Shannon Wright

“I think when I first started, people were just like, ‘What in the hell is this? What is this scary girl?’”
Shannon Wright is referring to her notorious live performances, which are so intense they can be frightening. Onstage, Wright has the rare ability to channel her most vicious and untamed demons—whatever it is that drives
her gorgeous, dramatic music—every time she plays. She thrashes around and hits her acoustic guitar and piano so hard you think
her fingers might break off into halves, and
you can hear the breathless momentum of despair in the annals of her voice. Sometimes, her warm, pleading singing erupts into shrieks, and the kind of physical and emotional
openness she exhibits can leave an audience exhausted. Because of this, and her impressive musical proficiency, however, her live show is
practically life-altering.
“I think others understand and know that it’s an honest thing that’s happening, and it’s all I can do,” Wright explains. “I can only be who I am. I know; I’m realistic about it that I’m not for everyone. If there are ten people who are moved, that’s who I’m playing for. I’ve had people yell at me [at shows], and it doesn’t affect me because I know I’m being honest.”