Shiney

GIRL.COM.AU - 'STARS OF TOMORROW' SERIES

This month's Star of Tomorrow is Melbourne all-girl group SHINEY. Comprising three talented performers, Deanna Constantine-Cook, Marisa Magee and Jo Russell, Shiney can often be seen performing around the traps in Melbourne. Armed with a unique style of original music, combined with their distinct personalities, Shiney hope to secure a recording deal in the near future. Group member Jo Russell let us in on a few secrets about Shiney…

Stage Name: Shiney
Age: Shiney is only a few months old :) The girls in Shiney are just a bit older than that.

Location: Melbourne, Australia

Music Genre: Folky girly pop rock

When did you realise that music was your passion? As far back as I can remember… and the same for the other girls too I'm sure. My mum was a singer, and we were always surrounded by music as we grew up - so it was a bit of a natural progression.

List three musical influences: Tiddas, The Clouds, You Am I

How many years have you been performing We've all been performing in some capacity or other for years, however performing as part of Shiney is a recent phenomenon.

Do you write your own material? Totally, absolutely. Is there any other way?

Have you found the Internet to be helpful/useful in fast-tracking your music career? Absolutely. We've had our website at www.shiney.tk up and running for a while now, with links to our mp3 site where you can download our music, so that's been great. We can keep people up to date with upcoming gigs via email, and send gig listings and photos to street rags. It's fantastic.

In following your dream, who has helped you along the way? So many people! All the normal friends and family…and clever ones who've been around the traps in the music industry for a while, offering heaps of great advice. And the venues that give new artists a chance…. like the Barleycorn Hotel in Collingwood, The Soul Train in Brunswick. The Dan O'Connell. Everyone's gotta start somewhere…

Is there anything you wish you could change about the music industry? Where do I start! The main thing that really annoys me personally is people with miniscule talent and no writing abilities becoming corporate sluts - getting all this money put behind them to push them as this perfectly inhuman package - perfectly stylised, perfectly digitalised voices - perfectly fake. While the people with real talent and real songwriting abilities have to fight to get a gig. It sucks.

What advice can you offer to other budding young artists? Write your own stuff. And just keep on keeping on.

Where do you envision yourself in 5 years time? Still having a ball with the other Shiney girls. We're fantastic mates as much as anything else. Still writing, still playing and hopefully getting some recognition for it. Oh, and we'd love to be doing festivals.

Where can people purchase/listen to your music? You can go listen by visiting: www.mp3.com.au/shiney/

GIRL'S 60 SECOND QUIZ

Full Name: Joanne Karoline Russell
Nickname(s): Jo
Star Sign: Virgo

Fave Food: Sushi
Fave Film: The Matrix
Fave Actor: Lassie
Fave Animal: Lassie

Describe Yourself In 3 Words: Busy, busy, busy
Best Feature: Eyes
Worst Feature: Temper
Person You Would Most Like To Meet: The person who's gonna give us recording deal.
Hobbies/Interests: Trying to get a recording deal.

First Job: Working in a video shop. I was 16.
A Talent You Wish You Had: Flying.
The Best Advice Given To You: Keep your advice to yourself.
What Can You Never Leave Home Without: My house keys…but I often do. J
If you were a cartoon character, which one would you be? Daffy duck
If you were told you had a minute to live, what would you do? Kiss my kids.


N.B.: If you would like to nominate a Star of Tomorrow, email michelle@girl.com.au, include a brief biography of the person you are nominating and tell us why they are the next big thing!