A Quick Chat with Shan Kae

‘Sideshow Pretty’ is a striking title. What does it represent to you?

The song reframes being a “side piece” or “trophy partner” as a metaphor for society’s pressure to stay pretty and convenient, before flipping into empowerment in verse three as the narrator takes back the stage and rewrites the ending. It came from a mixture of relationship personal experience, combined with being a woman in today’s society and growing up. As an older person now I watch my younger friends and family and see what it’s like for young, pretty girls and in all honesty, beauty can very much be a curse.

What sparked the idea for the song?

I had started writing the song directly about my own experience and I had only written the first verse. I got stuck on that for a week or two. Whilst travelling up in Darwin my 15 year old started a conversation with myself and my best friend about what it’s like for women growing up in regards to beauty standards, commercialism etc. The conversation went on for around two hours. I was very proud that he was so curious and cared so much about it. Later that evening I went home and finished the song as the much broader meaning came to light, and it wrote itself.

There’s a strong narrative arc in the track. What’s the turning point?

The turning point is in verse three as she takes him to the alley, adds up the tally and turns a new page. This represents challenging the idea of having to be “chained up” and restricted by beauty standards. That we are in fact enough as we are, perfect just the way we are and our sense of self worth shouldn’t come from how “pretty” society deems us to be.

How does this song reflect where you are creatively right now?

I am in a place where I have re invented myself out of a terrible, dark time, as we do. While I was down there I found my voice and now I want to use it. If a topic comes up that I feel passionate about I generally get inspired to write a new song and try to capture the feeling.

What was the recording process like working with Greg Schubert?

Greg is a long time friend, teacher and mentor of mine here in the Northern Rivers. I woke up one morning early and I could hear my song being played with a big band sound, horns, saxophone etc. I could literally hear it as I woke up. I texted Greg at first light and excitedly asked if he’d be willing to help bring my vision to life and he immediately replied yes he’s happy to be the “midwife” for Sideshow Pretty. It’s the first time I have recorded with him and we had so much fun. Greg is very precise, has an incredible ear and is a musical genius in my opinion and many other local musicians around the area. I learnt a lot about how to get a really good result in the studio regarding sound quality. I’ll continue to work with Greg at his studio The Space Shed.

What do you hope listeners take away after hearing it?

I hope that listeners take a message away about finding their own self worth in a world that is very challenging in that respect, particularly for but not only women. I hope that someone out there hears the message they need to hear in this, that you are more than your external appearance. You have a whole self inside, a soul, that needs loving and nurturing and I want people to challenge the notion that being pretty is so important. I mean, who are we being “pretty” to impress anyway?