Transcript
Speaker: My advice is to just stay focused because you will hear the word no. But if you know that this is what you are called to do, and I would just say stay focused. You know, have to have a strategy and stay focused. Welcome to this episode of the Entrepreneur Speaks Podcast. My name is Kofi Animeidou.
Speaker: Shani Barna is a two -time granny considered award -winning Billboard charting music artist, author, and record label executive. She has built a successful career in the music industry for over 10 years, first as a music artist and later as a record label executive.
Speaker: She recently launched Decree Records, an independent gospel and inspirational music record label. She shares her journey today on this episode. Let's get started. Welcome to my show, Shanin.
Speaker: Thank you. Thank you for having me. All right. Let's start our conversation by you telling us about your background and how you got started in music. Well, my background is I started singing in church and so
Speaker: from the church to, you know, just junior high school doing singing and talent shows. And so it just kind of progressed from there. And so that's kind of like the beginning part of the background of starting in music. All right. So who are some of your biggest music influences and how have they impacted your own music?
Speaker: You know what? I love the Clark sisters, Karen Clark Shear. I love her voice. And I think that she is one of the greatest gospel singers ever. So she would be like the biggest influence that has truly, truly impact my life and my own music career. All right.
Speaker: Um, so how would you describe your musical style and how has it evolved over time? Um, how would I describe my, I think my musical style, I'm kind of what I, what I, what I have been getting is like, it's kind of smooth.
Speaker: And, you know, it's kind of a laid back and it has involved around because I used to sing like really, really, really high, high notes. And so.
Speaker: went to a, got some vocal lessons and it just involved into the voice that you hear now, like the smoothness of it. All right, so later on in our conversation, we would all get to listen to the smooth voice. I would ask you to sing, I would ask you to give us a version, a capella version of your music so that our listeners can all get to feel
Speaker: the smooth voice of Shanine Barna. All right, so can you walk us through your creative process in coming out with songs? The creative process from inspiration to a finished song. What is the process you go through? My process is a little different from everybody else. My process, I start off in worship.
Speaker: And when the worship goes for it, next thing you know, songs just start coming out. So I have to literally grab my phone to record myself.
Speaker: And so that's how I write songs. And that is like how my creative process starts. And the inspiration of that is worship for me. So that's how I do my process.
Speaker: Just as we all know, lyrics in music plays a very important role. So let's talk about lyrics and the approach you adopt in writing your lyrics. So can you tell us how you approach writing your lyrics and what do you always aim to convey with your music?
Speaker: Um, the aim of writing my lyrics is to, I want it to come across to bring some type of, of, of, of wholeness and to make a person feel, try to kind of make it, make them feel better. Um, and so it's not all about like the beats and all of that stuff. Sometimes the lyrics is what.
Speaker: brings something, a wholeness or peace to a person. So how I convey my music with others is to make sure that it comes off as a peaceful sound, if I can say that. Okay, a follow -up question to that. Sometimes when we listen to musicians, whether gospel, hip -hop, high life, hip -hop life,
Speaker: They tell us how they get their lyrics. For some of them,
Speaker: Maybe they might be driving or having their bath and then the songs flow through them. For some, they have dreams and they get their lyrics. For some, it's through life experience and some challenges that they have gone through. How do you really get your lyrics to songs? Yes, if you can, share that with us. We really appreciate it.
Speaker: you know what it was so funny it's in the shower that's all right yeah i would start singing in the shower so i'm like oh okay that can go with that one you know so yeah yeah yeah so so so so do you usually get the whole piece or maybe you only get an aspect of the song i i would only get like the aspect i would literally only get like the chorus part
Speaker: And then I would have to sit down and continue writing to get the verses, but I would hear the melody and the chorus. That's very interesting. So you've been on this journey for quite some time. You started as an artist, you've evolved to a record label executive and all.
