SHELLY BROWN

SINGER | SONGWRITER | VOCAL COACH

Shelly sings from her soul. Actually, it’s deeper than that. It’s like it’s from her bones. Every cell of her being is sung when she performs. This type of vulnerability and artistry is special to see, feel and hear. Shelly Brown is a force of nature. Subtle, but powerful like the tides. Be sure to experience her overwhelm, at least once in your life. Shelly’s band features horns, harmonies, rhythm and groove. The set will build, from intimate and poetic, to a powerfully heartfelt alchemy of soul music.

Shelly is currently teaching Songwriting and Vocal Workshops hosted at SAE Byron Bay; leading the ever-joyful Brunch Choir in Lennox Head and in the busy final stages of producing a double album of band and acoustic songs created over the last year. When she’s not zipping off to teach vocal retreats in Bali, Magnetic Island and Byron Bay, Shelly can be found recording her podcast projects, writing a song on a beach somewhere or seeking a gig where audiences sway and dance, listen and groove, lean in and mmhmm endearingly with lyrics about life, love, parenthood, grief, honesty, passion and getting through some hard times.

THE VISION

Shelly’s next project is to create an audio/musical project traipsing the skies Shelly’s fathers’ light aircraft fly, around the regional areas of Australia. To write songs and stories about Australia’s land, sky and people- Shelly needs to travel out to these places and connect.

She aims to head to regional areas where she knows she has musical and aviation connection to; to share and connect through singing and songwriting workshops, perform gigs, connect with the light aircraft owners in the area to record and create.

Shelly Brown + Dan Brown Duo

• SHORT BIO

Shelly’s voice is a warm, softened tone, dynamic and powerful. Her music is a blend of groove, folk, jazz and soul music. She plays baritone ukulele with reckless abandon. Her dad told her a guitar is a percussion instrument, and she’s never looked back. She performs with the effervescent Dan Brown (Red Bantoo) on Keys and Bass,

• LONG BIO

Singing Lessons for No One Podcast has just hit 70k plays (Early 2023)

Sold out show at Nor-Easter Festival Lennox Head

Supported Dionne Warwick; Jon Cleary

Multiple performances at Mullum Music Festival; Woodford Folk Fest; York Jazz Festival

‘Album of the Year’ & ‘Female Vocal of the Year’ Dolphin Music Awards

Performed in Chile, Fiji, Vietnam, Europe, Hawaii.

TWO Full length Albums under ‘Shelly Brown’, and Three full length band albums under “The Fortunate Souls’.

Shelly’s voice is a warm, softened tone, dynamic and powerful. Her music is a blend of groove, folk, jazz and soul music. She plays baritone ukulele with reckless abandon. Her dad told her a guitar is a percussion instrument, and she’s never looked back. She performs with the effervescent Dan Brown (Red Bantoo) on Keys and Bass.

Shelly Brown brings laid-back soul to relax your mind and move your body to. Featuring delicately woven lyrics with a distinct Australian soul, personal tone, supported by decades in the business, Shelly is a superbly dynamic singer who will make you groove and relax your shoulders to some soulful sweetness.

Shelly and Dan met way back in the early 21st century, however, started to perform music together in 2009 and wondered why they had taken so long. Dan’s sometimes delicate, often funky and always attentive accompanying supports Shelly’s improvising, unique and full voiced style. They enjoy playing music, and it shows. You can hear their honest laughs of joy from the stage, and it’s infectious to say the least.

In 2012, then ‘enmaidened’ named Shelly Hughes released her first album, ‘Where The Owl Was’ to critical acclaim. The music was received with open arms, warm reviews and cups of tea, “Honeyed Soul” was the sentiment echoed by ABC Radio’s Robbie Buck. A dream band, hand-picked and flown in from around the country, has been performing to packed houses at places like Mullumbimby Music Festival, Byron Bay, the Gold Coast and Melbourne.
With the awe-inspiring birth of a new human in 2013, both the music and the parents have taken on new life and new rhythms. But don’t be fooled, Shelly Browns performance is no lullaby – rather a soul filled, passionate vocal expression with slick bass lines, defined rim shots and embracing keys. Honeyed soul indeed…

The live show promises rich honeyed soul infused with a deep groove and slick jazz undertones.

Raised by sailors & aviators on a steady diet of singing around the family table, Shelly Brown was accustomed to Aussie folk & sea shanty’s from the get-go. Into the study of music she went, meeting jazz & soul, her husband on piano, and a child to-boot! Overseas tours, independent albums, house concerts, pandemics & a house flood; a passion for leading vocal workshops to warm the soul (not to mention her singing podcast); now, through rebuilding home & studio, she’s headed for folk festivals near and far and workshop soirees anywhere that wants to bring passion to singing.

Vocal Workshop Bio

What the people say:

“I wouldn’t miss it. It brings so much joy to my day and week”.

“I look back to the first session- It was clunky and I felt all nervous. Now I feel comfortable, I’m writing lovely songs and I am able to perform them. I did an open mic in front of an audience!”

“It’s been a lot of work from me but it’s a massive driver of my improvement.”

A creative exploration into songwriting, improvisation, lyric writing, singing and performing in a safe, fun, and explorative environment. Shelly’s approach is all fun, no stress, encouraging and supportive.

The workshops are presented by renowned singing and songwriting mentor, Shelly Brown, and are designed specifically for young through to mature age adults. The workshops require no prior formal experience.

You will be encouraged to grow and explore your creativity by engaging with your music. Through vocal warm-ups, exploring vocal techniques, exploring songwriting practices playfully and with no expectation other than to dive in and see what comes out.

Workshop Running Order/Joy To Be Had:

• Welcome & Acknowledgement of Country
• Warm up – Vocal Techniques with Music Theory Games
• Group Singing – Harmony, Dynamics, Heart and Soul.
• Songwriting Exploration / Sharing Ideas and Thoughts
• Performance Techniques / Recording Techniques

Shelly leads a vocal workshop like a wander through a playground. Vocal exploration through songs, harmony, body work and fun. Music is about percussion, breathing, dance and shedding your worry for how things should sound, and leaning into how things feel that day, in this way, there is no right or wrong, just sing. Shelly has studied Contemporary vocals, (Certificate, Bachelor, Honours), toured with various bands near and far (Red Bantoo, CBD Dub Project, Cass Eager), Supported some world class legends (Jon Cleary, Dionne Warwick, The Badloves), and created a number of albums.

Using a mixture of music and textures with a focus on Australian; Female; Original; Gospel; Maori; Brazilian and African ingredients- a cake will be made with the moment in time of that days workshop. Different every time, creating this golden orb of sustenance for the soul.

• BAND

Album: “Where the Owl was”

Shelly Brown – 2012

Vitamin Records

Honeyed Soul

Robbie Buck; Radio National.

Vocalist Shelly Hughes, the “mistress of twang”, the “siren of sob”, takes you to emotional places places with her vocal interpretations. The warmth of her connection with the audience has them smiling in wonder, sometimes eyes closed, but fully aware of how such a voice can move you.