Blog - Shelly Waters

Off-Center Views: New Music for Early October featuring Shelly Waters, Swearingen and Kelli and More

October 6, 2017

Remember this name: Shelly Waters. Her new self-titled recording showcases a voice that demands adjectives such as huge and wide ranging. Best of all, she really knows how to sing. These twelve tracks capture her in many moods. “Drink the Water” is a gritty and grungy song in which the soulfulness of an old Motown record meets the muscularity of a Stax recording with Waters wailing above the Hammond B-3 about the man who done her wrong. She gets saucy on “Red Hot Red,” a retro road song with surf guitar, gets bluesy in old-style country way on “Jackpot,” covers Neil Diamond’s “Red Red Wine” like it’s a six-tissue weepy, makes the miles melt away in the (ahem!) “MyFirst Car,” and goes all Emmy Lou-like on “Evangeline.” Waters milks emotions from her material, sometimes in a commanding way, as she leads a bold electric song like “Blood, Sweat, and Tears,” and sometimes by making herself vulnerable, as in the lovely “Louisiana Rain.” ★★★★ (October 2017, Off-Center Views)

Guest Room Sessions: Shelly Waters, ‘Evangeline’

October 3, 2017

October’s Guest Room Sessions begin with Louisiana-born singer-songwriter Shelly Waters performing her song “Evangeline,” in a South Carolina park. Readers can press play above to watch the acoustic al fresco performance.
According to Waters, the inspiration for “Evangeline” runs deep — all the way back to her home state.

“There’s a majestic oak in Evangeline Oak Park in my home state of Louisiana that was named for the heroine in the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem “Evangeline, A Tale of Acadie,”” she tells The Boot. “The poem tells the story of a young couple, Evangeline and Gabriel, who were separated during the exile of my Acadian ancestors from Nova Scotia.”

To film her Guest Room Sessions clip, Waters chose another park: White Point Gardens in Charleston, S.C. She stopped to film while en route to her new home of Portland, Maine, and is joined by renowned Lowcountry musicians Wes Powers on cajon and guitarist Dale Baker.

“I chose this location for this performance not only because it reminds me of that park in Louisiana but also because the timing was amidst my move,” Waters notes. “The video will be a perfect souvenir from the historical city.”

Check out the video here:
http://theboot.com/guest-room-sessions-shelly-waters-evangeline/

“Evangeline” appears on Shelly Waters’ latest self-titled album, released in July.
Oct 1, 2017, Ann McCarthy

Music Street Journal

September 28, 2017

Louisiana native Shelly Waters has a powerful and soulful singing voice. That is perhaps the biggest selling point of this album. However, this doesn’t shirk on music, either. The blend of sounds here ranges from blues to country and rock. The guitar really shines throughout the set. There is enough range in terms of musical style, tempo and intensity to really keep it varied and interesting throughout the disc. I like this one a lot. October 2017 Issue, Gary Hill

Track by Track Review

Drink the Water

Old school country music and fuzz driven blues guitar merge on this cool number. It’s a slow moving tune with powerful vocals. The arrangement gets a bit more powered up further down the road, but it doesn’t really speed up at all. The organ brings a real retro vibe to this thing, but the whole song conveys that in a lot of ways.

Red Hot Red

The tempo gets an infusion of “oomph” on this. It’s an electric rocking country based stomper that’s quite strong. This is a fun tune.

Jackpot

This one definitely has a lot of bluesy hard rock built into it. I love the guitar soloing, but the whole musical tone is just so tasty.

Knew You When

This mellower cut has a nice balance between blues and country music. The organ again brings some retro texture.

Time for a Change

A more rocking number, this one also has a lot of blues in the mix. Sure, it’s still packed with plenty of country. I love the guitar sound and the picking on the piece.

Red Red Wine

I’d bet that most people know of this as a song by UB40. It was actually written by Neil Diamond, though. I don’t think I’ve ever heard his version. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is closer to it than the UB40 rendition is. This is a bluesy kind of number as presented here. It has a real classic old school bluesy country sound to it. It’s a strong tune, but I prefer the one from UB40.