Speaker: What has been your most memorable performance or musical experience so far? Well, my memorable performance is when I perform my single, Praise, my latest single. And when I seen 70 -80 year old people get up and start dancing, that was like a moment that I could have just
Speaker: you know, held on in time. So I guess my music, it does not affect just only the younger people and it's affected at the older. So that's like one of my, the memorable times in my performance. All right. So when you see them move to the sound of your music, I think that is good.
Speaker: Because if you are performing and no one is reacting to it, I guess that would be a demotivator. So you think to inspire people, to motivate people. But as an artist, how do you stay motivated and inspired?
Speaker: especially during times of a creative block. Yes. How do you stay motivated and inspired? I try to stay positive.
Speaker: and I don't put a lock on me. If I get like a block, I can't write anymore, I just let it go, but then I'll go back and pick it back up. But I try to stay positive because in this music industry, you will see a lot of negativity around, but I try to stay positive in just knowing that it's an end goal to what I'm doing.
Speaker: And it's hard sometimes. Sometimes you want to throw in a towel. Sometimes you want to say, I just, no, no, no, this is not for me. But you have to stay the course in order to get where you want to go.
Speaker: All right. Stay the course and focus and know where you want to go. These are the words from our guest today, Shanine Barna. So Shanine, you recently launched Decree Records. That's a very nice name. Decree Records. Tell us about it and what's the story behind this setup.
Speaker: Actually, I went into prayer. I'm a gospel artist, so you're going to hear more of me saying the Lord or whatever. But I went into prayer, and when I got out of prayer, I heard the Lord said, you're going to start a record label, and you're going to name the decree. You're going to get your lawyers to write up all the paperwork. And I'm like, huh?
Speaker: And then I said decree. And so I just went back to the Word of God and Job 2828 said, when you decree a thing, it shall be established. And that's how decree records came up. I had no idea of what all this stuff meant.
Speaker: So, but that's the story behind decree. All right, so you shall decree something and it shall come to pass. So, that is a very powerful word of God and that is, I believe, is the foundation of your record label. Is that it? Yeah. Okay, so... And I have two artists now.
Speaker: Yes, we have two artists that just signed with Decree. Oh, okay. Okay. Okay, Shanine. So you've just talked about Decree Records, the story behind this setup. You talked about the fact that you have two artists signed onto the record label. What do you really seek to achieve with your own record label?
Speaker: Um, I just, I just trying to make it mainstream and to bring on more Christian and gospel artists so that, you know, we can have our own genre and just make it, you know, in the music industry. And so, and we have been doing, you know, quite well, me, myself, I'm in the top 100 in the billboards and now I'm pushing towards the artists to, to get to that, that point too.
Speaker: Okay, so I like the fact that yes, you've done it, you've achieved something and you also want to use your platform to also bring people up. Yes, I think that is a very noble cause to chat. So thank you for that. Thank you. Thank you. So you are also an author and I read reading about you, I read that your Facebook is titled
Speaker: Bleeding within a journey to find healing. That is a very loaded title. So I would like us to break down, yes, get a better understanding of the book, what one will find in where people can get copies. So let's start with the title of the book. Bleeding within a journey to find healing. What is this title?
Speaker: The title came about, it started with myself first. I was molested at seven years old and it was so hard for me to tell anyone. It was like fear just gripped me and it seemed like that I was hurting, I was bleeding within and that's where the title came in.
Speaker: and came from. And so that title is the bleeding within is basically helping people with inner struggles, with unforgiveness, with wounds that was there, that they didn't even know that actually was a wound until a trauma or something came and just opened it up. Some people deal with molestation, like for myself, some people deal with rape,
Speaker: Some people deal with, you know, all hurt and, you know, pains and they hold it within. And what it is, it starts an internal, not called an internal, spiritual bleeding. And it's just that that just will have what the title say bleeding within. You're hurting within, but you don't know the remedy to come out. And so this that's why this book is
Speaker: has came forth so you will know the remedy of the journey of finding healing within yourself. Okay, that is something very important. So what will one find in the book? If one should purchase it, what will one find in the book? You can find it on Amazon under Shanine Bonner and also on my website at www .shaninecbonner .com.
