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Have you met Shauna Burns?

Talking with members of the audience after her show, the woman in the black gown listens intently. It’s her first year on the Renaissance Faire circuit and she’s intensely interested in everything. The conversation ebbs and flows with discussion of newly discovered common interests, welcome praise of the performance, and shared passion for the music. The sights and sounds are all new to her, but somehow it feels like coming home. Let me introduce you to Shauna Burns.

Background

Shauna, a native of Miami now living in Las Vegas, has created music for as long as she can remember. Her music felt very private, though, and she seldom shared it. When she graduated high school in Miami, she headed for the University of Utah to study her other passion, Anthropology. As part of her specialization in Cultural Anthropology (the affect our cultures have on our interactions with each other), she studied many cultures, experiencing their music and, when she was able, traveling and living among the various peoples. The experience has enriched her life and, in the process, her music.

When not studying, she continued to write and play her compositions. Gradually, at the request of friends, she began to perform at small coffee shops around Salt Lake City. The warmth with which her music was received helped her develop confidence and grace under pressure. She found that her “little songs,” as she calls them, appealed to those listening and were ready for sharing. When she graduated, she did something that some might have seen as unconventional, but which worked well for her. She and her husband, James Clark, packed a couple of suitcases and spent the next year in Europe. It was a time of great joy for her, an opportunity to live the cultures she had been studying. While there, she and James talked about her music and her desire to control every aspect of its production. Returning to the US in early 2005, they formed Red Rock Music and produced “Every Thought,” her first CD.

Listeners have told Shauna that they can almost feel the music move and weave as it tells a story. They told her it had a Celtic peppering to it, which makes sense as she had always been drawn to that type of music, though she hadn’t set out to achieve the sound consciously. She credited Caroline Kemper, her niece and the outstanding harpist in some of the songs, with enhancing the Celtic feeling. Enthusiasts began asking—sometimes in person, other times via email—if she had considered performing at a Renaissance or Medieval festival. Other than a couple of Celtic music festivals in Washington DC, she had never attended one though she had wanted to.

After the release by Red Rock Music of the second CD, the Moon and the Fire Circle, Shauna received more requests to play at faire. She was concerned that her music, which she always thinks of as alternative, would be too “rock” for the atmosphere of the faire. After discussing it with her publicist, they decided to give it a shot and scheduled Shauna to appear at the Utah Renaissance Festival and Fantasy Faire (URFFF) in May.

Faire History

This being her first year appearing at faires, Shauna has been on the entertainment line-up as a special guest. That means only appearing one time per day, usually for a mid-afternoon show. When performing in clubs and other venues, she has typically been a solo show, just her and the piano. At faire, she is joined by the band which backs her on recordings—James Clark (her husband) on drums; Steve Lemmon on guitar; Marc Kolodziej on bass; and Ryan Tilby on guitar and mandolin. She told me it’s nice, allowing her to do some of the music solo as usual and sometimes with the band. They have played together for quite some time and have a good rapport. Being able to see the audiences is a change from normal stage shows where there are usually lights shining into your eyes and you can’t make eye contact. She’s enjoying that and, as the show progresses, all of them are watching the audience and adapting the song to the response they are getting. She really likes the contrast between the stage and faire shows, saying that it is giving the music another dimension.

Shauna expressed gratitude for Vivian Noah, a staff member of URFFF, who took them under her wing and made sure they had everything they needed. Between Vivian and Jenn Rhoades, the director of stage entertainment, the band soon felt comfortable with the intricacies of performing at an outdoor festival. A rich chuckle came over the line when I asked Shauna whether she had been required to get garb for her performances. “I don’t know if it was in the contract or not, but it didn’t matter. I had dresses that would have worked, but I wanted to dress so had a gown made in Europe to wear. James is in to it too and has a costume.” Her gown is a beautiful medieval looking piece in black and olive and she looks lovely in it.

Following the show, Shauna was pleased that audience members approached her. She said her music struck a chord with people and they wanted to know where the music comes from and about her. As they talked, she was often surprised to find that they had lots in common on multiple levels. She really enjoyed it and said it was very different from a stage show where people come in, listen to the music, and leave. At faire, it isn’t just a show; it’s a conversation. When not on stage, Shauna and the band wander the faire site, looking at the merchant’s wares and sampling the treats available. At URFFF, the offerings of Krikor at Arabian Knights, a Middle Eastern food booth that offered an outstanding hummus plate and the best baklava, captivated her attention.

So far this year, the weather has been outstanding at the faires she has attended. As a first year performer, she said appearing outside was her biggest challenge. She recommended that anyone considering faires make sure to prepare for the elements and have on hand things like bug repellent, first aid supplies, and hand wipes. It has been fun and she thinks she will keep doing faires, saying that it gives a dimension to her performances that helps keep the spark alive.

Current

“There’s always something in the oven,” new music always being written, Shauna told me. Her newest project is approaching film and TV music supervisors about using her music to represent books, movies, ideas, and pictures. Between that and her live shows, she’s keeping very busy. “The music is driving what and where, I’m just following. It’s been really, really magical.”

Her next faire performance is at the 2008 Cloudcroft Renaissance Fantasy Faire at 4pm on Saturday and Sunday. Both CDs will be available at the show. Negotiations are in process for her to appear at the Washington Renaissance Fantasy Faire near Seattle.

Looking in to the future, Shauna sees music continuing to play a key role in her life. She and James plan to open their own studio. She wants to travel and share the music, perhaps in other countries. The kindness that audiences and management show to the music, herself, and the band is so appreciated, she told me, “I’m so grateful.”

Final Thoughts

Shauna told me that she finds it truly humbling to have people embrace her little songs and is continually amazed when the music connects with people. “I’m never sure how my music will be received and never take people’s reactions for granted,” she told me.

Websites for Shauna Burns:

ShaunaBurns.com

Shauna on MySpace

June 24th, 2008 Posted by Escarlata | Have You Met? | 2 comments