New Zealand-based producer Shannon Matthew Vanya bares his soul in his self-titled EP, out today on all streaming services via A Label Called Success/Sony Music New Zealand.
The snappy five-track collection features SMV’s previous singles ‘Stuck’, ‘Closer’ and ‘Where You Are’.
No stranger to the small world of music, In 2015 under Shannon’s previous artist moniker Tom Lark, he gained praise by making a resounding splash at Triple J where his single Something To Tell You reached #1 Most Played at the station.
With critical success at both local and international press, and a renowned showman in the live realm, Shannon continued to cut his teeth by pushing the envelope of his art but eventually called an end to Tom Lark – leaving a legacy of strong material and a reputation for his vibrant live shows behind to focus on production and writing for a CV packed full of upcoming artists direct from his very own OkieDokie Studio in Auckland City.
Almost five years later – reset and rephrased with nowhere to hide, writing material under his birth name Shannon Matthew Vanya, his fresh take on futuristic pop with a retro flair hits all the marks as it hurtles into 2020 AD with an EP full of killer melody and polished contemporary pop essence.
“It feels great to be expanding the SMV universe while it’s still brand new and fresh. It’s exciting to introduce people to what I’ve been working on. Releasing music is an important part of making it. It’s almost like in releasing it you give yourself permission to creativity turn a page, or finish a chapter that’s been weighing on your mind for a long time.”
“Sincerity and softness may be musically unfashionable in some quarters, but there’s a medicinal quality to such open-hearted songs during rough times.” – Sunday Star Times