Shoshana Bean {Interview}

 She’s been on Broadway, she’s been a Vegas burlesque girl, she’s sang backup for Michael Jackson at Madison Square garden, and she has a new album out called O’Farrell Street. This is our GroundSound’s interview with Shoshana Bean.

Hey Shoshanna thanks for talking to us here at GroundSounds. How are you?

All my pleasure, I am well thank you!!!

You have performed almost everywhere it seems…Broadway…a sexy Vegas burlesque show…and you sang background vocals for Michael Jackson too? Tell me about that!

Well that was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Getting to watch him work and work alongside him for two weeks was obviously a dream come true being that I was a fan since I was 6 years old and he was such a huge influence for me. . .but beyond that it was an incredible learning experience to watch him work. His stamina and work ethic, his knowledge of music and his skill at performing was inspirational and astounding. Not only that but the line-up of other talent I was able to work with on that gig was legendary. 

Are there any artists/venues you haven’t performed with/at that you still dream about?

Would love to work with John Mayer or Raphael Saadiq. Would love to play Roseland in NYC!!!

So you just released a new album O’Farrell Street. It has a really cool, retro, bluesy, Motown type of vibe. What was your inspiration for going into that era of music?

I feel soul music of the late 60’s has such an honesty and simplicity to it and I was drawn to express myself within that style. I am moved and inspired by it in a very powerful way and I wanted to pay homage as it was the music I was raised on.

What were the recording/writing sessions like? Did you guys track to analog tape?

Writing sessions were basically me at alone home on my living room floor with my Mac and my Casio, plucking out basslines and using my singing voice to build the chords I was imagining. I’d get a good shape going and then take my garage band demos to my band and we started performing them live to test them out. Recording sessions took about a week and were the greatest most organic hang I’ve ever experienced in a studio.  They were so easy and chill. I am lucky enough to have gathered the most amazing group of engineers, artists and musicians which made for a fun, vibey, efficient and truly special experience. It all went by too fast for my liking. And yes, we did use analog.

I heard that you are going to be performing at the Broadway in South Africa 5^th Anniversary, that must be exciting.

Totally. So proud of my friends, their organization and what they are doing. Honored to be a part!

What projects do you have coming up? A tour in support of your album?

Working on it!!

Also remounting the musical I co-wrote with my friend Eydie Faye called DEAR JOHN MAYER.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Married, kids, house, another 2 records or so, having toured massively and producing other artists.

If you were on a deserted island and could only bring 3 albums with you, what albums would you bring?

This is too hard!!!

John Mayer, Battle Studies.  The Beatles, Sgt. Peppers. Aretha Franklin, Jazz to Soul (which is a two disc set, so I won’t cheat, I would just take the Jazz half)