We had the opportunity to have a 'virtual sit down' with SALLY SHAPIRO, who was kind enough to answer some questions for us! We love the single Miracle and look forward to the new album which will include collaborations with German nu-disco producer TENSNAKE and Swedish italo disco duo CLOETTA PARIS
Who are your musical influences?
Mostly Italian and French romantic 80s disco like Valerie Dore, Mylène Farmer, Savage, Fun Fun...but also more modern forms of electronic music. With Roger as a co-writer also some indie pop music influences.
Which artists did you grow up listening to?
I listened a lot to Swedish pop artists like Lili & Sussie, Lena Philipsson and also to the Eurovision Song Contest. I still watch ESC every year with my friends.
You are notably regarded as quite shy when it comes to publicity and the record making process. Has your confidence grown now the first record has been so well received and you have a growing fan base?
I don't have to be dragged into the studio to sing anymore...but I'm still quite shy, I don't like anyone to be in the studio when I sing and I don't enjoy being photographed or filmed. It's slowly going easier though, we recorded some scenes for a music video a few days ago and it went better than last time. It will be finished in a few months.
Will we be seeing more of Sally Shapiro or do you plan to keep the sense of mystery surrounding you?
I actually don´t really have a plan. I never had with this project.
Are you going to performing any live shows in support of the album? If so what can we expect from them?
Well you will see me a little in the video and I will make a few interviews but we don't plan to go on tour...it's not a strategy to appear mysterious, it's just that I don't enjoy standing on stage. Johan will do a few DJ sets, that's all...this is more of a hobby for me, I have a normal job aside from this project and prefer to have it that way. But of course I like music and singing!
Tells us about the new record. Is it a similar sound to the italo-disco sound of ‘Disco Romance’ ? Any favorite tracks on the new album?
We're not going in a dramatically new direction, but the album is still a bit different than Disco Romance and definitely more varied when it comes to the production, taking influences from more sources. The lyrics are a bit more self-confident too, I like that. It's a very romantic album just like Disco Romance. It's difficult to pick favourites but I'd probably say Miracle and Save Your Love.
What is working with Johan (her producer) like, how does the process work?
Johan (and sometimes the co-writer Roger Gunnarsson) comes up with an idea and play it for me, I give feedback and then he works a bit more, then I record the vocals on some weekend and he mixes it. So it's pretty simple, we don't make any demo versions except if Johan has made some version that he sings on himself. We record everything in his apartment.
I know you had mentioned that you had written a song before the ‘Sally Shapiro’ project. Is writing something that interests you and have you written any of the songs on the new album?
I don't write much music, the track I mentioned earlier is nothing I have played to Johan yet so it's not on the new album. I like playing simple accords on guitar, singing, and sometimes something comes by, but seldom something I feel is worth finishing...
What are you currently listening to?
Au Revoir Simone, Suzanne Vega, Marit Bergman and then I recently pulled out some old CDs by Belle & Sebastian. So more indie pop than disco actually.
What are some of your favorite records of the last year?
Oh I'm terrible keeping up to date with new music. I'm always behind. Maybe the Au Revoir Simone album came out last year?
Thanks Sally!
MIRACLE (DOWNLOAD)