Nothing Bluer

The bluesy, distorted guitar sound on this brings an almost garage band sound. The cut is just guitar and vocals. It has a real down-home country blues vibe to it.

Evangeline

More of a rock sound permeates this piece. It has a much more modern sound than the last couple songs did. It still has a basis in bluesy country sounds, but it lands much more in the vein of pop rock than it does anywhere else.

My First Car

Old school rock and roll is the idea here. I love the bouncing energetic groove to this cut. It’s just a lot of fun.

Lost My Way

An acoustic guitar based number, this is a slow ballad.

Blood, Sweat and Tears

This cut is very much a hard rocking number. It has plenty of blues and country in the mix, but really fits well into the kind of hard rock that was such a big part of 1970s music. That said, this has a more modern edge to it. However you categorize it, though, I love this tune. It’s just so cool.

Louisiana Rain

This mellow cut is solid. It’s more of a modern number in a lot of ways, but still has plenty of that old school sound built into it. Personally, I tend to think that the previous cut would have made for a better closing song. Still, this works reasonably well in that slot.

Album Review: Shelly Waters – Shelly Waters

September 8, 2017

It doesn’t take long to recognize a classic country voice. That’s obvious from the initial listen to Shelly Waters.

After a budding early music career, starting as a pre-teen, life intervened in Shelly’s early twenties. But she has returned to music with a vengeance. On the heels of her critically acclaimed 2014 release Drive, Shelly followed it up with this summer’s new album, the self-titled Shelly Waters.

Shelly has a versatile voice that leans toward classic country a bit. Her songs come across with an honesty that draws upon her Louisiana roots. And the song selection and ordering on this disc provide a showcase of the breadth of country music ground she can ably cover and deliver a satisfying listening journey.

The first song on the new album wowed me right from the start. Indeed, when trying to attract fans (and reviewers), it’s good to lead with strength. And the initial guitar chords of “Drink the Water,” followed quickly by a classic country gravelly wail, signals the gritty country awesomeness of this disc within the first few seconds. Though she’s leading men rather than horses in this song, the title phrase provides a familiar point of reference for the emotional lyrics Shelly delivers with a bluesy country soulfulness.

The slow-to-mid-tempo opener is quickly followed by the uptempo “Red Hot Red,” an energetically rockin’ country boot-scooter.

Shelly showcases the mellow end of her musical spectrum with oh-so-slow, heartfelt ballad “Knew You When,” a tune on which her vocals almost seem to expose a crack in her emotional strength, aligning with the vocals in a way that suggests the singer would love to break down and cry but is maintaining strength. With the added emphasis of slide guitar twang, it’s primo old-fashioned country balladry.

And it’s followed immediately by the more energetic “Time for a Change,” another example of the song placement I referred to earlier. It’s why you listen to albums like Shelly’s in their entirety, beginning-to-end. There’s also some deft, well-placed guitar-picking in this number that helps bring a smile to the listener’s face while the tempo and arrangement suggests a train rolling down the tracks, signifying the unstoppable nature of the lyrics’ decision, whether it’s truly unstoppable or merely an attempt by the song’s subject to convince herself of it.

I’m also fond of the next song pairing. First up is a countrified cover of “Red Red Wine,” full of slow, soulful mellowness. It’s not the “red” but, instead, the “blue, blue heart” from that song that ties nicely into “Nothing Bluer,” another blue tune that, if anything, ratchets up the sadness on the country blues meter. Though, contrary to the song title, it’s an old-fashioned country crooner that’s bursting with Opry and devoid of Bourbon Street.

The rest of the album continues showcasing Shelly’s talent and versatility. While I could touch on a distinctly original point within each of the songs, I’ll mention just two more by name.

“My First Car” could be a modern country hit, in large part because such cleverness often strikes a chord with current country music fans. Though there’s a throwback nature to this song (if not for the gender-specific lyrics, I’d say it sounds like it was written specifically for Marty Stuart), lines like “country girl with a little bit of luck/my first car was a truck” sounds like it could be a companion number to Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats,” either on the radio or on a cover band’s set list. Oh, they’re not stylistically similar, but the two songs share a symbiotic attitude.

