as well as guiding people in song in the Gospel Choir I run with Josh Lyon. I have also been hosting a youth open mic for the last year and it's incredible to see a new generation of musicians grow and create and become friends. I have been told by people close to me that the things I create have been inspiring and that means a lot! It doesn’t have to be for everyone, but when it is for someone it makes me feel peaceful and grateful.

Q: We all have our favourites but what is your inspiration when it comes to artists, regardless of whether they are musicians or not. Of course, I'm interested in who has inspired you purely musically too!

Savannah: I will mostly talk about music - but quickly before I do, Logan and I are obsessed with Severance right now. It is one of the most incredible pieces of Art all around. So shout out to everyone that made that show. That is inspiring me right now.

As for music, I am Jacob Collier’s number one fan. Yes, because he is a musical wizard, but also I love the way he carries himself as a person. His lyrics hit so deep, his melodies pull at my heartstrings. He is my favourite. I have big dreams of collaborating with him someday. I really love Craig Cardiff. I love the feeling of community and collective creation at his shows and he writes such incredible songs. I love the way he makes people feel and he is so funny. Sarah Harmer is another person that I have admired since I was a kid. When people ask me what I want to do with my life I have always said “I would love to have a career like Sarah Harmer”. I love her spirit and dedication to protecting our earth and the fact that she uses music to do it. I feel this way about Bruce Cockburn too. He has big aspirational energy and incredible songs.

I am obsessed with big voices: Jazmine Sullivan, Beyonce, Tori Kelly, Cynthia Erivo, Chaka Khan, Madison Ryann Ward. I am a sucker for Joey Landreth and Ariel Posen of The Bros. Landreth. My love for them probably stems from my undying John Mayer obsession that started in childhood. I also just recently started listening to Doechii and she is rocking my world. I know I am late to the party!

But on a more personal level I am surrounded by incredible creatives everyday. My partner Logan Brown is a musical comedic love genius. My dear sweet friend Anna Sudac and Christina Foster that I sing with in a trio are some of the most amazing musicians I know. Josh Lyon is a video-making, piano-playing, multi-hyphenate wonder! Kay Kenney is a dancer, producer, mastermind extraordinaire. Sasha French is the goddess of art, dance, and community. I have to stop listing people because there’s way too many of them. My students are also all very cool and inspiring.

Q: Your partner, Logan Brown, has a fearless approach to performing, and clearly an open mind. I'm interested in your next move creatively. Are you thinking about another stage in your career with writing, etc? Maybe with Logan?

Savannah: It is SO GREAT that Logan Brown is my partner! I agree! He is really the best and I feel incredibly lucky. First and foremost he is my soulmate BUT on a musical level he has also helped me expand my understanding of the guitar so much. We sometimes create together at home and he always comes up with the most interesting and tasteful chords and melodies. I am a better artist for knowing him. I also think we keep each other inspired to keep growing and developing in our respective artistic zones!

The next stage in my career is that Logan has put me on a stand-up comedy show with him. I have never done stand-up in public before and I am terrified, excited, and a bit obsessed with the whole idea. I’ve been dreaming about jokes and I cannot wait to make a total fool of myself. Come see us both along with many other wonderful comics March 12th at Montes in Kingston (web link). In the meantime, I look forward to seeing you at The Cove on Feb 13th! web link Posted: Feb 11, 2025