Shana Halligan, former lead singer of sultry trip-hop duo Bitter:Sweet, is gearing up for the launch of her debut solo EP, Paper Butterfly, the first release from imprint label, Unknown Breakthrough, which counts Robb McDaniels (Co-founder, INgrooves) and Rob Garza (Thievery Corporation, ESL) among its owners. The five-song EP will be released digitally by INgrooves on November 29, 2011 followed by a full-length release in 2012. In support of the EP release, Shana will be performing one night only at the Bootleg Bar (2220 Beverly Blvd) on Wednesday, December 7 at 9:30 PM.
Paper Butterfly features Shana’s dreamy low-fi vocals and catchy choruses, as well as her signature blend of jazz, symphonic house beats, and heartfelt melodies. The five multidimensional tracks, features contributions from Thievery Corporation’s Rob Garza and UK producer Alex Cowan (better known as TM Juke). Writing and directing the songs herself, she says, “resulted in the music being very playful and sexy. But, it also has depth, soul and heavy beats. It’s very much me.”
After nearly seven exceedingly successful years as the singer/songwriter of Bitter:Sweet (whose songs were used in major motion pictures such as The Devil Wear Prada, Sex and the City, and Duplicity, and TV shows Grey’s Anatomy and Smallville), the Los Angeles native found herself in Europe, a freshly minted solo artist in search of her next sound. Shana, an artist who constantly craves new encounters and ideas, experienced a creatively fertile period that resulted in exciting collaborations.
One of these collaborations was with Marc Collin, best known as the man behind the French musical collective Nouvelle Vague. The partnership was so seamless that Halligan was immersed in the Nouvelle Vague universe, recording and performing as part of the band throughout Europe, including a sold out show at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
During her time abroad, she also recorded with house producer Carmen Rizzo on his latest full length, San Francisco DJ/producer Charles Webster on a track exclusively for designer eyewear brand Oliver Peoples, two tracks with System of a Down lead singer Serj Tankian for his album Imperfect Harmonies, and with Thievery Corporation on their latest album, the critically lauded, Culture of Fear. Upon her return to the States, Shana opened for Thievery Corporation in Salt Lake City and joined them on stage during their set at Los Angeles’ Greek Theater.
Growing up in the industry (Shana is the daughter of founding Blood Sweat and Tears band member/composer/arranger Dick Halligan), she knew from an early age that there are two things that remain constant in the ever-changing music business. “You still have to tour and you still have to put out good records. Then, people will find you -- if you’re worth finding.”
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