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IBG Interview – 8 Questions With… Shirena Parker

Most musicians discover a passion for music at an early age. Then there are others that fall completely head over heels in love with the sound. Our recent find Shirena Parker is one of those super music lovers.

We had the chance to catch up with the talented music maker and get a deeper dive into her musical process. Enjoy the interview: 

First off, what is it that first drew you to creating music?

The keys…. I heard a piano for the first time when I was five. My aunt used to play it at my grandmother’s house and I was completely enamored by the sound. I wanted to manipulate the sound right away but I didn’t know how. I remember almost wanting to cry because I wanted to make music so badly.

I started lessons when I was six and continue to play for nine years. It was definitely my “voice” before I discovered my singing voice if that makes sense….so it was the catalyst to all my writing and creative discovery.

How would you describe the Shirena Parker sound?

Depressing but hard AF lol. Melancholy with an 808.

Which artists have had the biggest influence on you?

With my music – I would say Juice WRLD, Tory Lanez, and Rod Wave. As far as personally I would say, Céline Dion.

Tell us about your songwriting process? How does a song come together for you?

I was asked if I think about each line carefully as I write or if it all just kind of comes out. For me, it all comes out at once usually and then I go through a rush of edits and re-edits until I can properly breathe through the record. If that makes sense… and there’s never really a feeling that it’s complete, to be honest… it’s just that the rush of edits stops happening and I have to just leave it alone at that point.

But usually the next day I look over it and it turns out okay.

You have been through a lot in your life. Are you able to share these experiences in your songs?

These days? Yeah for sure it’s really all I share in my songs. I really believe the themes of hurt, anxiety, abandonment, all have a commonality with people that we can relate to and it’s important to put music like that out there. Genuine real life experiences painted through sound. And if that means sharing the hardest parts of my life because it could help someone else -then so be it.

‘Black Cadillac’ by Shirena Parker

Tell us about your most recent single “Black Cadillac”

Man I love this record! It was a long time coming for sure. It’s really about things being shiny on the outside but so messed up on the inside.

Share some advice for other artists moving through hardships with music?

Don’t ever compare your journey with someone else’s. A producer friend of mine shared a quote with me that said “comparison is the thief of joy “. Golden advice.

What does the future look like for Shirena Parker?

Bright! Lol but seriously.

I’m aiming to be the first Arab-American female in hip-hop in the US. Many other countries have Middle Eastern queens in the game and I just haven’t seen that represented yet here in the states- I’m hoping to change that narrative.

Keep up with more from Shirena Parker on her INSTAGRAM.

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