And album-ender “Louisiana Rain” serves as an ideal finale. It twangs sentimentally, coming across with an honesty that can probably only come from a genuine Louisiana girl like Shelly. And such honesty is a great way to close a disc.

I’m glad this disc found its way onto my radar. There’s nothing groundbreaking about Shelly Waters’ self-titled sophomore effort, but it is an emotionally satisfying, exceptionally well-written and performed country music journey, and that’s one of the main reasons we all listen to music, isn’t it? Shelly’s music is more classic than new country, though in the end it’s probably best described as timeless country. If you’re a fan of this kind of country music, then Shelly Waters should be part of your collection, one of your 2017 country music album acquisitions.

Looking Ahead

Shelly’s website lists a couple upcoming shows, both in Portland, Maine. Tomorrow night, September 9th, Shelly will be at Andy’s Old Port Pub. And on October 18th, she’ll be at The Dogfish Bar & Grille. Keep an eye on her website for additional dates as they’re added. I’ll be checking back regularly to see when she next makes her way down to Boston. – September 8, 2017 by Geoff Wilbur

Video Premiere: Shelly Waters “Drink The Water” (The Daily Country)

August 8, 2017

Shelly Waters’ musical roots run as deep and wide as the mighty Mississippi River that snakes through her home state of Louisiana. Her perfectly blended sound – a seasoned Americana stew of blues, country, and rock – is evidenced on her latest self-titled album, which was released July 28th. Recorded in Nashville with producer Josh Kaler, the project contains twelve tracks including album opener, “Drink The Water,” a soulful number about the realization that you simply can’t make another love you.

“I can beg and plea, you don’t want me
Help me understand, tell me why
I can bring a man to the river
But I can’t make him drink the water.”

Waters relays the story behind the song,“My parents were salt-of-the earth, simple folks but with wisdom I did not come to appreciate until much later in life. One of the things I can still hear my Dad saying is, ‘You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.’ I chose to relay that message in a song about a relationship, but it’s a universal truth, and it can apply to many situations where someone chooses not to seize an opportunity. Over the years, those words have churned in my head. I walked away from my first love, music, for ten years… just when my career was taking off. The opportunity was there, but I turned away from it. In retrospect, I even say to myself, ‘Tell me why.’ Funny, I can also still hear Mom saying, ‘It’s never too late.'”

TDC is pleased to premiere the video for “Drink The Water” which you can view in its entirety below, then read on as Waters gives further insight into the song and video.

An emotional, thoughtful ballad, “Drink The Water” is highlighted by Waters’ earnest delivery, bluesy guitar, and organ – an instrument Kaler suggested having on the track. Waters explains,

“I absolutely love the way this song turned out, but during pre-production, I wasn’t so sure how it was going to end up. Before recording, when producer/multi-instrumentalist Josh Kaler mentioned having an organ on this tune, my response was, “Hmm…maybe.” Josh convinced me that Nashville musician Danny Mitchell was the perfect guy for the song, and we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to use the C3 organ in the studio. Josh was right, and Danny nailed the solo! As the recording process went on, this song clearly emerged as the opening track. Vocally and emotionally, I think it’s one of the best on the album.”

Directed and edited by William Wright (with assistant Nico Valderrama) of Resound Media Group, the video features a Waters, in both black and white and color, pensive and alone. Waters describes the treatment behind the video,

“William and I met a few days before the shoot to come up with a plan. We knew the location had to be near the water and he suggested going out to the Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve on Folly Beach, SC. This was happening just after my husband accepted a new job opportunity in Portland, ME. We had been living in Charleston, SC since 2006 and knowing that we were about to move away, I agreed with William on this location for a couple of reasons. Despite living in the area for 11 years, I had not been there yet and I thought it would be cool to have a video souvenir from this historical spot.”

