She fronted the rock trio Crowsdell in the 90's, recording two albums, Dreamette and In the curve of an arm. Both featuring her intense writing, playing and singing.
Her first solo album, Flightsafety (1999) featured a gentle acoustic sound. Her next release, Maps of Tacit (2000) brought a more vocally aggressive approach. This was further developed on her next two albums, Dyed in the Wool (2001) and Over the Sun (2004), which were both recorded with Steve Albini.
After a collaboration with French musician Yann Tiersen (Yann Tiersen & Shannon Wright, 2004), the works that followed moved in a gentler direction, mixing warm folk and rock songs with moodier pieces. These albums included Let in the Light (2007), Honeybee Girls (2009), and Secret Blood (2010).
Her next album, In Film Sound (2013), incorporated more raw and harsh indie rock elements reminiscent of earlier works. Later, on Division (2017), she experimented with a fragile keyboard-based sound incorporating sampling and electronic beats. Her most recent release, Providence (2019), also has a haunting sound mainly based on piano.
She's a frequent road warrior, playing shows everywhere from South Dakota to Brazil. Her live shows are emotionally charged, unbridled pieces of rock and roll, featuring Shannon's trademark vocal howl and multi-instrumental palette. Shannon was handpicked by Sleater-Kinney and Nick Cave to open some of their US tour dates.
Bells
Shannon Wright Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You lifted the ark from me
Now there's nothing I cannot see
A wooden tin, a hidden sleet
Throw the matches upon my bed
In this boiling light
It swims through this
Now you ring the bells
The lyrics of Shannon Wright's song Bells are cryptic and enigmatic. The opening line, "your presence howls inside my ear," speaks of an all-consuming presence that has taken over the mind and thoughts of the singer. This presence has lifted a burden from the singer, allowing them to see clearly and without obstruction. The line "a wooden tin, a hidden sleet" may be referencing a container or hiding place for something valuable or significant to the singer.
The second verse takes a darker turn, with the line "throw the matches upon my bed." This line could be alluding to a destructive, self-destructive behavior or the idea of burning something down. The following lines, "in this boiling light, it swims through this hollowed bin to me," suggest that the singer is experiencing some intense emotion, possibly pain or anguish, and that this feeling is overwhelming and all-encompassing. Finally, the line "now you ring the bells" could be interpreted as a call to action or a challenge to the listener, urging them to take control of their emotions and respond to the turmoil they are experiencing.
Line by Line Meaning
Your presence howls inside my ear
I can feel your presence as if it's screaming in my ear
You lifted the ark from me
You helped me overcome a great burden or obstacle
Now there's nothing I cannot see
You've given me a new perspective that allows me to see everything clearly
A wooden tin, a hidden sleet
Something seems insignificant or hidden, like a small wooden box, but there's more to it than meets the eye
Throw the matches upon my bed
I want to ignite a fiery passion within me, even if it means self-destruction
In this boiling light
In this intense emotional state
It swims through this
It's almost like drowning in these overwhelming feelings
Hollowed bin to me
Everything appears empty and meaningless without you
Now you ring the bells
You bring a new sound, a new beginning, or perhaps, a new hope
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Shannon Wright
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind