Introducing: Official Shannon

From Highams Park to headlining arenas, Official Shannon is fast becoming one of the UK's most compelling new voices. A BRIT School graduate with the soulful pop flair of alumni like GRACEY and Olivia Dean, she’s already earned “Best Live Session” nods from BBC Introducing and lit up stages from Ronnie Scott’s to The Copper Box Arena. With her bold anthem ‘Dress To Please’ making waves and a Glastonbury long-listing under her belt, 2025 is shaping up to be her breakout year. We caught up with @officialshannonuk to talk music, mindset, and what’s next.

1. You’ve had a huge year — from performing at Ronnie Scott’s to headlining The Copper Box Arena. How have those live experiences shaped your confidence and presence as a performer?

Thank you! Honestly, performing at such iconic and contrasting venues has certainly assured my versatility as a performer. To be able to adapt my live artist shows and set ups to various spaces (more intimate indoor cosy shows to actual arenas!) is certainly something that has challenged and pushed me to supply quality performances no matter where I am booked! I genuinely believe the confidence was already there before I was even booked for these shows though they definitely helped increase it further! You really have to believe in yourself to convince anyone else that you are good enough, that really is the first step.

2. “Dress To Please” really struck a chord as a self-empowerment anthem. What inspired the message behind that track, and how does it reflect your personal or artistic journey?

I've mentioned this at my live shows many times...I believe for someone to be authentically writing from a perspective and a true meaning of self empowerment they have to be coming from a place where their self worth was at some point questioned or in danger (externally or internally) For me, a lot of life experience fueled the lyrics for Dress To Please where I had been met with multiple catcalls, jeers, or utter disrespect from both strangers (mostly) and a few people I knew about how I decided to dress or how little I decided to wear, especially on warmer days. Strangers decided to use my presentation of outfit that day as an excuse to try and get my attention and use it as a way to get to know me but in a more "I wonder if she is single, or what she'll do" sort of way. Sadly, it happened so often, I got used to expecting this behaviour on a daily basis but when other female friends would tell me similar anecdotes, I'd suddenly be just as horrified as I felt when it first happened to me. I remembered that this wasn't normal or acceptable behaviour and it shouldn't be tolerated by women. Dress To Please then served as the retaliation anthem to cat calling as well as serving as a confidence anthem to absolutely anyone or any gender or background that needs that nudge of self belief whatever they are getting ready for that day! Securing a place on the longlist for the Glastonbury Festival Emerging Artist Competition with this song really proved to me as an artist how important it was to create it as not only part of my artist journey but for personal growth and to any person who has ever felt less than what they are really worth.

3. You’re a BRIT School alum alongside names like GRACEY and Olivia Dean. How has that creative environment influenced your sound, and how do you think your path has differed or aligned with your peers?

I'll always big up The BRIT School because it was the first place I'd been to where I felt completely free but also started to grow a thick skin for the first time. The jump from secondary school to college is huge anyway but I always knew I belonged to the arts. Doing music and drama GCSE at a normal secondary school was fine but I always felt sort of judged by those who only took those subjects and exams for an 'easy ride'. It's incredible to think back to training alongside GRACEY (at BRIT) and Olivia Dean (back in secondary school!) and look at where we all are now. I'm insanely proud of so many of my peers. I think that's just life for you...many go on different paths despite starting in similar places as we all meet different people, make different impressions, being in right places at right times as well as the wrong places at the wrong times but I think something all of us artists have in common is that we have always and will always work hard for what we want because we had that mentality and worth ethic drilled into us from a young age through performance training and that is how we all got to where we are now. There are so many big names of course that have come from The BRIT School but there are also so many incredible graduates who aren't as well known who are doing amazing things not only creatively but for communities, schools and under-represented groups in music and the arts. I would categorize myself of course as an emerging artist but I also pride myself now as a live music promoter and game changer in the underground music scene as current director and co-founder of Under The Radar London, a live music event series and community uplifting and connecting female and gender expansive creatives.

4. BBC Introducing called your session one of the best, placing you alongside artists like Dodie and Sam Ryder. What does that recognition mean to you, and how does it fuel your vision for 2025?

I think some of the most beautiful things about being an emerging artist are the unexpected recognitions and opportunities along the way that of course you worked your ass off for but didn't specifically know how or when they would be rewarded. This particular recognition from BBC Introducing was one of those amazing flowers that bloomed from seeds I planted months/years before, working on the music! It really gave me the boost I needed to continue writing bigger and better songs, reach the people and expand my network of those who really connect and love to share my music with the rest of the world! Now more of these songs have been written and recorded with forever evolving collaborations with new producers, Official Shannon has so much more to roll out for 2025!

5. As a soulful pop artist navigating today’s industry, what are you most excited — or even nervous — about when it comes to your upcoming releases in 2025?

I don't think there will be a day where any of us will really know what we are doing in the music industry entirely as it is constantly evolving and changing, but that's not to say I haven't grown confident from my current experiences releasing music and performing live so far! I am very excited for what's still to come for Official Shannon. A lot of firsts still to experience such as national radio play, major festival/support slots and hopefully touring the UK! A sophomore EP may also be in the works at the moment. I am keeping all the fingers crossed that more flowers will bloom in 2025 from the many seeds I have been planting over the years.