Shawna Featured In Tulsa World

The Tulsa World featured Shawna on Wednesday. Click here to read.

Shawna Signs With William Morris Endeavor

NASHVILLE, TN (September 4, 2012) - Way Out West Records' Country artist Shawna Russell has signed for booking representation with William Morris Endeavor (WME) in Nashville. WME is the largest talent agency in the world and a dominant force in the Country marketplace with a roster of superstar acts including Taylor Swift, Blake Shelton, Reba and Rascal Flatts.

"I am honored to join the WME roster," says Russell. "It is another huge milestone in my career and I look forward to many great opportunities to come from this."

Russell's latest single, "Sounds Like A Party," from her critically acclaimed sophomore album, is currently gaining airplay traction on Texas/Red Dirt stations and at mainstream Country radio where it is climbing the MusicRow chart. The song, co-written by Russell, follows on the heels of her previous single, "Waitin' On Sunrise," which was one of only two independent female singles to go Top 30 on that chart in the past year.

Russell's powerful vocals and considerable skills on the electric slide guitar recently attracted the attention of Billboard.com who raved that "Russell dazzled the crowd" when she opened for Kix Brooks in front of over 13,00 fans on July 4 in Oklahoma. Her busy summer touring schedule also included support slots with Ronnie Dunn, Lonestar, Rick Springfield and others.

Russell's Country, Americana and Rock stylings are a natural outgrowth of her years spent paying dues in major nightclubs across America. Fittingly, the Oklahoma songbird was captured recently in performance clips of "Sounds Like A Party" filmed at "The World's Largest Honky Tonk," Billy Bob's Texas, for an episode of the Golf Channel's popular lifestyle and travel show, GolfNow Dallas, which aired nationally this month. Russell was also interviewed by popular GolfNow host, Lauren Thompson. Watch the online version here.  

Russell is managed by Clif Doyal of the Clif Doyal Agency of Nashville.

Shawna to appear on Golf Channel on August 20

Golf Channel Host Lauren Thompson (L) and Shawna Russell (R) 

NASHVILLE, TN (August 16, 2012) - Way Out West Records' artist Shawna Russell will perform on the national television broadcast of the Golf Channel's  popular travel documentary series, GolfNow, on Monday, August 20 at 8:30 p.m. EST.  

 

The dynamic female singer and guitarist is featured in an episode entitled GolfNow Dallas performing her latest single "Sounds Like A Party" at Billy Bob's Texas.

Russell is also interviewed by Golf Channel host, Lauren Thompson, in a special online feature that will coincide with the broadcast and is available here. Thompson caught up with the Oklahoma songbird on her tour bus, formerly owned by Willie Nelson, just before Russell took the stage at the "World's Largest Honky Tonk" to visit with her about her career and life on the road with her band.

Oklahoma Singer/Songwriter Shawna Russell Releases "Sounds Like A Party" to Texas/Red Dirt Radio Today via CD Tex

Nashville, TN (August 13, 2012) - Way Out West Records' singer/songwriter Shawna Russell releases her latest single "Sounds Like A Party" to Texas/Red Dirt radio today via CD Tex. The song can be streamed and radio programmers may download a broadcast quality copy here.

"Sounds Like A Party" was co-written by Russell and is from her critically acclaimed self-titled sophomore album. With a sassy vocal and a snappy backbeat, the retro and rockin' track also showcases the "Okie Songbird's" considerable prowess on the electric slide guitar.

Already gaining traction with "early believers" at radio, "Sounds Like A Party" marks a welcome return to the Texas/Red Dirt scene for Russell.  Her previous singles, "Should've Been Born With Wheels" and "Fire In The Desert," were respectively in the Top 30 and Top 40 of the Texas Music and Texas Regional Radio Report charts in 2009.

In addition to the radio release, "Sounds Like A Party" is currently the focus of a dance club promotion and is gaining rave reviews from venues including Billy Bob's Texas in Ft. Worth. The venerable Texas landmark is also featured in the video for the song which can be viewed here. Russell was interviewed recently just before taking the stage there by Golf Channel host, Lauren Thompson, and parts of her performance, including "Sounds Like A Party," were filmed for a future episode of the network's popular travel documentary series, "Golf Now."

