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Artists Worth Checking Out Women in Entertainment

Shadow Pearson remembers Orlando with release of single ‘Finger on the Pulse’

Just like the atrocities committed on 9/11, most of us remember exactly where we were and what we were doing on June 12, 2016, when 49 innocent souls were gunned down in the Pulse nightclub in Orlando.  No longer would Orlando be considered just a vacation getaway – it will now be remembered as the site of one of the biggest hate crimes committed against one particular group of our nation’s citizens.

Shadow Pearson, the lead singer of Orlando based band The Actomatics, chose to do something about the senseless act by writing and releasing a song to help raise money for the onePulse Foundation.  She was joined by a choir of more than 100 people, representing the ‘voices’ of Orlando, whom she dubbed the City Song Players.  The song is entitled “City Song – Finger on the Pulse,” and was released on September 27, 2016 by Star 1 Group.  In addition, the music video is set to premiere today during an International Broadway Event at the John and Rita Shakespeare Center.

We sat down with Pearson to help you get to know her.  Here are the results of our interview:

IVB:  When was your first performance?

SP:  My first professional gig was about 9 or 10, I believe.

IVB:  Who do you consider to be your influences?

SP:  My first piece of vinyl was purchased by my father, The Temptations’ Sky’s the Limit.  There was music everywhere in our home.   As a family we sat around and played the songs of Hank Williams Sr every night with my mother at the piano and my father on acoustic guitar.  Then came Stevie Wonder, Jethro Tull and The Who.  I love everything about Pete Townshend.  My grandmother had a lot of Christian vinyl, especially Oral Roberts.  She was in rural Mississippi.   ‘Something good is going to happen to you, happen to you, happen to you.’   I played that song a lot too.   He was a charismatic Pentecostal televangelist, but I think there’s Rock Star in that stuff too.

IVB:  What is your new song release “City Song – Finger on the Pulse” so important?

SP:  The song was written by the people for the people.  We are the voice of the people.

IVB:  What are your future plans?

SP:  Our video debuts worldwide in October.  We have been invited to show at an International Broadway Event on the 17th.  There is  also a documentary which we are editing.  Perhaps the Spring would be a good time to have a fundraiser and get the documentary into the film festival circuit.  I’m not sure of the length yet as to whether it would be included as a short or a full length entry.

IVB:  Do you have any stories you want to share about the creation of your song, the onePulse Foundation, touring, recording or fan interaction?

SP:  There are times when everything falls together perfectly.  This was one of those times.  Music heals.  There has been nothing but an outpouring of love.  Everything is love.

IVB:  Where can people find out more about you, the song and your efforts?

SP:  You can download the song on Bandcamp (link above).  Also check out our band’s website and Facebook pages, the onePulse website, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, ReverbNation, and Bands in Town, and subscribe to our email list.  Word of mouth is one of our biggest draws, so share, share, share.  I like that word.

Thanks to Jennifer Allison for the background material, and for letting us know about this worthy artist who is giving back to her community.