Inspired by Foxy Brown, Eve, and YMCMB, Shauna Moon combines East Coast and Southern rap flow, along with vocal variety and storytelling to create her diverse sound. Born in Trenton, New Jersey to Jamaican immigrants, she represents the multifacetedness of the global female hip-hop scene as she experiments with various sub genres of hip-hop, such as; pop rap, trap, ragga, lo-Fi, and trapsoul.
- Learn more on Shauna Moon as she sits with V-Henny and speaks about her music journey.
V-Henny: Can you tell us how you got started?
Shauna Moon: I’ve always enjoyed music and experimenting with sounds, but I never took it too seriously. I’d like to make my own flows, sounds, and beats when I was in the grocery store or in my bedroom. I’d record them as voice notes with no intention of taking them any further. In 2018, I started sharing Snapchat and Instagram stories of me playing with flows. I saw it as a fun challenge to just write music, with a beat or without one. I started releasing videos of me rapping to beats I found on YouTube or old song instrumentals. In 2020, I posted a freestyle to this UrbanNerdBeats I found and he reposted it. People started following me, and Gatsby, an Oakland artist, hit me up for a collaboration. I never predicted or expected to make music as an artist, but I’m glad that I did.
V-Henny: Who inspired you to make music?
Shauna Moon: If I were to say who drew me to music, I’d say Missy Elliott and Timbaland. I loved to dance as a kid. I’ve seen every dance movie. I grew up listening to Christina Aguilera, Aaliyah, and Ciara, but the music that Missy Elliott and Timbaland produced have had such a long-term impact on me. If I said who inspired me to write, I’d say YMCMB’s Big Three, Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Lil’ Wayne. Lil’ Wayne is one of my favorite lyricists all-time indisputably. His flow is perfectly strung together. Drake is great at creating pop music and experimenting with genres in a way that people want to listen to. This is why he was named Billboard Artist of the Decade. Nicki is lyrically one of the best female rappers to ever live. I like that she plays with vocal variety, wordplay, and theatrics. There are plenty of other artists like Foxy Brown, Eve, Lil’ Kim, and Spice, who are just as noteworthy and have also been my inspirations.
V-Henny: What qualities make you different and unique from everyone else in the industry?
Shauna Moon: Honestly, just being myself. I feel that there is not one thing that makes an artist unique compared to another. We all share similar styles, tones, genres, and expressions. I think what makes each artist unique is how we choose to present ourselves. Our artist identity. I think in the current state of female hip hop, I’d say I play more with different subgenres. But again, I think there are so many artists in each lane. I’m just carving out my space and making music that I enjoy and want to share.
V-Henny: Have you ever felt discouraged by the industry and if so how did you overcome the thought/feeling?
Shauna Moon: I feel discouraged by how hard it is to grow as an artist. Being an artist is not just about making music. You have to do PR and marketing. Artists try hard to go viral to get their music heard. You have to garner an audience, especially when you’re competing against major labels as an independent. I overcome this thought by realizing that I’m doing my best with the resources given to me. I’ve found communities like Rec Philly and have been actively trying to perform as I’ve done with Money World Musiq. You still have to do the other parts, but it’s easier when you don’t have to do it alone.
V-Henny: Who are the TOP 3 people you’d want to meet that could elevate your career or business? Why these specific individuals?
Shauna Moon: If I were to choose my top 3 people to meet, I’d choose Babyface, Drake, and Missy Elliott. The reason why I would choose Babyface and Missy Elliott is that they are amazing producers. They would have such an impact on my musical direction that I would love to improve as I grow. Being able to know what to add to a piece of art with a seasoned ear is a wonderful skill. I’d also choose Drake because he does a wonderful job of collaborating with smaller artists and expanding their audiences.
V-Henny: Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Shauna Moon: I’d love to collaborate with Doja Cat, Nicki Minaj, Miguel, J. Cole, Jhene Aiko, and DEAN. I feel like these artists and I would have complementary styles, and I’m excited at the idea of collaborating with each of them.
V-Henny: What were some of the steps you had to take to get to where you’re at in your career?
Shauna Moon: I had to relinquish control and learn to work with others. I’m growing to be more of a patient person. I’m so used to doing everything myself, but in music, it’s not sustainable. You need a team. There’s a reason why there are recording, mixing, and mastering engineers. There’s a reason why there are producers. There’s so much that goes into making one song, let alone a lengthy project. And in order to grow, I had to realize whom to work with and how to translate my vision. I spent so much time and money on the wrong things, and I finally feel like things are finally moving in the right direction.
V-Henny: How would you describe the music that you typically create?
Shauna Moon: I would consider my music to be hip hop and rap. As for specific subgenres, I’d say pop rap, trap, ragga, lo-fi, and trap soul. I’d love to dabble more in R&B later on, but I am just experimenting all the time. I create whatever I feel like creating based on the sounds I hear or the lyrics that pop up in my head.
V-Henny: What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your music career?
Shauna Moon: I have so many interests. I’m a creative person who has probably done too many things. I’ve written short stories, published articles, done photography, recorded visual poetry, and created content for social platforms. I love managing projects and running businesses. I’m a true busybody and am terribly impatient.
V-Henny: What projects are you presently working on?
Shauna Moon: I’m currently working on my project “Pressure” which is my first mixtape releasing on May 19, 2023! I dedicated late December 2022 to now on recording and planning the release to all streaming platforms. The mixtape is eight songs. It’s a collection of music that represents what kind of music I like to make. I hope people just have fun with it and enjoy it as I do.V-Henny: What is one message you would give to your fans?
Shauna Moon: Dreams can start whenever. You can wake up one morning and decide that this is how you want to go about your life. I think what’s most important is determination. If it’s your passion, how much are you willing to persevere with no immediate payoff? I like to reflect on how far I’ve come and push aside how far I have left to go. You have to stay gracious, humble, and hungry.
V-Henny: What’s next for you?
Shauna Moon: More performances, more music, more music videos, and a 2nd EP at either the end of this year or early 2024.
Make sure to follow Shauna as she continues to elevate within her music career.