"Sounds Like A Party" is receiving strong airplay in other parts of the country as well and is currently at #52 the MusicRow chart. A song that resounds with listeners of all stripes, "Sounds Like A Party" has been a fan favorite since it was first released in Europe last year and rose to #3 on the Hotdisc chart in three weeks. Closer to home, it was recently chosen as the "Official" song of this year's July 4 "Summer Oil Patch Festival" in Drumright, Oklahoma, where Russell was the special guest star and opened for Kix Brooks (formerly of Brooks & Dunn) to an estimated crowd of over 13,000 people on a bill that included Red Dirt favorites Bo Phillips and the Red Dirt Rangers. 

 Radio promotion of "Sounds Like A Party" to the Texas charts is being headed up by Dorothea Ivey of Cabin Creek Promotions.

Russell, who resides in Okemah, Oklahoma, has taken a different path than many artists have in her quest to establish herself as a contender in today's crowded music market; She has retained Oklahoma as her home base and partnered with a veteran music business executive and an Oklahoma oil and gas magnate to establish her own record label where she has released two albums, numerous singles and videos. Her music  - which combines elements of Country, Rock, Red Dirt, Folk and Americana  - receives airplay around the world, and all the while she retains control over her image, the marketing of her music, and her sound. And she tours constantly, performing over 100 dates a year with her band traveling in a bus formerly owned by music icon, Willie Nelson.

Shawna Dazzles at OilPatch

Shawna joined Kix Brooks and an estimated crowd of 13,500 on the Fourth of July in Drumright, Oklahoma. Read the story in Billboard here.

Shawna to join Kix Brooks at OilPatch Festival

Shawna is the special guest star with headliner Kix Brooks (from Brooks and Dunn) at the July 4 Summer OilPatch Festival in Drumright, Oklahoma. Click here to read all about it in this month's edition of The Current.  

Music City Encore

Shawna was featured in Music City Encore with a feature story and audio interview.

Feature story: http://musiccityencore.com/shawna-russell-expanding-her-fan-base-one-single-at-a-time/

Audio interview: http://musiccityencore.com/mce-interview-shawna-russell/

Shawna Russell Releases Hot New Summertime Single "Sounds Like A Party" to Radio via Play MPE

Nashville, TN (May 22, 2012) - Way Out West Records' singer/songwriter Shawna Russell has released her latest single "Sounds Like A Party" to radio via Play MPE. The release is fast on the heels of her previous single "Waitin' On Sunrise," which landed at #29 last week after spending five consecutive weeks as the top small label independent artist on the MusicRow chart. Russell is only the second independent female to hit the Top 30 on their chart in the past year.

"Sounds Like A Party" was produced at LOUD Studios in Nashville by Grammy-winning engineer Julian King, along with Clif Doyal and Tim Russell. The track features Shawna on vocals and electric slide guitar, along with a cast of all-star backing musicians, including Shannon Forrest (Rascal Flatts, Chris Young), bassist Mike Brignardello (Luke Bryan, Sugarland), acoustic guitarist and 7-time IBMA "Guitar Player of the Year" Bryan Sutton, electric guitarist Jon Conley (Kenny Chesney sideman for "Brothers Of The Sun" tour), and keyboardist Jim "Moose" Brown (Jamey Johnson, Darius Rucker).

"Sounds Like A Party" is Russell's third single from her critically-acclaimed self-titled 2011 album. When it was first released in Europe last spring, the song rose to #3 on the Hotdisc chart in just three weeks.
Promotion plans for "Sounds Like A Party" include a dance club and venue promotion with Marco Club Connection. A video for the song is planned.

"Sounds Like A Party" has also been chosen as the "Official" song of the July 4 "Summer OilPatch Festival" in Drumright, Oklahoma, one of the state's largest annual holiday celebrations. Russell returns as a special guest star at this year's concert and lifestyle event where she has appeared every year since 2008 and performed to an estimated 10,000 people at last year's show.

