Interview by Carol Wright | Photo Courtesy of Sheyda
We got to chat with singer/songwriter Sheyda about her latest singles “Lungs” and “Won’t See Me Crying,” her musical inspirations, and advice for aspiring singers.
Have you had a passion for performing from a young age?
Yes! I’ve been performing in plays and musicals, with bands and all kinds of other things since I was young.
Who are some of your musical inspirations?
Honestly, it’s so across the board. I grew up listening to a lot of classic rock like Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, the band, and also newer (at the time) California based artists like Red Hot Chili Peppers and No Doubt, all of it has had an influence on my sound and what I enjoy today.
Tell our readers about your song “Wish I Could Want You.” What story are you telling through the song?
I wrote it after a short-lived dating relationship I was in. Seemingly the guy had all the physical attributes I wanted on paper but when I actually spent real time with him I realized there was nothing there. It made me reevaluate attraction in general. It’s become sort of an anthem for bad relationships in general and I can’t help but really love that haha.
Tell us about your song “Lungs.” What inspired the lyrics?
I wrote that song with two friends and songwriters Rachel Martin and Kory Shore. We all took the time to open up about personal trauma we had experienced. The conversation touched on a lot of different personal past experiences and we decided we wanted to write about the process of working through any kind of trauma, the thoughts that a person has, and the physical feeling that goes with having to relive something. We wanted it to be overarching and not specific to one kind of experience.
How creatively involved were you when it came to creating the “Lungs” music video?
Richard Adam Jones was the director and videographer for the “Lungs” music video, he came up with the field and stripped-down jean performance. I had never worked with him before and two days before the music video I got inspired and decided I wanted that bathtub scene and he told me that originally he had imagined the whole video in water, he was so awesome about bringing that all to life. It’s one of my favorite music video scenes to date.
What was the writing process like behind your latest single, “Won’t See Me Crying”? What inspired this song?
“Won’t See Me Crying” is one of my favorite releases yet. We wrote the song with three-part harmony, and the songwriting process was really cathartic for me. I was inspired by Aretha Franklin and hoped to bring that classic sound into the song. It sounds completely different than anything else I’ve released, and that’s one of the things I love most about it.
As the world begins to open back up, have you been feeling motivated to put out new music?
Yes! I think connecting with people is so important in the music industry and it was really trying when the world was so shut down. I’m eager to get out there with the music I’ve released this year as well as the music I’ve been writing and working on behind the scenes.
What advice do you have for aspiring singers?
To just do it! Write a song, make a video, put yourself and your music out there. It’s never too late and your voice matters.