While the video itself is more serious than not, Waters says the shoot had it’s fun and interesting moments,

“It was a fun day on a beautiful island, but it was blistering hot! About 95 degrees and humid, so I was a sweaty mess the whole time. We had a brief encounter with the law; Folly Beach police do their best to help preserve the area and he was a little concerned when he saw the camera equipment. All good though when we promised to treat the island with extra TLC. It was interesting using an alcove on the wooded side of the island as a dressing room, lots of sand and plenty of bugs to keep me company. I spent a lot time walking in wet sand; my dress cleaned up okay, but I ruined a pair of my favorite shoes. But, like I said, it was fun day on a beautiful island!” (The Daily Country)

Adobe and Teardrops

August 2, 2017

Sometimes albums are meant to flow together as a single piece. Sometimes they’re designed for each track to stand on its own, destined for a shuffle playlist. While it’s clear that Shelly Waters put thought into the story this album tells, it feels much like the latter. It’s not that there’s anything artificial about this album. Quite the contrary — every song on this album is a keeper and is more than strong enough to stand on its own. Waters dominates the gamut from blues to country to swamp pop with her Rickenbacker hollowbody and full-bodied voice.

Waters has been a touring musician since she was 11, minus a stint putting in thousands of miles of sailing afterwards. Her travels have brought depth to her songs. The tales of love, loss, and youth (“My First Car” is easily up there with my all-time favorite songs) come from the heart in a way that’s hard to find, even among sincere musicians who proudly stand outside the mainstream. Waters’ tender and hard-won wisdom is perfect for anyone whose heart could use some nourishment. (Adobe and Teardrops)

KFHS Radio New Artist – Shelly Waters

July 28, 2017

Americana singer-songwriter Shelly Waters is set to release her new, self-titled album on July 28, 2017. Evidence of Waters’ jambalaya-like recipe of sonic spices – and then some – are found within each of the dozen tasty tracks on Shelly Waters, which was recorded in Nashville with renowned producer and multi-instrumentalist Josh Kaler. “I feel like this record is the true representation of what I feel when I play the music that I love. This is Shelly. This is me. This is a re- flection, and this is a representation of me.”

Waters’ musical roots run as deep and wide as the mighty Mississippi River that snakes through her home state of Louisiana. Her sound is the epitome of the holy tonal trinity of blues, country, and rock. “I want my music to represent all of those genres – because that’s what I love best – and I love blending those sounds together,” Waters affirms. “Growing up in South Louisiana I listened to a lot of swamp pop, old R&B, and rock ’n’ roll. Those tones and those iconic voices are what I’m drawn to and that’s what I feel the most comfortable singing. My music is Americana through and through.” The uniqueness of Waters’ powerful and haunting voice brings her music to life and her lyrics betray a life filled with twists, turns, and adventure.

From the very first time the pick hits the strings on the album’s opening track “Drink the Water,” resonances of the brilliant Etta James’ masterwork “I’d Rather Go Blind” flood your senses. “Red Hot Red” burns with a current classic country vibe. With “Jackpot” and “Knew You When,” the listener gets the first hint of what a Louisiana swamp would look, feel, and sound like. “Time for a Change” is a refreshing shift in pace that connects the musical dots back to the Bob Dylan nugget “I Want You.”

Song sequence on an album is so often key. On Shelly Waters, “Lost My Way” and “Blood Sweat and Tears” serve as the perfect opening acts for the oh-so-appropriate closing track, Waters’ terrific take on Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers’ “Louisiana Rain.” The perfect sonic nightcap to an intoxicating collection of top-shelf tracks, the imagery of where the road and rain meet the Gulf Coast waters that haunts Petty’s number fits Waters’ long road to making music to a tee.

From intimate coffee shops to festival crowds of 10,000+, Waters’ winding musical road has led her to share stages with a wide spectrum of artists as diverse as the legendary Loretta Lynn to the amazing Alynda Lee Segarra (Hurray for the Riff Raff). Waters has also shared a billing with Randall Bramblett, Curley Taylor and Zy- deco Trouble, Kim Simmonds, Savoy Brown, Kitty Wells, Mel Tillis, and a host of other well-known musicians. While Waters’ unforgettable voice and unique blend of genres have captivated audiences for years, her journey began in a sleepy Louisiana town called Rayne.