"I am excited to release 'Sounds Like A Party," Russell says. "It is a lighthearted song with a retro feel that is the perfect soundtrack to Summer fun!"

Russell's promotion team is helmed by Way Out West Managing Partner, Clif Doyal. Radio promotion is led in-house by Way Out West's VP of Artist Development, Promotion & Marketing, Mike Severson, and includes veteran promoters Regina Raleigh and Ann Chrisman. Russell is represented for digital strategy and marketing by CRM Studios of Dallas. Publicity and marketing services are by CDA Promotions-Nashville and Bobbe Morhiser as Manager of Venue Marketing for Marco Club Connection. Russell is represented for management and booking by The Clif Doyal Agency.

Shawna Russell Interviewed at Billy Bob's Texas by the Golf Channel for "Golf Now" Travel Documentary Series

Lauren Thompson (L), Host of the Golf Channel show "Golf Now" interviews Shawna Russell (R) on her bus prior to her performance this week at Billy Bob's Texas.

NASHVILLE, TN (May 18, 2012) - Way Out West Records' artist Shawna Russell was interviewed by Golf Channel host, Lauren Thompson, at Billy Bob's Texas this week for a future episode of the network's popular travel documentary series, "Golf Now." The Golf Channel was in the D/FW area for the Byron Nelson Championship in Irving, Texas.

Thompson caught up with the Oklahoma songbird on her tour bus just before Russell took the stage at "The World's Largest Honky Tonk" to visit with her about her career and life on the road with her band travelling the country in a vintage touring coach formerly owned by the legendary Willie Nelson. Afterward, the Golf Channel film crew captured the dynamic singer and guitarist in a performance of her forthcoming single "Sounds Like A Party," and her current Top 30 MusicRow chart hit, "Waitin' On Sunrise."

*Photo credit: Giovanni Galluci

Shawna Nominated for Top 'Country Album' by 11th Annual Independent Music Awards

NASHVILLE, TN (March 12, 2012)- Way Out West Records' artist Shawna Russell has been nominated by the 11th Annual Independent Music Awards in the 'Country Album' category for her self-titled sophomore album.

This is the second IMA nomination for Russell. Her debut album, Goddess, was nominated in the same category in 2008.

More than 300 exceptional self-released and independent label artists, as well as former major label acts were named by Music Resource Group (MRG) recently as Nominees in The 11th Annual Independent Music Awards (The IMAs), the influential awards program for independent bands and fans. IMA winners will be promoted to more than 50 million music fans worldwide.

The 11th IMA Nominees are an eclectic mix of established artists and artists on the rise. In addition to Russell, other nominees include Bruce Cockburn (Folk/Singer-Songwriter Album), Ellis Marsalis (Concept Album and Cover Song), Larry Carlton (Tribute Album), April Verch (Americana Album and Acoustic Song), RuPaul (Social Action Song), and retro-rock recording artist JD McPherson (Rock/Hard Rock Album), among others.

Representing the broad spectrum of today's global independent music scene, the Nominees in over 70 Song, Album, Music Video and Design categories were culled from thousands of submissions from North America, South America, Asia, Africa, Australia and Europe.

Winners will be determined by a panel of 77 influential artist and industry judges including Keith Richards, Tom Waits, Kathleen Brennan, Suzanne Vega, Joshua Redman, Tori Amos, Michael Franti, Bettye LaVette, Del McCoury,  Ozzy Osbourne, Shelby Lynne, Alan Light (Live From The Artists Den), Kevin Lyman (Warped Tour), Bill Bragin (Lincoln Center), Sara Beesley (Joe's Pub), Chris Diaz (Knitting Factory Entertainment), and Evan Schlansky (American Songwriter) and will be announced in April, 2012. In addition to industry-determined winners, music fans from around the world have until Friday, July 20, 2012 to cast their votes for Russell and other nominees at  The IMA Vox Pop Jukebox to determine the fan-selected IMA Winners.

Russell's latest single, "Waitin' On Sunrise" is currently #37 on the MusicRow chart.  She is currently filming a reality television series tentatively titled "Small Bus, Big Country," which documents her life as a working female artist who travels the country in a tour bus once owned by musical icon, Willie Nelson. The series is being developed by CRM Studios of Dallas, Texas.

