Nashville, TN (Top40 Charts/ CDA Promotions) Oklahoma recording artist Shawna Russell has released her self-titled sophomore album on
Way Out West Records. It is available today at iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby and other digital and physical retailers.
Recorded in Nashville and Oklahoma City, and co-produced by Julian King (Grammy-winning engineer for Faith Hill, Tim McGraw and Toby Keith), along with Clif Doyal and Tim Russell, the album reflects Russell's growth as an artist and a maturity of her song crafting skills. Russell wrote - or co-wrote - the 10 songs on the project and they provide the listener with a deeper personal connection to her varied influences and artistic expression. From the guitar-driven Country Rock sounds that are her trademark, to Southern-influenced Country R&B and mandolin-tinged Americana, 'SHAWNA RUSSELL' presents the Oklahoma songbird at a new creative pinnacle.
The album has gained strong early reviews from Roughstock, Music News Nashville and Today's Country Magazine and is supported with current features in the Tulsa World and Music News Nashville.
'SHAWNA RUSSELL' features legendary and stellar musicians, including drummers Russ Kunkel (Carly Simon, James Taylor), Shannon Forrest (2010 ACM "Top Percussionist/Drummer") and Billy Thomas (Vince Gill); bassists David Santos (Elton John, John Fogerty) and Mike Brignardello (Lynyrd Skynyrd, Sugarland); mandolin, banjo and acoustic guitarist, Bryan Sutton (2000-2006 IBMA "Guitar Player of the Year"); electric, slide and acoustic guitarist, Jon Conley (LeAnn Rimes, Wynonna); along with keyboardists Charles Judge (Bon Jovi, Rascal Flatts) and Jim "Moose" Brown (Jamey Johnson, Darius Rucker).
The first single from the album, "Get Right Or Get Left," is gaining traction at radio and has received strong endorsements from critics, including Music Row's Robert K. Oermann. The video for the song, directed by Mark Nicolosi, enjoyed a World Premiere at Yallwire and is currently spinning on The Country Network, GACTV.com and other outlets across the country. A second single, "Sounds Like A Party," was released to the European market in May and climbed to No 3 on the Hotdisc Top 40 chart last week after only three weeks.
"I am so happy to finally release my second album," states Russell. "It is the culmination of my passion for creating music - and I can't wait to share it with everyone!"
Russell also relaunches her web site at ShawnaRussell.com.
About Shawna Russell:
Shawna Russell first came on to the national and international music scene with the release of her debut album, GODDESS (Way Out West Records), in 2008, for which she co-wrote 12 of the 13 songs. Critical acclaim followed: the CMA named her "Who New to Watch," and top music critics weighed in with praise for her debut. Chris Neal of COUNTRY WEEKLY gave GODDESS a 3 1/2 star review, MUSIC ROW's Robert K. Oermann bestowed a "DISCovery Award," his highest compliment to a new artist, and rave reviews followed from CMA CLOSE UP, MAVERICK (UK), NASHVILLE MUSIC GUIDE, DREAMWEST (France), THE OKLAHOMAN, MUSIC NEWS NASHVILLE, COUNTRY STARS ONLINE and others.
Three radio singles, "Goddess," "Should've Been Born With Wheels" and "Fire In The Desert" cemented her status as a contender, with action on the Billboard "New and Active,' Music Row and Texas Music Charts. Shawna toured radio stations across the country where her talent won coveted performance and interviews for her on KBEQ-Kansas City's highly-rated morning show with Mike Kennedy; Atlanta's powerhouse WUBL; and on Washington DC's "Voice of America" - which broadcasts to an international audience. Shawna's debut video "Should've Been Born With Wheels" reached the No 1 position on the "Ya'llturnative" chart at Ya'll Wire.com and stayed there for over a month and also attracted fans at CMT.com, AFN, GAC.com (debuted at No 3 as a "Top Pick") and on Pulse Network Television ("Top 20 Country Chart" for 3 months).
For more information about Shawna Russell, go to: www.ShawnaRussell.com