Shelly Pellerin Waters was born to a Cajun-French family and was raised on a farm in Rayne. When she was 10 years old, she began taking guitar lessons, and, being a quick study, at the tender age of 11, Waters joined J.B. David and the Mule Skinners, a local French Cajun band. The band played in Cajun dance halls, private events, and music festivals as far away as Nova Scotia. Touring with a band and signing autographs was quite an adventure for an 11-year-old. After a year with the Mule Skinners, Waters started her own country band, Shelly and Southern Spice. The band played locally and regionally for many years. Along the way, Waters’ heartfelt rendition of Percy Sledge’s “When A Man Loves A Woman” – performed in a college beauty pageant – helped land her a chance to compete for the title of Miss Louisiana America.

As she entered her twenties, Waters had the stage chops of a showbiz lifer and she began getting inquiries from labels and others interested in helping her move to the next level. But this is where Waters’ story runs off the smooth, flat concrete of I-10 and into the murky bayou waters. “Life happened,” Waters demurs. Amazingly, she says this without a trace of regret.

Waters’ path has led her from Louisiana to Texas to South Carolina to Maine. Along the road she experienced the ups, downs, and thrills of life. Her ventures and adventures included earning a US Coast Guard Captain’s License, living for eight years on a sailboat in the South Carolina Lowcountry and sailing over 20,000 nautical
miles. While Waters continued to dabble in music, it wasn’t until 2013 that she found her way into songwriting. Her debut album of original music, Drive, was produced by Grammy-nominated guitar phenomena Joe Taylor and released to critical acclaim in 2014. In 2016, Charleston City Paper selected her as a “Best of Charleston” Female Vocalist Nominee.

Waters plans to tour in support of her forthcoming album; tour dates will be announced soon.

KFHS Radio New Artist – Shelly Waters

Out Now: Shelly Waters Releases Self-Titled Album “Shelly Waters”

July 28, 2017

New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Americana singer-songwriter Shelly Waters is set to release her new, self-titled album on July 28, 2017. Evidence of Waters’ jambalaya-like recipe of sonic spices – and then some – are found within each of the dozen tasty tracks on Shelly Waters, which was recorded in Nashville with renowned producer and multi-instrumentalist Josh Kaler. “I feel like this record is the true representation of what I feel when I play the music that I love. This is Shelly. This is me. This is a reflection, and this is a representation of me.”

Waters’ musical roots run as deep and wide as the mighty Mississippi River that snakes through her home state of Louisiana. Her sound is the epitome of the holy tonal trinity of blues, country, and rock. “I want my music to represent all of those genres – because that’s what I love best – and I love blending those sounds together,” Waters affirms. “Growing up in South Louisiana I listened to a lot of swamp pop, old R&B, and rock ‘n’ roll. Those tones and those iconic voices are what I’m drawn to and that’s what I feel the most comfortable singing. My music is Americana through and through.” The uniqueness of Waters’ powerful and haunting voice brings her music to life and her lyrics betray a life filled with twists, turns, and adventure.

From intimate coffee shops to festival crowds of more than 10,000, Waters’ winding musical road has led her to share stages with a wide spectrum of artists as diverse as the legendary Loretta Lynn to the amazing Alynda Lee Segarra (Hurray for the Riff Raff). Waters has also shared a billing with Randall Bramblett, Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble, Kim Simmonds, Savoy Brown, Kitty Wells, Mel Tillis, and a host of other well-known musicians. While Waters’ unforgettable voice and unique blend of genres have captivated audiences for years, her journey began in a sleepy Louisiana town called Rayne. Shelly Pellerin Waters was born to a Cajun-French family and was raised on a farm in Rayne.

When she was 10 years old, she began taking guitar lessons, and, being a quick study, at the tender age of 11, Waters joined J.B. David and the Mule Skinners, a local French Cajun band. The band played in Cajun dance halls, private events, and music festivals as far away as Nova Scotia. Touring with a band and signing autographs was quite an adventure for an 11-year-old. After a year with the Mule Skinners, Waters started her own country band, Shelly and Southern Spice. The band played locally and regionally for many years. Along the way, Waters’ heartfelt rendition of Percy Sledge’s “When A Man Loves A Woman” – performed in a college beauty pageant – helped land her a chance to compete for the title of Miss Louisiana America.

