Music for her is more than entertainment. It’s a passion that gives her the impetus to work towards excellence.
Shennai Kirton, known by her friends as Shen, is a bassist and that journey started in a church choir. Soon, she was playing the drums and keyboards.
As her musical experiences grew, the former student of Harrison College gravitated more seriously towards the bass at age 16.
Over the years, she honed her skill set while working with various artistes, which gave her a broader understanding of the Barbadian music industry.
“Looking back, I can see how those different experiences contributed to my development as a musician,” Shen told the MIDWEEK NATION from Toronto, Canada.
Her competency level through the years was nurtured by her participation in the Richard Stoute Teen Talent show where she was a finalist and also the recognition she gleaned from exposure to the National Independence Festival Of Creative Arts.
However, Shen’s journey isn’t only about music.
“It is also about the person I’ve become through my experiences, including some personal challenges that people might not necessarily see when they watch me perform.”
She noted that her experiences with depression and anxiety have influenced her life, and are a significant part of her journey beyond music.
The artiste acknowledged that living with the struggles have given her a personal connection with the subject of mental health.
Shen, who has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from the University of the West Indies, said the psychology has also given her an opportunity to explore human behaviour and gain a deeper understanding of the mind.
Mental health
“I’ve come to appreciate that knowing about mental health and experiencing mental health challenges are two different things.”
She said while one can learn about psychological concepts in an academic setting, it’s quite different experiencing the emotional difficulties personally and can bring a different perspective to what those concepts mean in everyday life.
She said they can affect how one understands oneself and others who might also be going through crises.
“I think this connection between my education and my personal experiences is an important part of who I am. I also hope that speaking openly about mental health can help challenge the idea that people have to hide their struggles to be taken seriously in their professional lives.” Her musical growth through the years and ability to come to grips with her own realities have seen her mature to a point that her exposure to bands, including Jus’ Vibez, Empressive Roots and Loc’d In, are testament to her competency. She has also performed at Rise Reggae Showcase, the Fish & Dragon Festival and La Femme.
Meaningful parts
“These are meaningful parts of my journey, but I don’t look at them as the end of what I want to accomplish. I see them as milestones along the way. I still have things I want to learn, places I want to go and goals I want to achieve.” Pointing to the crucial nature of the bass as it connects closely with the drums helps establish the groove and supports the harmony, the artiste said that sometimes people may not consciously focus on it, “but they can certainly feel its absence when it isn’t there”.
She noted that as a bassist, one must develop a good sense of timing and understand the critical aspect of how one’s playing contributes to the overall sound.
“You also have to understand that playing well isn’t necessarily about playing the most notes. Sometimes, the simplest bassline is the one that serves the song best.”
Shen said that it’s one of the elements that makes playing bass interesting because one is not simply playing notes, but contributing to the feel of the entire band.
Shen acknowledged that there is always room for improvement, while urging artistes to endeavour to work on their musical vocabulary.
“I don’t want to be a bassist who can only operate in one musical setting. I want to understand my instrument well enough to contribute across different genres and work with different musicians.
“I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had with the different bands I play with, and I look forward to continuing to learn, contribute and develop as a bassist,” she added. (John Boyce)