Exclusive Shanna Shannon Helps Many People Through Songs

Shanna Shannon (Photo: Savic Rabos, DI: Raga/VOI)

JAKARTA - Young singer Shanna Shannon recently released her first duet song entitled Haunting. Stevan Pasaribu has been a friend of her first duet since joining Trinity Optima Production four years ago.

This time, Shanna Shannon returned to perform the song created by Melly Goeslaw, after previously releasing a single which was also composed by the Sundanese singer and songwriter.

Shanna Shannon admitted that she could sing Melly Goeslaw's song for a long time. Being able to work with Anto Hoed's wife is called a dream come true.

"Being able to sing an annual song Melly is indeed my dream with my parents from the beginning of my career, I really want to create a song with an annual Melly Goeslaw," said Shanna Shannon when visiting VOI's office in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta last week.

So when I entered Trinity, I continued to make singles Rela. I'm really happy and I think this dream come really true. So I'm really happy to finally be able to sing Melly's annual song again, but this time it's a duet with someone," he continued.

Shannon is also happy to be able to have a duet with Stevan Pasaribu, who in fact had a career in the music world. He felt a new, fun experience when he had a duet with the 28-year-old soloist.

Not only about music, Shannon praised Stevan's character, which he said was able to make the atmosphere more fluid.

"Stevan thought at first he thought he was quiet, but he wasn't, maybe because I was quiet. So, finally he had to chat. In my eyes, he's an active and very lively person. But it's also good, because the atmosphere is so busy and fun like that," said Shanna Shannon.

Seeing what Shannon has achieved at this time, his preference for the art of singing has started since he was 3 years old. Although there is no background from the musician's family, his parents' preference for listening to music makes him start learning to sing.

"From a young age, I've heard music a lot, especially since I used to have a hobby of hearing Celine Dion and Mariah Carey's songs. So, from a young age my idol Celine Dion and Mariah Carey," said Shanna Shannon.

"From a young age I wanted to be a singer, but at that time I was very shy, I didn't dare to sing in front of anyone. Sometimes when I was told to sing in front of my family, even in front of my father I was very embarrassed," he added.

The role of parents is so important that Shannon becomes more serious about singing. His mother's words, which say that Shannon's talent in singing can help many people become a motivation to venture to appear in front of many people.

When I was 9 years old, Mom invited me to chat and said 'Shannon, you are given talent from God. Through this talent, you can help a lot of people out there'. Mama told me that outside there were so many children who weren't as lucky as you. Mama said that if I sing later, I could help them'," said Shanna Shannon.

"Finally, Mom told me a lot, and after that I cried and I said that if that was the reason for me to sing, I would fight for it. Jafi, that's what made me motivated, finally got up the courage to sing in front of many people," he continued.

Since the age of 9 years, Shanna Shannon began to cover several national songs and uploaded them on YouTube. Then at the age of 13, he also covered several pop songs.

Positive response to the songs covered made one of the big record labels, Trinity Optima Production also signed it.

"I remember very well, it was after I appeared on the 17th show, after singing I was contacted by Trinity and I was very excited. Finally I was invited to the office for a meeting and finally sign the contract. From there I started releasing my own single," said Shanna Shannon.

Shanna Shannon was named Ambassador to the song Indonesia Raya in 2016. He was lined up to sing the national anthem which was arranged with a new orchestration.

At that time, the Ministry of Education and Culture was named, at that time the Ministry of Education and Culture had a project to socialize the song Indonesia Raya. So, they want the re-orchlaration of the song Indonesia Raya, and the video will be screened in all cinemas throughout Indonesia before the film opens," he said.

With two different types of songs, Shannon admits, it provides a unique experience in itself. He revealed how different it felt when performing national anthems and pop songs.

"If you sing a national song, you are usually invited to a Ministry event or a formal event, so you are really tense and proud. The atmosphere is more nervous for me, but I still enjoy it because from a young age I've been singing national songs," said Shannon.

"If for pop songs maybe it's good because you can sing together with the audience, you can interact directly and maybe what can the song do? Yes, you can sing together with the audience, so you can connect with them more.

Not only known as a singer at a young age, Shanna Shannon, who just celebrated her 17th birthday, also has noble intentions, can be useful for many people. Getting a big influence from his parents, he has been participating in social activities since childhood.

"Indeed, from a young age I really like social activities, because my mother really likes social activities. From a young age, there is a family tradition like that, every time someone has a birthday or maybe once a month, we often go to orphanages. If there is a disaster, we also often come to see it firsthand, "he said.

Through these social activities, said Shannon, his mother wants to teach that life is not only for yourself, but also for others.

Shanna Shannon also founded her own social foundation three years ago. Through the Shanna Shannon Indonesia Banget Foundation, she wants to help many Indonesian children welcome a much better future.

Through many social activities that have been followed, Shannon sees that many Indonesian children, especially outside urban areas, have not experienced proper education.

"They can't go to school because they don't have access. So, it's one of my biggest concerts and also my foundation. That's why I built the school so I could educate the students there," he said.

He felt that many problems between children and adolescents could be overcome with good education. With the open access to social media, more and more children and adolescents are involved in bullying and harassment, both as victims and as perpetrators.

There are so many children who experience unpleasant things. They shouldn't deserve that," said Shannon.

With so many activities being carried out at a young age, Shanna Shannon admits that it is not easy to go through everything simultaneously, especially since he also has an obligation to go to school.

Once again, the family is the strength for Shannon to do well. He said that his parents fully supported what he had done so far.

"Praise God, I am very grateful that my parents are very supportive. From the start, it was because of my motivation to finally be able to dare to appear in front of many people. So, I am very grateful because they have a very big role in my career," he said.

In the future, Shanna Shannon does not want to be known only as a singer and social activist. So far, he is still focused on his education and hopes to be part of the United Nations in the future.

"I'm a very focused child in education. Besides I want to be a singer, one of my dreams, because I like social activities, I want to work at the United Nations. That's why I also really focus on education. I try my best," concluded Shanna Shannon.