Meet Shylah Ray Sunshine of Medicine Music Productions

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shylah Ray Sunshine.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Originally from Ontario Canada, I was raised in an alcoholic home and used music as a form of solace, and it became therapeutic over time, singing my ultimate source of joy for my entire lifetime. Self-taught vocally, I began playing percussion and guitar, developing musical skills on my own and later embarking on a spiritual journey as a late teen. I left home and hitchhiked across the country at 18 and found myself in California a year later, unintentionally moving to Los Angeles joining a reggae band singing backup.

This is how I met my future husband and shortly after I became pregnant and moved to Topanga Canyon where I gave birth to our daughter in 2006. The homebirth inspired me to become a birth Doula and then started to write songs after teaching myself piano at 23. I moved to Ojai into 2011 and gave birth to my second child at home at 26. That time I had been performing steadily and released my first EP “Earth Medicine Music” featuring the hit single “Existence,” which was later nominated for a Hollywood Music in Media Award (HMMA).

By 27, I had a full band and was headlining festivals all over the West Coast. I have opened for artists such as Rising Appalachia, Micheal Franti, Matis Yahu and have been featured on several albums and collaborations with the Luminaries, Elijah Ray, Aaron Ableman, Ra.be and the Koren Brothers, to name a few. After years of mothering two children and working as a birth and postpartum doula, I wrote a full album of songs which was released in May 2018.

My music has reached listeners all over the world, and my songs have been featured in several musical projects, documentaries, for commercial and personal use in yoga, workshops, podcasts, and larger musical platforms. I am currently performing and touring in the spring through fall and writing a new EP, which is hoped to be released next year. I am currently teaching vocal lessons in Ojai, Los Angeles and online.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There has always been struggle and challenge, and it has always been a very important part of the journey for me. Everything from the alcoholic/dysfunctional upbringing too, to failed relationships and divorce at a young age, to raising two children as a single mother maintaining a music career.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Medicine Music Productions – what should we know?
Soul Voice Singing, my trademark name for vocal coaching and empowerment. I have developed a program for helping people become aware of the relationship they have with their voice, helping them develop more comfort and ease, self-love and offering new tools and techniques, vocal warm-ups, exercises and homework assignments for studying music on their own time.

I am most proud of myself, personally for choosing to offer this service for people who truly want and need it. I have worked so hard and diligently on how to sing and play music that it brings me great joy to know I can offer others the same. I hope to one day start my own music production company and/or a center for children and adults to learn music and singing and essentially, finding their Soul Voice. 🙂

I think with sets me apart from others is that I am a very fun person to work with and although I am very skilled vocally, and people may feel intimidated by my talent, I have a way of creating ease and a lot of joy in the experience. I also believe what sets me apart from others as an artist and teacher is that I focus on the emotional and spiritual aspects of our voice, and not just the physical part that we normally see with many Vocal coaches.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Authenticity, positivity and being relatable to fans/followers. Letting them know I care about them and am grateful for their support and that is how I can make my living.

I also think knowing how to attract the right team behind me, who fully support who I am and what I am here to offer the world is important for my success. Thinking big and having mentors has definitely proved effective.

Pricing:

• $200 for 4 Soul Voice sessions
• $60 for one Soul Voice session

Contact Info:

• Website: Shylahraysunshine.com
• Phone: 8054500163
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: Shylahray
• Facebook: Shylah ray Sunshine
• Twitter: ShylahSunshine
• Other: YouTube.com/Shylahraysunshine

Image Credit:
Mariana Schulze

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