Shannon Leigh went from singing in her hometown of Chicago to becoming one of the most successful young artists in the UK. She started singing at age 8 and did small gigs as a backup singer until she was 17 and spotted by a music producer Tom Wright. Wright asked her to record in a studio, starting her career. Shannon now lives in London at the peak of her career. Her first UK hit "Call Me" went number 1 in both the UK and USA, which she celebrated by getting drunk with friends. Shannon hopes to write her own songs and go on tour in the future.

1. Chloe Emberton- Article Draft
Shannon Leigh went from singing in her hometown of Chigaco,America to becoming one of the most
successful young artists ever in the UK. She had been dreaming of becoming a star over here ever
since she started singing, which was when she was aged only 8, she started off singing in church and
to her family, to then doing small gigs as a back up singer, however, a few years later, when she was
17, she was spotted by a music producer at a gig she was performing at, the producer, Tom Wright,
asked her if she would like some studio time so they could both hear what her voice sounded like
when recorded, from then on her dreams started becoming more real. Shannon now lives in London
and is at the peak of her music career.
Shannon, how do you feel that you finally made it to the UK, you must be so excited!?
I definately am! I really cant believe that I actually did it, I’ve got to admit, it did take some time as I
only started singing to a real audience when I was a backing singer, dont get me wrong, I loved it
because I got along with everyone so well and we were great friends, but I knew that it wasn’t what I
wanted to do with my life, but you’ve got to start somewhere right?!
Yeah that’s true, thank god that Tom Wright (producer) was at one of your gigs and spotted that you
have such an amazing voice!
I know right, he’s such a great person, were good friends now actually. He told me that he wasn’t
actually going to go to the gig but his friend had a spare ticket and asked him like an hour before it
actually started, thinking about it, I guess I should have actually thanked his friend for having the
tickets (laughs) otherwise Tom wouldn’t have known about me and I wouldn’t be here right now.
Thank god for Tom’s friend then, your first hit in the UK was ‘call me’, what was it like recording such
an up-beat song and having your own music video, bet that was a change from your usual daily
routine?
Yeah, recording a music video is definitely a lot different from my usual daily routine, a normal day
for me would be getting up and going to my day job which was at a clothes shop in a mall near
where I used to live in Chicago, it was so boring and some of the people that would go in there were
so rood! But anyway, yeah recording the music video was amazing! I got to meet so many talented
people, including some the dancers in the video, especially the boys (laughs) and I also got to meet
some of the most successful music producers ever! I got so much attention that day, it was so weird
because I was just so used to being a backing singer, but I’m so glad things are different now.
Well you’ve got to be earning the money somehow haven’t you?I’m so jealous of you being table to
meet all these dancers! How do you feel that it got to number 1 in the UK and the USA?
I suppose you have, you should be jealous! I was so chuffed with myself and everyone who helped
me for it to get to number 1 in the USA, but when I found out that it was number 1 in the UK as well
I was over the moon because for me to have a single that was number 1 in the UK is a dream come
true, and to celebrate me and the girls went out and got very drunk! My life couldn’t be any better
right now!

2. Chloe Emberton- Article Draft
Aw I’m so happy for you, well, who wouldn’t go out and celebrate if they got to number 1 in the USA
and the UK?!
Haha tell me about it!
So, who influences you in music?
There’s so many people who influence me, the main person is Madonna because she is just an
absolute legend, her music is great and she has been around for quite a while now so I have looked
up to her ever since I was a child, she has been so influencing for so many people including myself.
Another major artist who influences my music and who I also look up to is Eminem because his lyrics
are so truthful and meaningful, plus he’s one of the best rapper’s ever.
I completely agree there about those two being influencing role model. So, do you have any dislikes,
in general?
I have many dislikes, who doesn’t? My main dislike has definitely got to be mess, I have OCD so
everything has to be spotless, my apartment is so clean and I wouldn’t have it any other way! I used
to share a flat with my close friend Heidi and she was messy! Her room was disgusting, she left
clothes and wet towels everywhere so I always used to go in her room when she was out and clean it
all. She even left pots in the sink without washing them, I think she was quite happy that I have OCD
actually because I’d always clean her stuff and she wouldn’t have to do anything. Oh, I also don’t like
mushrooms (laughs).
Well, that definitely sounds like you liked everywhere to be clean! Talking about friends, do you
think you would lose contact with your friends because you’re now becoming more and more
famous?
Definitely not! I would be nowhere without my friends, especially Heidi! I seriously could not
imagine life without my friends, who could actually live without their closest friends! I know that
more people know about me now but I’m not one of those people who will completely change and
think they are the best thing ever just because they are an artist.
Well that’s good. So, have you got any more single’s coming out any time soon?
I’m not giving anything away about what the songs are about but yeah I have got a couple more
single’s lined up, one of them was written by Jessie J so I am incredibly excited so start recording for
that because she might even be singing it with me! I think that after I have recorded them I will try
and write a couple of songs myself because I really do want most of my successful song’s to be
actually written by me because that way they are more meaningful aren’t they.
Yeah that’s true, and that way you could take all the credit as well. So, if you have quite a few more

3. Chloe Emberton- Article Draft
successful songs’ come out then do you think you will go on tour?
Going on tour would be another one of my dreams come true because that way you can actually
perform your songs live to all of your fans and when you are an artist your fans mean so much to you
because they are the thing that keeps you going, so if I get the chance to go on tour I will be so
excited!
Well, it’s been great interviewing you, your such an up-beat, fun person and I hope all of your
dreams come true!
Thank-you so much, it’s been great!