Metal Monthly: Hey Shawn, Thank you for your time, and taking the time to tell our readers about Daughters of Mara
Shawn: Anytime. Thanks for your support.
Metal Monthly: Tell us about Daughters of Mara, Lineup?
Shawn: Our lineup is pretty diverse. Eric, our guitar player is a blues prodigy, I came up with classical music and film scores. Our bassist Andy is actually a much better guitar player than I am, and Dave was a jazz nerd.
Somehow we all ended up in the same town from all different parts of the country, and along the way, we'd all twisted our musical backgrounds into what Daughters Of Mara is today.
Metal Monthly: What is going on with you these days, I notice you have more dates of shows, and things are starting to take off for you guys, like I thought they would?
Shawn: We've been keeping busy, that's for sure. Basically, we've hit the new year with a full head of steam and are planning the release of the record, getting ready to tour and launch this thing.
There's a ton of prep that goes into releasing an album, and we're neck deep in it right now. Hopefully it just keeps getting busier!
Metal Monthly: I saw you guys open for Alter Bridge in Vegas, and Even got to talk to you for a few after the show,
During your set you mentioned it was like you first "Real Show", what was it like playing to a packed house that night?
Shawn: The Alter Bridge shows were badass. Not only are they great guys, but the crowds were the biggest we've played so far, and they responded really well. There's nothing in the world that can explain or compare to the feeling you get when you finish a song and you hear a few hundred voices screaming as loud as they can.
It's very humbling and very empowering at the same time.
Metal Monthly: Your Voice is amazing, Vocal Training? Any special tricks or routines you follow, to keep in shape?
Shawn: I have had some vocal training, but that was years ago and it was all classical. I sang opera for several years and studied privately. Not too long after, I found guitars and weed. That classical method went out the window real fast, but the vocal mechanism is essentially the same, whether your Corey Taylor or Pavarotti. I've kept all those years of strengthening and breath control in the back of my mind, and with the help of some CD's that I've found, I've come up with a warm-up routine that seems to work. I never sing without doing at least 15 minutes of warmups. It sounds and looks absolutely ridiculous when I'm doing them, but if you sing, you need to warm up - period. I'm not going to risk vocal damage so I can look cooler for 15 minutes before we play.
Metal Monthly: I will be seeing you guys at Namm, and at The Galaxy Opening for legendary Suicidal Tendencies, your thought on openinig for Suicidal?
Shawn: Well, they've been doing this a hell of a lot longer than we have, so we better bring our A-game! That show is going to be a great opportunity for us. Big thanks to Monster Energy Drinks for inviting us to do that one.
Metal Monthly: In a recent interview on our site with Myles Kennedy, he gave a shout out to you guys, and said to check you out.
Shawn: It's crazy. Mark Tremonti wrote a blog on their MySpace saying we were his favorite new band. I don't care who you are, having your peers show you support and appreciation for your music is the best feeling - especially when those people are as gifted as Myles and Mark.
Metal Monthly: With all the recent reunions like Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, etc is there any band you would want to see reunite (I would love to see Faith no More)
Shawn: I think you hit the nail on the head with that one.
Metal Monthly: Hardest part of your job?
Shawn: Dealing with the "business" is definitely the hardest thing about all of this. People don't realize what being signed really means for an artist. There's no luxury, no big checks when you're starting out.
A record deal is nothing more that a loan to start your own business. At the end of the day, we are responsible for every aspect of what we do, and we make our own business decisions. We have to track down what little money there is (trust me, the labels aren't in a hurry to pay their artists), we have to coordinate everything - from contract negotiations all the way down to drink tickets. It's a real challenge - but a very fun one at that. Thank god we have a great team around us to help!
Metal Monthly: When you were growing up what music did you listen to?
Shawn: I found classical music at a young age. In the eighties, when MTV ran the world, I wasn't allowed to watch it, so I missed EVERYTHING that happened in 80's rock. I missed hair metal, I missed old Metallica, I missed early Slayer and Pantera. I was a fucking dork - but I'm really glad for that actually.
I spent about 5 years working in Guitar Centers and other music stores. I must have listened to every kid with a guitar in Atlanta and I have to tell you, I'm fucking sick of everyone playing the same riffs. I'm sick of guys talking about what scales they know, and I can't stand this marginal resurgence of Iron Maiden riffer bands. That shit was over 20 years ago. Time to move on, geeks.
Metal Monthly: Were you in any bands before ?
Shawn: A few really shitty ones. None you've ever heard of, and none I'd ever tell anyone about! Ive been involved in some really hideous bands, and if I get to where I want to go with this, you can all have some laughs at my expense when the videos hit YouTube!
Metal Monthly: Tell us about the name Daughters of Mara, and why you went with it?
Shawn: It's a story in Buddhist lore. Mara is the devil, essentially, and his insanely hot daughters represent man's downfalls - hatred, lust and greed. He tempts you with them, and if you give in, you're fucked.
I'm not Buddhist or anything, but I think that story is a good reminder for a lot of things. I believe that you should live life your own way. I think people should be allowed to do whatever they damn well please, as long as they aren't hurting anyone, and to do that, you have to be true to yourself regardless of what comes your way.
I could write shitty radio songs all day and get paid for it, but I'd rather not give in. I'd rather be broke but really mean what I say.
Metal Monthly: What’s your personal belief about life on other planets?
Shawn: I don't think we're going to find green men with the ability to travel at light speed, but if you follow the developments in the scientific community regarding microbiology and the development of life, then I think it's arrogant to assume that there couldn't be any other life in our universe.
We have discovered vast colonies of living organisms in places in the ocean that, 20 years ago, were deemed completely inhospitable. We constantly tear down boundaries and prove that the "rules" we thought applied in nature can - and will - be broken. We've explored less that 2% of our oceans and discover hundreds of new species each year. How can we say that we're the only thing out there?
Metal Monthly: Would you go out with Britney?
Shawn: Yes. Then I could kill her.
Metal Monthly: Boxers or Briefs?
Shawn: Just huge balls that barely fit into my pants.
Metal Monthly: Shawn insert any question you wish someone would ask you here and answer it
Shawn: Does the carpet match the drapes? Yes.
Metal Monthly: Thanks Bro for everything, see you at namm and at the Galaxy- anything you want to add?
