India Shawn is a modern muse with a calming presence, crafting love stories and heartfelt tales over smooth, captivating tracks. With over a decade in the music industry as a singer and songwriter, Shawn is an ethereal force. She was born in Los Angeles and her musical roots stretch across the country. Starting her career in her hometown, Shawn eventually found herself in Atlanta, where she immersed herself in the city’s deep rooted R&B scene, further shaping her artistry.
“I moved out to ATL, I was like [in the]10th grade, and that’s when I really started my music journey,” Shawn told Andscape. “I ran into some folks that were trying to manage, and so I ended up recording and really learned early on that songwriting was where it was at.”
Before releasing her debut EP, Origin, in 2012, Shawn had songwriting credits and placements with artists such as Chris Brown, El DeBarge, Keri Hilson, and Monica. In 2013, she gained even more notoriety when Solange Knowles featured her track “I’m Alive” on the Saint Heron compilation album, stamping her as an artist to watch.
Following the release of her single “There Must Be a God” from the She Taught Love movie soundtrack, Andscape caught up with Shawn to learn more about the muse behind the vibes.
Singer India Shawn grew up singing in the church with her family. “I feel like most of us R&B kids have that experience,” she said.
India Shawn
Name:
India Shawn
Hometown:
Los Angeles
Artistic soundscape
Ethereal, soft, storytelling, multidimensional, soft, mysterious, moody
Earliest music memory
Shawn’s soulful sound is deeply rooted in her upbringing, with influences stemming from childhood memories and the musical culture of her church. “I sing with my sister all the time and also grew up singing behind my mom in church. She was the praise and worship leader. So I feel like most of us R&B kids have that experience,” Shawn said. “I used to get these little solos in church, and I think what was affirming for me about that was after service people would come up to me with tears in their eyes like, ‘You really touched me when you sang.’ ” Those early moments of connection to music and the audience laid the foundation for conveying depth and vulnerability through her music.
Influences
For Shawn, music, especially R&B, has always held a special place in her life. “Me and my sister in the living room harmonizing, just picking apart some of our favorite songs, which for me, Mariah Carey, Babyface, Boyz II Men, [and]Brandy,” she said of her early music memories.
Creative Process
Shawn often draws inspiration from real-life experiences and relationships to influence her music. She weaves it into the authenticity and vibe of her songs, but she didn’t immediately recognize where her inspiration came from. “It’s funny that it took me this long to make this connection, but I realized that I was telling my whole story and putting my business out there through my music,” she said. “It took me two albums to realize, wait a minute, I’m letting people in on a lot here … they’re not just songs. This is really truly the life that I’m living.”
Challenges and growth
As Shawn’s career continues to grow, so do the moments of appreciation and reflection. “I was literally just thinking about the very incremental growth of my career. It’s like step by step by step, but then you do have these landmark moments that are more. My first headline tour, which was so beautiful, just knowing, oh, I can pack out a room and people know my lyrics and they’re singing my songs back to me. Those moments that make the waiting not in vain.”
For rising singers and songwriters, Shawn has a wealth of advice. Her biggest offering? Collaboration is key. “I think [collaboration]really is the reason why I’m even still here. So find your people … you’ll know when it feels right and you have that ease and that flow, and you’re able to really make things and create without having to think too hard.” She also shares the importance of patience. “Just be patient about the journey. That has been the theme of my entire career. Let it unfold. I feel like more things come from being in that flow and being present than forcing it all to happen.”
Current Project
“There Must Be a God,” the lead single from the Andscape film She Taught Love, which is now airing on hulu, also serves as a preview of Shawn’s solo album. “[The song] is such a manifestation of God’s love,” she said. “I think when you’re in that place of waiting, it can feel very hopeless. So when you get glimpses of, again, God’s love or the fact that you know there’s a higher power, there’s a source that’s thinking about you, that has you in mind, that has a perfect plan for you, it just feels like the clouds are parting. And it’s just that moment of, I get it. I understand I had to go through all this to get here. And that was exactly what I felt in the studio that day.”
Sheila Matthews is a digital producer at Andscape and a proud HBCU graduate. She believes that “Return of the Mack” should have won a Grammy and her Twitter mentions are open for any debates.