Speaker: All right, so let me clarify a bit. So when one buys it in terms of the chapters and the content of the book, what will one see in the book?
Speaker: They will understand how, you know, I use an analogy of a bed sorer. I'm in the medical field, so, you know, it's called the tubeless ulcer, but I use it as a bed sorer for my introduction, is that as long as you lay on that sorer, the deeper the wound becomes.
Speaker: And so, as long as we lay in certain positions in life, you know, of hurt and pain and disgust, the deeper that wound gets. So, it comes to inspire you. It comes to, you know, to bring the healing. And with the cubilist authors slash bedsore is that the healing comes from the inside out.
Speaker: So what you have to do with that, you have to go inside. When doctors come and go to do surgery and heal, they go clean it out first. They get all of the old tissues, the old stuff out of it, and they clean all of the debris out of that. And they leave it open so it can heal from the inside out.
Speaker: And that's what us, you know, we need to get all of the hurts and the pains, you know, and how you, how that you, you heal from that. You just be exposed to it, you know, and just be a light to somebody else that has been, that, that, that's going through there. But yeah, this, that book is just, it's exactly what it says. It's a journey to finding health.
Speaker: Okay, all right, so my guest once again is Shani Barna. She's a music artist, author, and record label executive. And we've been talking about her journey, where she started off, where she is now, where she draws inspiration to produce music, her journey in starting her record label Decree Records,
Speaker: and getting to understand and appreciate what we will find in her book. Her book titled, Bleeding Within a Journey to Finding Healing. So Shanine, you are my first
Speaker: music artist and I cannot have you on my show without us getting to experience your music. So I would like to put you on the spot. This time I'm going to put you on the spot to give us
Speaker: a rendition of some of your songs. I'm sure my listeners would love to hear some of your songs. Of course, we are now in the studio with all the gadgets that come with recording, but I believe that at this time the lyrics and your voice would help us a lot. So which song are you going to give to us today?
Speaker: My song, Great God, because that was inspired. You know, I was actually homeless. And when I wrote that song and just just, you know, worshiping the next thing I heard. What a great God we serve. A great God we serve. Your name will be exalted.
Speaker: Your name will be exalted over the earth. Wow, wow, wow. And I'm sure...
Speaker: Just as we sang about the great God, I'm sure my listeners will still want another song. So like Oliver Twist, we'll ask for another song before we continue with our conversation. So which other song are you going to give us a taste of? Well, my other song, well, when I was writing that song, I just heard, praise.
Speaker: it will open blind eyes praise it will open praise of praise oh go on go on go on you're enjoying go on it will heal your body praise so you can walk on water okay that's it
Speaker: Thank you. Thank you. That's a powerful voice you have there. Very, very powerful voice. And I'm sure that my listeners are so thankful for you giving us a taste of two of your songs. So Shani, reading about you, I also read about a lot of community service you offer. Can you tell us about that side of your life?
Speaker: What I really advocate for is teen pregnancy, domestic violence, and homelessness because I experienced all three. I had my first kid at 17 years old, my first daughter at 17, my second daughter at 19,
Speaker: my third daughter at 21. And their dad and I, we thought that we were adult enough to have three daughters. But I experienced all of that as being a teen mother, people talking about you really placing a stigma on you.
Speaker: You're never going to be anybody. You have all those children. I had one person tell me, you're going to be on welfare, and I wouldn't be surprised if you're on drugs, because you started so young having children. And that has nothing to do with it. As you can see, I'm
Speaker: far away, never did drugs or alcohol a day in my life. And now I am the owner of a record label. And so, and even with domestic violence and, you know, I've experienced that too, to the, you know, and just homelessness one, God called me to, from Michigan to come
Speaker: to Los Angeles. Um, he called me out here to do ministry and you know, he told me to plan and he told me to promise, but he never told me the process that within this time, that time I will become homeless. But he was faithful at his word. He never let me sleep outside. And so I was, I was grateful for that, but I advocate for those three because I experienced it, you know, at firsthand.
