Music News Nashville: May 2011

Shawna was featured in Music News Nashville in May 2011.

Shawna Russell — Getting It Right

By Chuck Dauphin

Often, artists remark that that time between your first and second discs can be quite intimidating. After all, you spend your life---up to that point---preparing for that debut disc, and then you only have about eighteen months to do it again. For Oklahoma-born Shawna Russell, the period between her 2008 debut Goddess has been one of huge personal and artistic growth, which can be heard front and center on her new self-titled sophomore release.

... Click here to read the entire story.

Shawna in Stark Country

Shawna is featured prominently in Stark Country this week at radio-info.com, discussing artists who "go at it alone." Click here to read it.

Get Right on The Country Network

The Get Right or Get Left video will air Monday night, May 16, on The Country Network's "Breaking Out show, which airs at 7 p.m. (The video will be shown in the 8 p.m. hour.) Click here to see where to watch.

Shawna Russell Releases Video For "Get Right Or Get Left"

For Immediate Release.

NASHVILLE, TN (May 3, 2011) – Oklahoma recording artist Shawna Russell and her label Way Out West Records have released the video for her latest single, “Get Right Or Get Left.” 

Yallwire will host a World Premiere for the video on Wednesday, May 4, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. CDT http://www.yallwire.com/. (Russell’s debut video "Should've Been Born With Wheels" reached the #1 position on the service’s “Yallturnative” chart, and stayed there for over a month, in 2009.)

“Get Right Or Get Left” was shot in Nashville recently - in between Russell’s busy schedule of tour dates - by noted producer/director, Mark Nicolosi (Stealin’ Angels/Mark Wills). The video features performance footage of Russell and her trademark purple Les Paul “Goddess” guitar and includes the songstress acting in three vignettes where she tells her rude and insensitive man that he has pushed her too far, and he better “Get Right Or Get Left” behind. 

"I had a great time making this video," Russell says. “Director Mark Nicolosi had such a unique vision for telling the story in the song. He helped visually capture the attitude of the music and assertive feeling of the lyrics. I am very honored that Yallwire is making the World Premiere of this video possible. I can't wait to share it with everyone!"

National video promotion for “Get Right Or Get Left” is being handled by Craig Bann of AristoVideo.

“Get Right Or Get Left” was written by Russell; father Keith Russell; and uncle Tim Russell. The song is the current US single from her forthcoming self-titled album, recorded at LOUD Studios in Nashville and produced by Grammy-winning engineer, Julian King, along with Clif Doyal and Tim Russell. The album is slated for release in late-Spring 2011.

"Get Right or Get Left" video to debut on Y'allWire.

Y'allWire will host the World Premiere of Shawna Russell's new video "Get Right Or Get Left" on Wed. May 4 at 9:00 am CDT. Go to yallwire.com to be among the first to see it!

"Sounds Like a Party" Released in Europe, Australia

For Immediate Release:

Shawna Russell Releases “Sounds Like A Party” in Europe and Australia via Hotdisc

Single is Her Second Radio Release from Her Forthcoming Self-Titled Way Out West Records’ Sophomore Album to be Debuted in Month-Long Promotion at CMR Nashville, Europe’s #1 Country Radio Station

NASHVILLE, TN (May 2, 2011) – Shawna Russell has released the single, “Sounds Like A Party” to European and Australian radio via the May edition of Hotdisc (similar to the US CDX service http://www.hotdisc.net). Promotion for “Sounds Like A Party” is being handled by Lee Williams of Django Promotions in London.

Radio programmers can preview and download a broadcast quality copy of the song at: http://airplaydirect.com/shawnarussell/.

“Sounds Like A Party” is Russell’s second radio single release in less than a month, having released “Get Right Or Get Left” to US radio in mid-April.

Both singles and Russell’s upcoming self-titled sophomore album on Way Out West Records are included in a featured artist album promotion during the month of May at CMR Nashville, Europe’s #1 radio station http://www.cmrnashville.com/.

Russell’s European push is sponsored by AirPlay Direct, the global digital delivery platform that has strategic partnerships with both Hotdisc and CMR Nashville.

"I am so excited to have my new music released in Europe!”  Russell says. “It gives me a chance to reconnect with fans and have the opportunity to reach new listeners."

“The decision to release two different singles from Shawna simultaneously in different parts of the world was based on data gathered from her radio download activity at AirPlay Direct,” states Way Out West Records VP/Managing Partner, Clif Doyal. “We began testing songs from the new album with the AirPlay Direct global radio panel in January, and while “Get Right Or Get Left” received the most attention from US programmers, “Sounds Like A Party” was the hands-down favorite among radio tastemakers from across the Atlantic. We wanted to capitalize on that fact and continue to develop the strong European following that Shawna attracted from her debut album ‘Goddess,’” Doyal says. “It is the first time that we have utilized real-time statistical download tracking data to help make decisions on the singles that we release from her. As an independent label, we need every advantage that we can get, and AirPlay Direct offers us the ability to know which new songs of Shawna’s that global radio is most excited about.” (In the sense of full disclosure, Doyal is also Executive VP of AirPlay Direct.)

“Sounds Like A Party” was produced by Grammy-winning engineer Julian King, along with Doyal and Tim Russell. The track features Shawna on electric slide guitar, along with a cast of all-star backing musicians, including Shannon Forrest (2010 ACM “Top Percussionist / Drummer”); bassist Mike Brignardello (Lynyrd Skynyrd, Sugarland); mandolin, banjo and acoustic guitarist and 7-time IBMA “Guitar Player of the Year,” Bryan Sutton; electric, slide and acoustic guitarist, Jon Conley (LeAnn Rimes, Wynonna); along with keyboardist Jim “Moose” Brown (Jamey Johnson, Darius Rucker).