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Article: Shannen James Announces East Coast Tour // Ivy League

Dazzling Melbourne pop-folk artist Shannen James’ long awaited debut record Patchwork is out today, alongside the announcement of a headline east coast album tour this April. 

Shannen James will be playing her dazzling new record to crowds at Brisbane’s Junk Bar on April 12, Sydney’s Low 302 on April 13, and Melbourne’s The Bergy Seltzer on April 19.

Patchwork is a record that takes shape from every experience, idea, thought and feeling Shannen James has ever had. Across 12 spirited tracks, it's a collection of songs stitched together, each showcasing different textures, patterns and colours pulled from a lifetime's worth of moments, to create one cohesive record.

A decade in the making – following the alt-pop artist’s beloved EP Arrows, two chart-toppers on triple j’s Most Played list (2020’s ‘Arrows’ and 2021’s ‘Superstitious’), endless weekends cutting her teeth at open mics and in pubs, and the challenge of condensing over 90 shimmering songs to a curated 12 – this moment is one Shannen James is ready to embrace headfirst.

“Getting an album together after such a long time, the main thing was that it didn’t have to be a ‘this’ album or a ‘that’ album; it just had to represent me. I’m an album gal, and I think listening to this record from start to finish feels like a warm hug. It’s something I’d want to listen to driving down the coast at dusk, looking out over the water, and I hope people can go and do that when they listen to it too.” 

– Shannen James

WATCH: Shannen James – 'Headlights'

The first taste of Patchwork was one of Shannen’s most buoyant pop songs to date, ‘Headlights’, born from a studio session with Hatchie and Joe Agius listening to The Cure. “I started creating this idea about relationships you have that are really fleeting because maybe they have to move to the other side of the world; a moment where you fall in love instantly and then they’re gone. It was written during Covid, during a time where it felt like the clock was running out."

Time and personal relationships are throughlines across this record, as is her sense of purposeful warm nostalgia reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac. “They’ve got everything I love – it’s pop, it’s rock, there’s country in there, but the sentiment is like folk songs. Then I got really into ‘80s sounds and became obsessed with Tears for Fears, then the first records from The 1975, who also made music really influenced by that era.” Like her own formative listening habits, the MO has always been to allow anything and everything that might excite her to seep in, regardless of category or genre. Now, she names contemporaries HAIM, Maggie Rogers and Kasey Musgraves on an ever-growing list of references.

Shannen’s commanding live performance has culminated in sold-out east coast tours, her first UK/EU headlines in 2023 after catching the eye of UK promoter Communion (Catfish and the Bottlemen, Matt Corby), invitations to showcase at Austin’s SXSW and BIGSOUND, plus supports for Valley, Men I Trust, G Flip, Slowly Slowly, Thelma Plum and Sycco. From emotional ballads to bursts of line dancing, Shannen’s love set captures joy and friendship, being in love and having your heart broken, or breaking someone else’s.

All her hard work, creative energy, and personal growth has led up to Patchwork, proving her journey is one more than worth hopping on for the ride – Shannen James is ready to have her big popstar moment. 


SHANNEN JAMES

PATCHWORK TOUR

Fri 12 Apr | Junk Bar | Brisbane, QLD

Sat 13 Apr | Low 302 | Sydney, NSW

Fri 19 Apr | The Bergy Seltzer | Melbourne, VIC

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