Meet Shane Tanksley of The Strayngers in Echo Park

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shane Tanksley.

Shane, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
The Strayngers were born not in a single moment, but rather throughout a certain period of my life—the aftermath of my escape from both a toxic musical relationship which had consumed my entire being, & from San Diego, the place where I was born & raised. After the “breakup” I knew it was time for a change, so I picked up everything & moved to Los Angeles…the first person to ever do that, right?

But I certainly did not come to LA in search of instant fame & glory. I came seeking something completely different than that. I wanted to do things right this time—to assemble a group of people who were defined by themselves before they were by the clichés or confines of a city. This is the ethos behind my band name—a “stray” from the norm, an ode to being outside the box, following my heart & seeking others who do the same.

In another world, we could have been called the Stray Cats, but unfortunately that was already taken.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I think any band who believes they have a smooth road has definitely gotta be doing something wrong. The music industry, let alone navigating the nuances of building & maintaining the relationships & friendships of a band can be very tricky at times. Great advice from loving friends & lessons in my life along the way have taught me to take the good with the bad, appreciate the trials & challenges because the pain & hurt make the pleasure & happiness to come that much greater. It’s totally just like the yin yang, man!

Finding band members who were genuine people—who both appreciated & understood what I was trying to do was definitely the biggest challenge I faced during the conception of the band. The waiting games & all the work that often felt like wasted effort were certainly trying at times, but I am so pleased to say that in my bandmates I have found everything I was looking for and more!

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about The Strayngers – what should we know?
Perhaps the best way for people to understand what sets us apart from others is to listen to our music!

But what I am most proud of with the Strayngers is the fact that—in further support of the spirit of the name—none of the members are originally from the city of Los Angeles. Each of us came from different cities, countries & continents across the world, but it was a musical journey that ultimately brought us together.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Literally, every single person in my life, for better or worse, deserves credit for where I am today. I have a song called “Yesterday’s Tomorrow” soon to be released on our debut record, that describes these very sentiments. It’s a societally defiant tribute dedicated to self-confidence & worthiness—to all the supporters & detractors in one’s life—the ones who say you can & also those who say you can’t.

If I had to give credit to anyone, though, it would be to my parents. From as early as I can remember, my pops hammered Beatles reverence into me (sometimes even playing the same song on repeat for our entire drive to school to elaborate on the finer points of just how great the tune indeed was) & my mom’s uncanny ear for music & ability to play it are things I hope got passed down to me! Most of all, however, their unwavering support through choices I have made in my life, including things that have been difficult on them—including my dropping out of college—in order to pursue my music & do what I believed in, has gotten me to where I am today. Their belief in me, & recognition that music is the unwavering, undeniable force & passion in my life has meant more to me than I could ever describe to them.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: instagram.com/thestrayngers

Image Credit:
Photography by Emily Flores, Vicente Manzano & Sergio Galindo

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