Interview with Country & Americana Artist Shugga

MuzicNotez: First off, it’s an honor to be doing this interview with you, thanks for taking the time to sit down with us.

What motivated you to start creating music? What age did you begin?

• Shugga: Well 1st of all it’s a pleasure to be interviewed by you. Music has always been there as a passion,as early as 5th grade writing poetry. From there it was just a little something to pass the time then; never knowing what the future would hold. My motivation has always been older music, country music that I grew up on. From singing to every song on the radio as a kid on the bus to now, it’s been an extraordinary experience.

  Growing up my late father said, “You can be anything you want to be in life, just don’t ever give up”. After he got sick in 2012, my life was at a stand still,college,dreams everything. After he died in late December 2013, my life was in shambles; I thought I couldn’t come back. But deep down inside, I was meant to do something incredible in my life and music was that. So in January 2014, my best friend Andrew and I had created something that would change my life forever. We started a band, well more of a duo if you will; at 1 of my favorite spots on UTC campus a month later. Fast forward a few years later, I was connected with a radio dj and her family and my music career was on the horizon.

MuzicNotez: Who were your musical influences, idols, or bands growing up that have helped mold you into the musician you are today? Or helped mold the music that you create?

• Shugga: WOW, this is 1 of my favorite questions; simply because I get to share more of the artistry side of things. So im a 90s baby, and of course I listen to mostly music from my generation; from George Strait to Travis Tritt to Reba/Brooks and Dunn all the way to 1 of my favorite duos Montgomery Gentry. I write 80s and 90s country mixed with today’s country, I love this because it molds me into who I am as a singer-songwriter today. There are so many artists who I grew up listening to some I’ve got to see.

  As a kid, I was in Big Brothers Big Sisters and sponsor was my hometown artist Chattanooga’s own Eric Heatherly. We met in Nashville 2001 I believe, it was a phenomenal experience even got to sing on stage with him. 1 of my all-time early favorite moments as a future singer-songwriter.

MuzicNotez: What’s the ultimate goal you want your music to achieve, or for you to achieve in your career as a musician? Any particular message you wish to send?

• Shugga: Looking back,I never thought this would ever happen; it’s 1 thing to have a passion/dream but to actually go out and make it happen, is on a whole different level. It takes grit,heart,drive and passion and a whole lot of prayers; to be in music nearly 10 years. I wrote my 1st song on UTC campus I would say 2017 but my 1st entire written song was 2019. I’ve written with so many great independent artists over the last few years and made life-long friends in the process. I’m a 6x independent nominated artist by the biggest independent award show The Josie Music Awards. Earning nominations with some great artists including Amanda McCarthy, my great friend/co-writer Crystal Flahardy but my actual song/co-writer that changed my career is Dylan Johnson and our song “Proud of Me” this song was co-written by Dylan Johnson and myself; about my late father (who never gave up on me) who believed in me since day 1 and gave me the confidence to continue my life long dream even when I think I couldn’t. This song went on to be the biggest song in my career; being not only a Josie Music Awards nominee but also my 1st #1 on independent radio with a Canadian DJ Al Yardy & KB Radio last year. Including my very 1st international interview. So far the “Proudest Moment of My Career”

MuzicNotez: What’s the greatest concert you’ve ever been to or performed?

• Shugga: So I’ve seen so many of my heroes over the last 30+ years but I think my favorite would always be my 1st. My hometown radio station (WUSYus101) had an anniversary concert downtown Chattanooga. It was so many artists from Clay Walker to Martha Mcbride and many other childhood favorites. Another great concert just as equally as great, was Keith Urban/Vince Gill’s “All For the Hall” in Nashville 2014. I saw Reba/Carrie Underwood/Deana Carter + over a dozen others in “Music City” saw Brantley Gilbert 7x over a 13 year period.

MuzicNotez: Your latest release is the track ‘The Way We Used To Be’, which you co-wrote with Samantha Smith. What was that experience like working together?

• Shugga: Well this partnership is like all the rest, all about trust. All about who is my next co-writing partner who add fire to a song. Samantha definitely has that, she has the drive, the passion and the authentic voice of a phenomenal singer-songwriter. When we wrote this song a lot of people think it was personal and honesty it was (sort of) at first it wasn’t. But then she got me to dig deeper into a songwriters core and it a little boost of energy. (High-school sweetheart drama) That’s what separates a good songwriter from an excellent songwriter. And I’m so proud to work with her and looking forward to what the future holds for the both of us going forward.

MuzicNotez: Your next release is ‘I Miss You, Too’. What can you tell us about this track?

• Shugga: So with this 1 I had to do some research,dig into my past relationships and study songwriting techniques along with combining “I Miss You,Too” with “The Way We Used To Be” to actually have a balanced song. It is one of the songs that’s helping write songs on my own. I call it my “Warm up” as far as songwriting goes. It has a deep passion of focusing on the other person’s will to have another shot at lost love (something I know all too well).

MuzicNotez: Being a songwriter, what inspires the music you create? What’s your songwriting process?

• Shugga: This is another great opportunity for me to share who I truly am though my music. Being a songwriter is truly humbling for me, believe it or not public speaking is something I’ve always struggled with. But when need to get something out to the world (my fans) it comes from the heart, through my music. I listen to music almost every single day throughout my entire 10 year career, it soothes my mind, takes me to a whole different place where I can just listen to the words or the music. My writing process depends on what I’m in the mood to listen to, throughout my career; George Strait and Travis Tritt were my go-to artists on which direction a song should go. Now it’s all over the place where I’ll mixed Travis Tritt mixed with Brantley Gilbert and Luke Combs mixed with Lonestar, taking a piece of my childhood memories and putting my own twist on it. This brings us into looking forward to the future and 2024.

MuzicNotez: What else are you working on? What can we expect to see and hear from you in the future?

• Shugga: Well I want to thank each and every single one of my fans, Andrew,all of the co-writers I’ve had the pleasure to work with over the years, my mother,my dad,my sisters and the Lord (most importantly) for giving me this amazing,life changing opportunity to get to do what I love every single day. As far as what the future holds, 2024 has a lot of great things coming ahead. More co-writes/new friendships/new opportunities including the 10th anniversary of wonderful musical journey. This next season of music will be more fan based,more interactive and more driven than ever before. So thinking, realistically a new EP late spring/early summer of 2024, with new music released periodically and has a deeper connection with the fans.

MuzicNotez: Anything else you wish to say about yourself or your music? Any message for your fans?

• Shugga: Yes, this year has been great for us as a songwriter team. I’ve learned a lot since last year and growing as a singer-songwriter rapidly. My writing style/music are examples of the heart and soul I’ve put in this journey. I want to be able to make great memories/music for the fans, and get to know them more on a personal level. As I end with this, thank you for this amazing opportunity with this interview. My fans are my everything, they gave me hope when I thought it was lost.

  This is “Shugga” Shane Jones from Chattanooga TN with Shugga Music 2.0 and this is my interview with MuzicNotez

  Y’all be blessed with peace and love, see y’all soon.

  “Country Music That Hits Home”

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