by Josh Belcher, Freelance Writer
Sisters Sarah, Hannah, Eva and Liza are a musical family and they each have very special talents they provide for their collaborative. Together they form the music group SHEL. Hailing from Fort Collins Colorado, this quartet were raised to express themselves freely when it comes to artistic endeavors. Thru lots of practice honing their musical skills they have started on a vast adventure gathering new fans and positive reviews every where they go.
From the music and videos from their website http://shelmusic.com They have a kinship and familiarity to that of the Everly Brothers- genetic harmonies in a female fashion with four voices instead of two. And their personal and intimate approach to songwriting is a breath of fresh air in the world of modern music.
The sisters who are all born within a five year span of one another, were raised in a household with a professional songwriter Father and artist mother. They started performing music at a young age and never looked back. Hannah with lessons on the piano, Sarah on Violin, Liza on drums, and Eva who serves as lead vocalist and performs on mandolin.
Shel is set to perform in Franklin, Thursday July 24th, at 8pm. The show will be held at the Franklin Theatre and aims to benefit “Kids On Stage”. According to the Franklin Theatre website:
“The mission of Kids On Stage is to provide world-class experiences in the visual, performing and technical arts that empower students to be self-disciplined and lifelong learners. With classes based in Leiper’s Fork, Kids On Stage provides a fun, safe environment that inspires creativity and teaches kids from around the world about the visual, performing and technical arts. The spirit and intent of Kids On Stage is simple yet profound by helping kids develop attitudes and skills that will take them far in the classroom, on the stage and in life.”
I got a chance to speak with Eva recently:
WS: For a family with so much talent how do you keep it all together?
Eva: The over all answer to that is it is great. It is definitely challenging. I think over every year that we have done this as a band we have grown closer because in that environment when you are together all of the time and you are working together you have to work thru issues and things that come up. As a result we have become a better team over the years and grown closer as a family.
WS: How did you come up with the band name Shel?
Eva: It is an acronym for all of our first names. Sara came up with the group name when I was around 10. We were sitting at the table and I think this was probably around the time she had first learned about acronyms and was putting her knowledge to good use and we decided it was a very appropriate name because it would not be the same group if any of us left. Because we wouldn’t be able to spell the name anymore.
WS: In your personal bio on your website you said about yourself ” I’m on the brink of my destiny, just like the ugly duckling. Every interaction and accomplishment is bringing me one day closer to swan hood.” what did you mean by that?
Eva: It just sort of summarizes my entire I think. Everything that we go through, especially struggle through, is an opportunity for transformation. You know it can be if we look at it that way or we can let it beat us down. I think when we do that I don’t think we will ever really discover our destiny unless we make a decisions that we are going to overcome the hard things so that we can transform and that the hard things and the trials are necessary to grow and learn how to have compassion for other people. It is the only way we can really gain understanding for others unless we ourselves suffer or go thru something hard. If you know what something is like, or have been thru a similar struggle, you can help others out and give them a hand and be understanding with people and not get up set at others when the handle things a certain way.
WS: Can you give us some details on the Franklin show and the “Kids on Stage” program it will be benefiting?
Eva: Kids on Stage is a fantastic program in Leiper’s Fork where they have all these kids come over the summer and they learn how to do all kinds of things videography, photography, art, music, sound, lights everything that has to do with performance. The kids involved are just wonderful they are so happy and have a blast learning. We have gone over there a couple of times and just performed for them and met a bunch of really great kids.
WS: I learned from your website you design hats?
Eva: I decorate hats. I wish I actually made them. I am looking into becoming a milliner which is actually the art of hat making. I would love to one day be able to make the hats myself, but as of now I just order them and decorate them.
Photo courtesy of http://www.scenemagazine.info/
