Pigeon Spins Featuring an Interview with Shani Weiss

Shani Weiss - All About Life

Shani Weiss is a Melbourne-based folk-rock storyteller, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter whose deeply emotive songs explore themes of relationships, femininity, and raw human experience. Her debut single All About Life launched with a sold-out show at the iconic Espy and has since gained international airplay, including on the Europe Indie Charts, Southern FM, and Joy FM.

Interview with Shani Weiss

(º)> What personal experiences or stories inspired the songs on your debut EP, All About Life?

All About Life is a pretty simple concept. It talks about the simplicity of life and our most basic relationships- with our parents, kids, partners and friends and how these relationships are what make life. Happiness s only real when shared but sharing our life with others involves layers so it balances the complexity within the simplicity.

(º)> How did your approach to songwriting evolve between your singles All About Life, What’s Left, and the upcoming Feel Alright?

I don’t feel like my approach has changed like the difference between the those three singles and the ones that came out with the EP. So All About Life, What’s Left and Feel Alright are very extroverted happy songs while the other three on the EP that were not released as singles – Rules Don’t Apply, In Two and Breathe are much more intimate, introverted songs. I’m a pretty outgoing person so I don’t think I have fully evolved to be able to be completely comfortable with little quiet songs. The thing is they are going really well with streams and that global support to these little intimate songs give me more curiosity to explore being comfortable at being vulnerable and small. So my approach hasn’t changed yet but I am positive it will as the EP grows in the world.

(º)> Your music blends folk, indie, and storytelling—how do you balance vulnerability with crafting engaging melodies?

I started off as a classically trained pianist and have been in music schools all of my academic life so when writing my brain is working overtime balancing between the theoretical side of understanding how melodies can get stuck in your head, challenging myself to create something I haven’t while pouring my soul into whatever I am writing. So the answer is I don’t, I just continue writing. So some songs are more theoretical, one more emotional and the ones on the EP balance the two.

(º)> Can you share a bit about the process of creating the music video for Feel Alright and how it reflects your sound and message?

Feel alright has a vintage pop feel to it and I wanted to go for a Great Gatsby 1920’s vibe. I found this great pub called The Local Taphouse, got the 1920’s look, makeup, dress, hair everything. I had extras come and take part in the pub each with their own storyline including my boys, Tom and Luka. Now imagine spending hours in a pub with a 4 and 7 year old, that was a bit challenging but it turned out really great and I’m super proud of it.

(º)> As a multi-instrumentalist, how do you decide which instruments or arrangements best serve each song?

I would lean more on my arrangement and orchestration skills then the instruments I actually play. I have worked plenty with orchestras, ensembles and bands whether if it was writing arrangements or conducting so I have an ear for what would be fitting. For ‘What’s Left’ I wanted a more earthy sound of a flute and for rules don’t apply I wanted to take the listener on a magical journey with the violin, cello and piano. So it really changes and also the songs itself can change. ‘Feel Alright’ started off very jazzy with an electric guitar and ended being on a ukulele. It’s fun to explore.

(º)> How has hosting Indie Spotlight Melbourne influenced your perspective on the local music scene and your own artistry?

It's wonderful. I have so many different types of artists on the show and you can learn from everyone, whether it be a teenager who’s released a couple of albums already and knows what’s trending as mother tongue, or a 70-year artist who has a lifetime of experience. If they live in the woods or by the beach and their music is inspired by nature or in the concrete jungle with the beats of the trams. I have had artists of every genre, religion and ethnicity so I don’t know if they have influenced my songwriting but definitely what it is like being an musician in Melbourne, 100%

(º)> What does it mean to you to receive recognition like the RSOM Outstanding Achievement awards 2 years in a row, and being a semi-finalist in the Listen Up Music Songwriting Prize and The Australian Songwriters Association competition?

It’s absolutely amazing. I do what I do because I can’t see myself living any other way, getting recognition on a continental scale is more than I could ask for. I moved to Australia with no idea what life would look like, and from fantasy to reality, it was not always rainbows and unicorns, especially over the last two years for my community. So these awards and competitions are just wonderful and I’m forever grateful.

(º)> How do you translate the themes of friendship, courage, and resilience from your songs into a live performance experience?

I am so comfortable on stage, I love dominating it. In my EP launch I bared my soul to a full house. I think to be able to sing my heart out in an honest and raw way really brings me that connection with the audience that I love.

(º)> Which track on your EP do you feel most connected to emotionally, and why?

Oh noooo that’s a hard question. My songs are like my children, literally. ‘Breathe’ is the birth song of my second song Luka, where I wrote about my experience in the delivery room. ‘All About Life’ was inspired by a question my first born Tom, ‘What’s Life?’ What’s Left is about my parents and life I left behind in Israel. The story of the EP is different branches on my tree, each representing a core relationship. Having said that, I can say I believe in ‘All About Life’ the most as it represents what life is all about for everyone and not just my personal story– spending time with your family, watching sunsets, having a drink with a friend, going on a road trip. That’s my message.

(º)> Looking ahead, how do you hope your music will evolve, both in sound and storytelling, after this debut EP?

I’m super excited about exploring new sounds that I haven’t tried before. I want to see where my current music will take and excited about writing new music, new collaborations, new opportunities. I’m mainly grateful I have the privilege to spread my music across the globe and have it touch so many people, it’s wonderful. Can’t wait to see what the future holds.

(•)> That's all, Folks! Check out Shani Weiss on the Pigeon Spins Playlist