Meet The Triple Threat: An Interview With Indie Singer Songwriter Shae Hinckley

A blog about the amazing indie singer, songwriter, and musician.

Welcome to a new blog series that introduces you to some of the most amazing indie musicians currently recording new music in the industry. Our first guest is Shae Hinckley. Shae is a triple threat in that she can sing, play guitar and piano, and write her own songs. Not only that but she has also written songs for other artists such as Selena Gomez and Christina Aguilera. In our interview with her we talk about her influences, how she got started in music, what it’s like writing for other artists, and more.

When did you realize you wanted to be a singer?

I was singing along to popular Disney movies when I was about three or four years old, so that’s probably when I realized I could hold a tune. It wasn’t until later on in life (around 11 years old) when I decided I wanted to pursue it as a career though.

Who are some of your biggest musical influences?

I’d have to say my main influences are probably Alanis Morissette, Tori Amos and Sarah McLachlan. I really admire strong female

Shae Hinckley is an indie singer, songwriter, and musician. Her music has been featured in the top 100 most downloaded on iTunes and she has worked with a number of other indie artists.

We caught up with Shae after an interview with one of her fans and asked her about her work as a triple threat.

How did you get your start in music?

Shae: Well, I was always interested in music growing up. My dad taught me how to play the guitar when I was young and I grew up singing at church. I started playing the piano in high school, so I just kept growing my musical talents from there.

What made you want to pursue music professionally?

Shae: I had always thought about being a professional musician but it wasn’t until my sophomore year of college that I really decided to go for it.

What is your favorite part about being an indie musician?

Shae: My favorite part is definitely the freedom it gives me to create my own music and find my own sound without having to be limited by a record label or producers who think they know what’s best for me.

What are some challenges you face as a triple threat?

Shae: It can be hard sometimes because I’m

Shae Hinckley is an up and coming indie singer songwriter and musician. She is based out of Salt Lake City, Utah and she recently released her third album, “Triple Threat”. In this interview, I ask Shae about her musical influences and her upcoming tour dates.

You have released your third album, “Triple Threat” in April? What inspired you to write this album and what did you want to achieve with it?

SH: This album was definitely a labor of love. I’ve been writing and recording songs over the past few years, just trying to find my voice as an artist. I grew up listening to a lot of pop music from the 90’s, like Alanis Morissette, No Doubt, The Cranberries, etc., so there are elements of pop music in my writing. But I also love listening to folk musicians like Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen. So it’s really a melting pot of all these different sounds that inspire me.

Shae Hinckley is a triple threat: indie singer songwriter, musician, and counselor.

As an indie artist, she’s recorded 3 albums and has written over 100 songs. She also plays piano, guitar, ukulele, and bass guitar. As a counselor, she’s worked with youth for more than 15 years.

Shae’s mission is to provide youth with resources to help them navigate their lives in a positive direction. Shae founded the non-profit organization “The Harbor”. The organization helps teens find their voice through music and video production.

Shae Hinckley is an amazing talent, and she’s a triple threat. She’s not only an amazing singer and songwriter, but also plays an incredible instrumentalist; she’s a proficient pianist, guitarist, and ukulele player! I was lucky enough to interview her recently, and share her thoughts on music, songwriting, performing, and more. Enjoy!

At what age did you start playing music? And when did you know that you wanted to make music?

When I was really young my parents put me in piano lessons. They were really strict about it. If I didn’t practice for half an hour every day then we couldn’t have dessert for dinner. So I learned at a very young age. Later on in life the guitar became my best friend.

What’s your favorite instrument to play?

My favorite would have to be piano but guitar is definitely my best friend.

Are there any other instruments that you’d like to learn how to play?

I keep talking about learning how to play the cello but there are so many strings on it that I just get confused. But I’m going to do it someday!

Hi Shae! Thanks for taking some time to talk about your music and what you have coming up.

I’m doing a lot of songwriting, getting ready for the release of my debut EP and working on the video for my single “Your Love”. I’m also in the process of booking a tour this summer, which is exciting because we are planning to bring a full band.

I spent the last week of 2016 at my parents’ house, where I grew up in a small town in Vermont, my hometown. The first thing to greet me was a tray of homemade chocolate chip cookies and a mug of hot cocoa. The second was stacks and stacks of old CDs that I had given to my brother years before.

I had forgotten that I ever owned these albums, but I immediately recognized them: Dispatch, Ben Harper, Jack Johnson. These were some of the most played albums between the years 2005-2009. In fact, if you were to ask me what genre of music has been most influential in my life? This is what I would say: indie rock.

There’s nothing like a good indie rock show. Nothing can quite compare to the experience of being in the crowd, watching your favorite band play their hearts out on stage. It’s an atmosphere unlike anything else; it’s electric. It gets under your skin, and you don’t want it to leave.