Shawna featured at Billboard.com

Shawna was featured Wednesday at Billboard.com in a spotlight feature titled "Shawna Russell Sees The Light."

Click here for the story.

Shawna Storms Nashville to Shoot Footage for Reality Television Series Pilot

NASHVILLE, TN (January 18, 2012) - Way Out  West Records' artist, Shawna Russell, visited  Nashville recently on a whirlwind songwriting and  promotional trip that was filmed for a reality  television series that is being developed by  Dallas-based CRM Studios.

The as-yet-untitled series will focus on Russell's life as  an independent female recording artist who performs  over 100 dates a year with her band, traveling in a  vintage Silver Eagle bus once owned by music  icon, Willie Nelson.

Highlights of Russell's Nashville trip included a co-  writing session with award-winning songwriter, Regie  Hamm ("The Time Of My Life," #1 single by  American Idol winner David Cook), performances at Country Weekly magazine and Country Aircheck, plus interviews for Billboard and the syndicated television series, Inside Music Row. Russell was followed every step of the way by noted Nashville videographer Mark Nicolosi (Stealing Angels, Mark Wills).

Additional footage will also be filmed when Russell headlines in concert at the Waxahachie Texas Theater in Waxahachie, TX, on Saturday, January 21.

Russell, a high-profile independent artist with a reputation as a tireless performer, is currently promoting her latest single, "Waitin' On Sunrise," from her critically acclaimed self-titled sophomore album. Signed to Way Out West Records, a label that she co-owns, Russell has successfully promoted 7 singles from two albums, charting nationally on the MusicRow, Billboard "New and Active" and Texas Music charts, and internationally on the Hotdisc and New Christian Music charts. Russell's videos have received widespread airplay at The Country Network, GACTV.com, CMT.com, and Yallwire, among others. 

Photos from Russell's Nashville trip may be viewed and downloaded at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/clifdoyal/sets/72157628847771731/

Shawna Russell to Perform in Concert at Waxahachie Texas Theater on Saturday, January 21

Portions of Concert to be Filmed for Reality Television Series Pilot

NASHVILLE, TN (January 13, 2012) -- Way Out West Records’ artist, Country singer/songwriter Shawna Russell, will be appearing in concert at the Waxahachie Texas Theater, 110 W Main St. in Waxahachie, TX, on Saturday, January 21 at 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $10.00 and can be purchased at http://www.texasmusictheater.com/. For more information call (972) 937-1993.

The concert is part of the "Ladies of Texas Music Series" sponsored by KEBC 1390 radio, and portions will be filmed by CMR Studios for a reality television series pilot entitled "Should’ve Been Born With Wheels," which focuses on Russell and her life as an independent female recording artist who performs over 100 dates a year with her band, traveling in a vintage Silver Eagle Bus once owned by music icon, Willie Nelson.

Customers who purchase an advance ticket and a Shawna Russell CD prior to the show will receive a free tour of the "Willie Bus" and an informal meet-and-greet with Russell herself.

Details of the promotion are as follows: Numbered raffle tickets will be handed out to customers upon entrance at Texas Theater. Three (3) prize sets will be given out during the concert. Prize 1 will be a guitar autographed by Russell and the opening act. Prize 2 will be a Shawna Russell T-shirt and an autographed CD. The Grand Prize will be VIP passes to Billy Bob's Texas on February 24th OR 25th to see Shawna Russell open for either Robert Earl Keen or B. B. King (this prize is winner’s choice).

Russell is a high-profile independent artist who has built a reputation as a tireless and uncompromising artist. She is currently promoting her latest single, "Waitin’ On Sunrise" from her critically acclaimed self-titled sophomore album.

Backed by Way Out West Records, a label that she co-owns, Russell has successfully promoted 7 singles from two albums, charting nationally on the Music Row, Billboard "New and Active," and Texas Music charts, and internationally on Hotdisc and the New Christian Music charts. Russell’s videos have received widespread airplay at The Country Network, GACTV.com, CMT.com, and Yallwire, among others.