Hi, I’m Shelley!
I’m an Artist, Astrologer, Speaker, and Coach. As a producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist (voice, oud, percussion, piano, guitar), I take inspiration from my multicultural experience and passion for alchemical healing to create an ethereal blend of World Chamber Pop.
With an M.A. from Berklee College of Music, I fundraised $16K to record my album DREAMTIME, and I’ve been supporting talented young musicians with expert coaching for over ten years. I’ve recorded with artists such as Equanimous, Residente, and Yo-Yo Ma on two Grammy-winning albums, and had my music placed in the Paramount+ show CIA.
My brand, The Mystical Creative, offers bespoke music production for film + TV, intuitive astrology and tarot, and Dream Fulfillment Coaching. My mission is to uplift and inspire others to fulfill their potential through the healing power of creative expression.
My Approach to a Typical Lesson:
My goal for each lesson I teach is to help the student develop a strong rhythmic and melodic foundation for the material they’re working on. We focus on developing a good ear for listening and tuning, timbre, getting a good sound, proper posture, scales, warmups, and other technique fundamentals.
We’ll also dive into your book of choice, special repertoire, or even your own songwriting to work on specific music while methodically building a strong understanding of music theory. Throughout the process, we’ll work on playing or singing in a relaxed, confident way while developing lifelong skills and musicianship!
My Advice for Students:
The two most important qualities to cultivate in a creative life, as well as for success in general, are Confidence and Resilience.
If you don’t believe in yourself and your dreams, you can’t expect anyone else to. You have to have the tenacity and courage to go for it. Whatever is calling to you in your heart, just don’t stop, no matter how long it takes (and I’m talking years and years!) or how much rejection you experience.
Which leads to the second quality: Resilience. Failure and rejection are simply part of the process in business as well as in creation. The sooner you wrap your head around this, the better. Stop taking things personally, pick yourself up, and keep going!
My Favorite Local Places:
I absolutely love New Jersey. I’ve lived here for four years, and I’m still discovering hidden gems. I love Battello in Jersey City, Waterbar in Montclair, and Finlay & Gage Music Shop + Repairs in Maplewood.
Three Tips for Success:
- Believe in yourself.
- Develop positive and healthy routines for mind, body, spirit, and practice.
- Never stop learning, and be resilient!
