Maura Shaftoe
Biography
I’ve always thought of singing as a way to be set free and stay grounded at the same time. When I was very young I sang to keep the monsters at bay. I clearly remember singing along to Gordon Lightfoot and tape recording it, mimicking the BeeGees and Blondie, whatever was playing I was singing along.
I have just finished recording my 3rd album. It’s a Christmas album; you can read my other blogs for thoughts about it. My last album, Unsteady, was recorded in part before but mostly after my mum passed away after a long struggle with kidney disease. Although Michael and I discussed shelving the project, we didn’t, I finished it in part to stay focused on other things, but in part because I have bred in a part of me, to keep going and things will fall into place, even it’s not the place I was expecting. My parents taught me that. Mostly it works. I look at each recording as a moment in time, where I was, technically, emotionally, mentally. And that’s ok, I don’t try to compare one project with another, I just try to aspire to something more.
I started performing professionally in my early 30’s, took workshops and lessons and worked through my nerves. I’ve booked my own gigs for years, funded my own projects, and even organized my own tours. I have always handled my own publicity. I have a strange sort of optimism about singing. If just one person is listening, that’s always been good enough for me. One person makes it worth the time and the presence of mind. I would never want to be accused of not being present at my own gig. Getting my first Royalty cheque for songs I co-wrote with Michael was an awesome experience, something I had a hand in creating was being listened to by people I didn’t know in towns I had never visited. I’ll keep writing and recording, saving those moments, and if I’m lucky someone will be listening.
Best,
maura