Shy Honey
Shy Honey hails from Portland, OR and combines dreamy, honey-dripped vocals with choruses that float over synth keys and catchy guitar riffs. Both modern and retro, catchy and moody, Shy Honey is putting her own stamp on pop music.
Shy Honey is ...?
... a band started by singer-songwriter, Anna Gilbert from Portland, OR.
The members of Shy Honey are
Jonny McCormick on guitars,
Nick Roseta on drums, and
Ethan Souers on Bass.
Anna plays the keyboards and sings.
Who inspired you to make music in general?
We are inspired by the songs of the 80s and 90s that use heavy synthesizers and electronic instruments. We also love modern pop songs that interweave retro sounds into their songs. We love making nostalgic and emotional dance-worthy songs that make you feel something! Some of our biggest inspirations are MGMT, St. Lucia, Kate Bush, and Beach House.
"Sidewalks" sounds great, what's the story behind the song?
The single, "Sidewalks" is all about chasing that wild feeling of impulsivity – that desire to run away from the mundane and pent-up existence everyone felt during the lockdown.
I wrote this song with my friend, Troy Welstad (keyboardist for Hilary Duff, Selena Gomez, A Fine Frenzy, P!nk) feeling the pain of being isolated and alone in 2020-2021. It’s a song about the inner passion to feel alive again and run down the city “sidewalks” without a care in the world.
How would you describe your creative process and what's the hardest part being a songwriter?
I am always writing something it seems like! And I love to sing down new ideas into my phone as a voice memo or write down ideas in my journal. I am a piano player and have been my whole life, so I usually start my songs on the piano... The hardest part is finding the time to record and sit down and make the actual song. Things are so crazy these days and it can be difficult to carve out time in my schedule to focus solely on writing. It really is a discipline that I am always trying to make room for.
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
I would love to collaborate with Imogen Heap! :) She is a huge inspiration to me because she produces and composes her own stuff. As the songwriter for Shy Honey, it would be amazing to get to work with her!
If I ever come to Portland, where do I find the best place for music?
Portland is an artist's city! There are so many amazing creatives living here and making art... It is hard to choose my top favorite music venues in this town, but some good ones to start with are: The Roseland, Doug Fir, Crystal Ballroom, and Mississippi Studios. They are all amazing spots to hear live bands.
What are your "All time Top 3 Songs", right now, in this second?
1) Little Freak - Harry Styles
2) It's About Damn Time - Lizzo
3) Myth - Beach House
What’s next for you?
We have a single release show coming up on July 3 (this Sunday, single release day) here in Portland. All the info is posted on our @shyhoneymusic Instagram account! :) If you're in the Portland area, please come! We also have a video release party and concert on July 16 with several other local Portland acts, and we are excited to debut another single SOON! A LOT on the horizon for Shy Honey! :)
