Straight outta Phoenix. Great hard rock with a blast of desert heat. Christopher Shayne brings great guitar riffs, harmonies to die for and an energetic sound right to your ears through Spotify!
Tell us a bit about your company and why you do what you do.
My name is Christopher Shayne and myself and my band are the premier southern rock band from Arizona.
As a public figure, how do you think being hailed as a role model impacts on others and what pressure does it put on you?
I’ve been told that I’ve inspired a multitude of artists and honestly, it’s incredibly flattering; however, I try not to think of it that much. That kind of pressure can be too much. I have my music speaking voice and my own boredom to contend with most of the time. That leads to the evolving sound of what we’ve been able to create. If people are inspired by it then I can’t help but be proud, but I can’t let that distract from my focus.
How do you cope with stress?
I will usually have to find a quiet place to find that “zen”. I need a moment away from everything to recollect, find myself, and gather composure. Then it’s just a matter of finding the next step, focusing on the next step instead of the big picture. If I can focus on what’s the immediate next thing to do, any amount of stress doesn’t seem so bad.
What trait do you think most benefits you in your line of work?
I was just talking about this with a colleague of mine: being a good entertainer. It’s a lost art and one that’s impossible to pin down and practice at, but I think it’s crucial. There are so many better musicians out there and there will ALWAYS be better musicians, but being able to grab a crowd and captivate them is more important. You can have all of the talent in the world, but if no one wants to watch you do it then you don’t have a business. You’re expected to be good, it’s everything else that will carry you as far as you can go.
Can you tell us about a time when you almost gave up, how you felt about that, and what you did instead of giving up?
Music is tough. I remember when my last project fell apart, I did just completely feel like packing it up. It was never going to get better than that. But music is funny. I’ve long said that no one who does music as a career is smart. There’s no money, it’s long and hard work and maybe you’ll get something back at the end of the day. And in that moment of giving up, I realised that music isn’t done with me. I’m just going to find what I enjoy instead of putting so much pressure on myself to succeed. So, I just picked up the guitar and started from scratch. I was lucky enough that my writing partner wasn’t done either and we held each other up.
If you could start all over again, what would you do differently?
I’d stop focusing on other people and just focus on myself. I wasted a lot of time worrying about expectations and it turned me into something that ruined a lot of possibilities and friendships for myself.
Where did you get your entrepreneurial spirit from?
I got it from my mom. She’s always empowered me to go after the things I want and supported me through all of the ups and downs of “making yourself”. She always pushed me to take on projects and to do it my way. She self made herself, so that’s a huge inspiration for me.
How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
I never really give up on ideas, just sometimes it’s not the right time and you need to come at it from a fresh perspective or with a new skill set. We’ve been floating songs for years and about once every year we take them out of the hopper and see if we can tweak them to be better. Sometimes we figure out the missing puzzle piece and sometimes we don’t, and then back into the hopper it goes!
Do you sing in the shower? What songs?
I actually don’t sing in the shower which is kind of weird for a singer. That is where I get a lot of writing ideas though. So usually if I’m in the shower I’m writing the next song!
What would be a good theme song for your life?
Smooth Sailing by Queens of Stone Age seems to fit. The sarcastic undertones of all the lyrics and the pure punk rock attitude of the delivery just match so many facets of my past. Let alone just the straight funky groove.
What was the last TV series you watched on TV?
Better Call Saul! I’m obsessed. I love it when a show writes the characters as how they would respond to the situation instead of worrying about the hero and love interests. Showing flaws and acting on them is just good writing and Better Call Saul delivers on every level.
If you were a member of the Spice Girls, what would your spice handle be?
Moody Spice. Sometimes fun, sometimes grumpy, just depends on how much sleep she gets.
Would you rather be the one in a movie who gets the hero/heroine or the baddie with all the good lines?
Bad guys with good lines are just more fun. Being the hero can be boring, plus I’ve been known to stir a pot or too.
As a kid were you ever frightened of a monster under the bed or in the cupboard?
As a kid I had a crippling fear of the dark. I don’t know where it came from. I still have issues sometimes. We always keep a light on somewhere in the room when sleeping.
Which is cooler? Dinosaurs or Dragons?
I’m a fantasy nerd so Dragons. Some depictions are cooler than others obviously so it’s gotta be the right kind of dragon. Reign of Fire was probably some of the coolest dragons in the media.
