LA-based songwriter, Shelley Segal, has released her latest single No, a modern, bold and assertive track that describes the difficulty many women face when turning down sexual advances, and a new EP Holy, a masterclass in intimate and exciting Americana.
The Australian musician has been working in Los Angeles for three years, writing and recording in the United States while touring and collaborating on a host of artistic projects. No highlights a sentiment that will ring true for many women who have found themselves in a situation where it was almost impossible to say ‘no’.
“[No] describes three different scenarios in which the protagonist finds it difficult to say no to sexual advances,” says Segal. “I wrote the song because, even though it’s 2019 and so many women feel comfortable asserting themselves and speaking up for themselves, and even though there has been so much public discourse and progress on these issues, there are still scenarios where it feels hard to say ‘no’,” she says.
Segal has been living and working in the US since 2016, and has also worked for charity group, One Law For All, writing two songs for the organisation and receiving the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain Award (CEMB) for her contributions. Furthermore, Segal reflects on her other release, Holy.
“In the Jewish tradition I grew up in, what was holy was dictated to me,” says Segal. “To elevate my life, my songs, my experiences and my voice (which was not allowed to be heard unaccompanied in my synagogue), to call them holy is incredibly empowering. I hope it will inspire people to decide for themselves what is holy and sacred to them,” she says.
Segal is now currently working on music for a documentary (Transmission Love), and a conservation-themed EP in partnership with several scientists.