Speaker: Sure, sure, sure. Thank you so much for sharing that part of your life with us. And I'm inspired. You went through a couple of things in life, and you are using that as a launchpad to help others not to go through what you went through. And that, I think, is also a very noble act. And we thank you for sharing that part of your life with us today.
Speaker: We are just about wrapping up our conversation. You've given us a very good feel of your journey. You've given us a taste of your songs. I would now at this stage ask for pieces of advice to a section of our audience.
Speaker: This podcast is global. You are based in the US and based in Africa, West Africa, Ghana. Our listeners cut across continents. There are people who will listen to your song on this show. There are people who will listen to your journey on this show and will draw a lot of inspiration and be motivated to really see the positive side of life. What would be your advice to someone with that desire to build a career in music? What would be your advice to such a person?
Speaker: My advice is to just stay focused because you will hear the word no. But if you know that this is what you are called to do, and I would just say stay focused. You know, have a strategy and stay focused. Have a strategy and stay focused. So these are the worst of my guests, Shanine Bonner. Have a strategy and stay focused. Have a strategy.
Speaker: and stay focused. What would be your last words or pieces of advice or motivation to my listeners? What would be your last words to us? Well, I can say my last words that I would want to say, and it's more of a motivational word. Tough people stand the test of time. So you just have to be that rock.
Speaker: remember tough people stand the test of time tough people stand the test of time tough people stand the test of time and i said those were you're going to be your last words but i've had to come back because of a prompting um as i said earlier on you are the first music artist record label executive i'm interviewing and there's a strong thing on my heart not to leave
Speaker: this conversation without a prayer and a song. So before we sign off, I ask that you give us a prayer and then a song before I sign out of today's conversation. Okay, my song. So if you can give us a song and then we'll pray and then we'll sign off. Okay, my song is, we bow down.
Speaker: and worship Yahweh. We bow down and worship Yahweh, Yahweh.
Speaker: Yahweh Yahweh Ooh Yahweh Yahweh Yahweh
Speaker: Father, in the name of Jesus, Lord, we thank you, Lord, for this interview. Lord, we thank you, Lord, that this is the day that you have made, and we will rejoice in it. Lord, we thank you, Lord, in the name of Jesus, Lord, for coffee, Lord, in the name of Jesus. We thank you, Lord, for his podcast right now.
Speaker: In the name of Jesus, Lord, we praise you, Lord. In the name of Jesus, Lord, that this podcast will be prosperous, Lord. In the name of Jesus, we speak abundance over it right now. In the name of Jesus, Lord, we declare and we decree right now that there will be no lack, but overflow will come on this
Speaker: podcast right now in the name of Jesus Christ the anointed one and Lord we thank you Lord for the listeners Lord in the name of Jesus Lord bless the listeners and Lord bless the country and the country of Africa bless Ghana right now in the name of Jesus and Lord we praise you and Lord we give you the glory and Jesus mighty name amen
Speaker: Amen. Amen. Thank you so much Shanine Barna for sharing your rich experience with us. You've not only shared your rich experience, you shared your songs with us and you've also ended today's conversation with a prayer. God richly bless you. May He shine His face upon you and may He expand your territories. I wish you the very best. And thank you so much for having me on your podcast.
Speaker: So this has been another exciting episode of the Entrepreneur Speaks podcast. I'll come your way next time with another inspiring and energizing conversation. I'm your host, Kofi Animeidou. As always, do take good care of yourself and let's continue to keep hope alive. Cheers. We bow down.
Speaker: And worship Yahweh We bow down And worship Yahweh Yahweh
Speaker: your way, your way. Ooh, your way, your way, your way.
