Who Is Shaylen? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

Today we’re shining our spotlight on an incredibly talented singer-songwriter, Shaylen. Despite finding a home in country music, Shaylen has had an interesting career path, spanning from her love for musical theatre, her former Pop group, and even writing hit songs for Korean pop artists. We chatted with the singer about her path, finding her home in country music, and everything in between.

“I was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I was raised here until about seven. Then moved to Allen, Texas. I basically realized the second I figured out how to talk, that I was going to sing,” began the songstress. “I don’t have anyone who is in the music industry in my family, but I was influenced by their taste in music. My mom and dad played everything under the sun. I really found a love for it, I was super, super, dead set on singing a song at the offering in Church, and I was six when I did it, and I got to get up on stage, and in that moment, I was like “oh I want to do whatever this is. I want to feel whatever this is.” It wasn’t really like “look at me,” it was the connection with everyone, and for the first time ever, I thought this was my purpose.”

The singer convinced her supportive family to get her a guitar and a piano. “I dove into piano lessons. I’m classically trained there, and then at night time, I would go to a music school, and I would do children’s theatre, and all the plays I can do at the time.”

Shaylen recalls from an early age having access to many different musical genres. She fell in love with all sorts of artists like Shania Twain, The Beatles, Carrie Underwood, Britney Spears, and even Elton John. “There was a period of my life, where it was gospel music and then I learned what Broadway was. I was heavily into musical theatre. Then, I got introduced to Brooks & Dunn, and Toby Keith was a big guy in our household, Martina McBride, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, etc. I realized, as little as I was, the storytelling in country music, it was always about the song first,” she shared. Adding, “We played everything you could think of under the sun.”

The Turning Point:

Young Shaylen, continued to hone her talent as a musician. Eventually, she landed herself a spot in a Pop group called ‘Savvy.’ “Then randomly the creator behind the show, Proud Family, came across one of my group members, and met us, and was like I’m going to write a sitcom around you guys. […] She wrote the script and we filmed the pilot. […] A year later, it was picked up, and all of a sudden instead of going to high school, I’m moving to Michigan to film a 22 episode sitcom,” she shared.

“So I did that, I was home-schooled, and then out of nowhere, when I was turning seventeen, Cash Money Records wants to sign us. We signed the record deal. […] We were really having a moment, and then things derailed within six months.”

Unfortunately, Shaylen experienced what many artists have experienced, being shelved and unable to release music because of her record deal. Despite the unfortunate experience, the singer decided to move to Los Angeles to find a new way to make her dreams a reality. “I get there, I’m working five jobs, and my group and I after a few months, knew it was over. […] I was stuck in that deal for two or three years, no one would write with me, but I figured out I needed to know how to write a song by myself.”

Learning how to write songs became Shaylen’s silver lining. “That led me to my first publishing deal as a solo artist, and wrote my way into certain rooms, and wrote another song by myself that landed in the room of Universal Republic, around 2018, I signed my first record deal as a solo artist with Universal Republic, and then COVID happened.”

By happenstance, Shaylen got the opportunity to go write in Nashville. During her first ever co-write in the city, her and her co-writers wrote the song “What If I Don’t,” which would go on to be life changing for the songstress.

Eventually, Shaylen felt the pull she felt years prior to head to Nashville. “I just heard this voice tell me that I had to go and derail my life and do the scariest thing I’ve ever done, but pack up your bags and go to Nashville,” she shared. Her record label let her walk, and she headed to Music City with just $75 to her name.

Today:

Flash forward to today, Shaylen following her inner knowing became the best thing she’s ever done for herself. The singer-songwriter found a home in country music, signing a deal with Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment.

“I’m curating a body of work right now that I’ve been curating over the last year in almost phases. I didn’t realize that in what was so hard and so sad, really I started to learn how to love myself again. […] If there’s anything that I can take away from my own thing is that these songs are chapters of that in my own life,” shared the singer.

Most recently, Shaylen released a new song called, “To Tell You The Truth.” “”To Tell You The Truth” was written down a year and a half ago, about wanting to call you and tell you I miss you, but why, you’re with someone new, and I remember being so excited to walk into the write. […] I happen to be suffering from a kidney infection on the same day, but I had to go. […] We’re writing, we’re trying to go around this idea. […] in the duration of that, when we finally listened  at the end, I loved it so much.”

“To Tell You The Truth” is the first song to come out in conjunction with her record deal. The Track showcases exactly who Shaylen is an artist. Fans can look forward to more music coming soon, as 2025 is slated to be a huge year for the humble rising artist. “We’re in the chapter of being vulnerable.”

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