Waters’ path has led her from Louisiana to Texas to South Carolina to Maine. Along the road she experienced the ups, downs, and thrills of life. Her ventures and adventures included earning a US Coast Guard Captain’s License, living for eight years on a sailboat in the South Carolina Lowcountry and sailing over 20,000 nautical miles. While Waters continued to dabble in music, it wasn’t until 2013 that she found her way into songwriting. Her debut album of original music, Drive, was produced by Grammy-nominated guitar phenomena Joe Taylor and released to critical acclaim in 2014. In 2016, Charleston City Paper selected her as a “Best of Charleston” Female Vocalist Nominee. Waters plans to tour in support of her forthcoming album; tour dates will be announced soon. www.shellywaters.net Read more at: http://top40-charts.com/news/Country/Out-Now-Shelly-Waters-Releases-Self-Titled-Album-Shelly-Waters/128564.html

NEW ALBUM IS OUT TODAY!

July 28, 2017

ANTIMUSIC Singled Out: Shelly Waters’ Jackpot

July 28, 2017

Acclaimed Americana star Shelly Waters released her new self-titled album today and to celebrate we asked her to share the awesome story behind the song “Jackpot”. Here is the story:

Track #3 of my 2017 self-titled CD, “Jackpot,” has a cool story behind it. In 2014, I was recording my album Drive with Joe Taylor, owner/producer of Salt Creek Recording Studio, a hidden gem tucked away in the brackish marsh of Bennetts Point, South Carolina. Joe and his wife Stacey are two of the most gracious people on the planet, and it was not long before they took me down to the local shrimp boat docks and seafood market, the gathering place for their tight-knit community, so I could meet their friends and neighbors. That night I met quite an eclectic group of wonderful folks who were kind, interesting and happy to meet a stranger. They welcomed me like a long lost friend. A couple days later when Joe mentioned the Operation Jackpot drug bust that occurred in the area during the mid-80’s and the possible (wink, wink) connection to some of the folks I met on the docks, I was fascinated and decided there had to be a song in there somewhere.

A book written by Jason Ryan, “Jackpot: High Times, High Seas, and the Sting That Launched the War on Drugs,” explained it all to me. Based in South Carolina, Operation Jackpot was a federal task force that captured and convicted more than 100 marijuana smugglers from 1983 – 86. College-educated and non-violent, two of the kingpins from South Carolina became known as the “gentlemen smugglers” and the Lowcountry coast was their favorite place for unloading drug-filled boats arriving from Jamaica, Columbia and Lebanon. Unbeknownst to me at the time, I had met one of the judges involved with the trial of the kingpins at one of my gigs and I realized it was quite possible the judge would not be the last person I would meet with a connection to Operation Jackpot. That came to fruition when I met another gentlemen at a different gig who had actually served prison time for his role in the smuggling operation! Small world!

I started the song and mentioned it to Mark Bryan (founding member/guitarist, Hootie & The Blowfish) during a songwriting session. We worked on it some that day, but I was a little distracted by a painful eye injury. (Note to self, corner of a cardboard box and your cornea do not play well together.) A few days later I finished up the song and started trying it out at gigs. People loved it so I decided to put it on this album. Musically, “Jackpot” is one of my favorites… producer/multi-instrumentalist Josh Kaler played some killer guitar on the track and I think we really nailed the vibe and mood to the song’s inspiration.

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself and learn more about the album right here!

Shelly Waters’ Self-Titled Album Due Out Tomorrow

July 27, 2017

Waters’ musical roots run as deep and wide as the mighty Mississippi River that snakes through her home state of Louisiana. Her sound is the epitome of the holy tonal trinity of blues, country, and rock. “I want my music to represent all of those genres – because that’s what I love best – and I love blending those sounds together,” Waters affirms. “Growing up in South Louisiana I listened to a lot of swamp pop, old R&B, and rock ‘n’ roll. Those tones and those iconic voices are what I’m drawn to and that’s what I feel the most comfortable singing. My music is Americana through and through.” The uniqueness of Waters’ powerful and haunting voice brings her music to life and her lyrics betray a life filled with twists, turns, and adventure.

Waters’ path has led her from Louisiana to Texas to South Carolina to Maine. Along the road she experienced the ups, downs, and thrills of life. Her ventures and adventures included earning a US Coast Guard Captain’s License, living for eight years on a sailboat in the South Carolina Lowcountry and sailing over 20,000 nautical miles. While Waters continued to dabble in music, it wasn’t until 2013 that she found her way into songwriting. Her debut album of original music, Drive, was produced by Grammy-nominated guitar phenomena Joe Taylor and released to critical acclaim in 2014. In 2016, Charleston City Paper selected her as a “Best of Charleston” Female Vocalist Nominee.

Waters plans to tour in support of her forthcoming album; tour dates will be announced soon.

http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Shelly-Waters-Self-Titled-Album-Due-Out-Tomorrow-20170727#

Innocent Words Song Premiere: Shelly Waters “Louisiana Rain”

July 21, 2017

Shelly Waters’ musical roots run as deep and wide as the mighty Mississippi River that snakes through her home state of Louisiana. Her sound is the epitome of the holy tonal trinity of blues, country, and rock.

While Waters’ unforgettable voice and unique blend of genres have captivated audiences for years, her journey began in a sleepy Louisiana town called Rayne. Shelly Pellerin Waters was born to a Cajun-French family and was raised on a farm. When she was 10 years old her mother decided that her daughter needed a hobby and Waters was soon taking guitar lessons in the back of an auto parts store. A year later, Waters joined J.B. David and the Mule Skinners, a local French Cajun band, and toured North America.

By the time Waters hit her teen years she was fronting her own band and touring the Louisiana region up until her college years when life threw her a curve. Waters moved from Louisiana to Texas to South Carolina to Maine earning her US Coast Guard Captain’s License, living for eight years on a sailboat in the South Carolina Lowcountry and sailing over 20,000 nautical miles. The experiences led to Waters debut solo album in 2014 and now she returns with her latest self-titled offering.

Produced by multi-instrumentalist Josh Kaler in Nashville, the dozen tracks on the self-titled album will be released July 28. They reflect Waters’ humble beginning growing up on the sounds of swamp pop, blues and rock & roll.

Innocent Words is honored to premier Waters’ take on Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers song “Louisiana Rain.” We sat down with Shelly Waters and asked her about this haunting cover version.

Innocent Words: “Louisiana Rain” is fantastic Tom Petty song, which is one of his buried treasures. What inspired you to pick this song?

Shelly Waters: I grew up in South Louisiana, but the road of life has led me to Texas, South Carolina and now Maine. “Louisiana Rain” describes a transformative journey, not unlike my own. Louisiana will always be my home, but I’ve been shaped by twists and turns along my way.

Innocent Words: Your version is different from the original, which I appreciate. What was the mindset going into recording this track?

Shelly Waters: I worked with producer and multi-instrumentalist Josh Kaler on this album. He was intrigued that I wanted to cover a Tom Petty song and proclaimed early in the process that we would have to “make Tom proud.” This version is more stripped down than the original recording and my live version, but I believe it captures the essence of the song beautifully. While recording the vocals, I remember tearing up and getting a lump in my throat; that’s when I knew this would be a perfect finishing touch on the album.

Innocent Words: What do you think Tom Petty would think of this?

Shelly Waters: Great question! It would be super cool to know and I’d be humbled to hear the answer from the man himself.

Innocent Words: You mentioned you play this song live, what is the audience reaction?

Shelly Waters: I have played the song live many times. The amazing crowd response was a primary factor in deciding to cover the song for the album.

Innocent Words: Tom is a master songwriter, what is your favorite lyric in this song?

Shelly Waters: That’s easy: “I may never be the same, when I reach Baton Rouge.”

Innocent Words Song Premiere: Shelly Waters “Louisiana Rain”