Shaunna Heckman

Heckman returns with ‘Saturn Return’
Bayfield native to play at StageNorth
By DANIELLE KAEDING
Staff Writer
Published: Friday, February 11, 2011 10:43 AM CST
Shaunna Heckman is a 29-year-old musician in transition.

“I’m in my Saturn return. Basically what that is is Saturn comes around from the moment you’re born, it takes another 29 years to come all the way back around,” Heckman said, noting that the revolutions appear to return during three pivotal transitions in people’s lives.

“They say, especially the first one between 27 and 29 is where you’re going through a bunch of life transitions. You’re kind of coming into mature adulthood. You’re making changes and crossing over boundaries and fears that you’ve had,” Heckman said. She said similar experiences have had a profound influence on her recently as a musician, leading to the release of her debut EP “Saturn Return.” In the last few years, Heckman has grappled with whether she actively wanted to pursue a music career. At the time, Heckman had just ended a long-term relationship that wasn’t working.

“It took a lot to say this relationship isn’t right. I need to be strong and step out. I need to be confident that this music is going somewhere. I have all these people interested in playing with me. I need to trust my gut and follow what I want to do and not be afraid,” Heckman explained. “It was just this surge of power that overcame me and these songs just kept coming out.”

However, Heckman said the process wasn’t always so simple. A Bayfield native, Heckman started singing and playing in local coffee shops when she was 16. She also participated in the Bayfield schools’ marching and jazz bands while getting involved with a theater group on Madeline Island. Heckman had also taken piano lessons from the fourth grade on, but she quit during her junior year of high school. In 2004, she once again sat down to play.

“I had all these melodies in my head, and I wanted to be able to put them down on an instrument as well,” said Heckman, who worked with a keyboard for about six months.

“Then, all of sudden, songs just started pouring out,” she said.

Still, Heckman said there were many influences along the way from one of her favorite bands “The Cranberries” to musician Al Sparhawk of the Duluth-based group “Low.” Heckman said she realized a long-time dream to share the stage with Low at Teatro Zuccone in Duluth last September.

“It was originally going to be him (Sparhawk) playing by himself for a half an hour. Then, we would play,” Heckman said. However, a theater organizer informed her shortly before the performance that Low would be opening for her band.

“Then, it was even more special because at the very end of the show on the last song I was playing, Al came up and played guitar with me,” she said.

For a long time, Heckman had always been focused on how to “make it to the top” with her music. However, she began approaching her music as a top priority while taking setbacks in stride.

She has accomplished a goal which many musicians struggle to achieve: signing with a record label — Spinout Records.

“I have this group of musicians that I play with that is 100 percent on board and wants to push it just as much as me,” she said. Heckman also received the aid of Tom Fabjance of Ashland, who aims to take her music on the road.

“All these dreams that I’ve sort of had are happening, and my goal right now — I really don’t have anything set in stone other than I’ve always wanted to take a tour,” Heckman said.

She’s shooting to head to the East or West Coast this summer.

“I just feel like everything that’s happened now is happening for a reason,” Heckman said.

Before she sets out on her travels, Heckman can be seen performing Saturday night along with Toby Thomas Churchill and Russian Bride at StageNorth in Washburn.

“I think I might slightly be more excited about the StageNorth show than in Duluth,” she said. Heckman noted that a lot of the people who will be at the show are area residents who have been a big part of her life. Although, she said it’s a little nerve-wracking returning when many of them haven’t seen her perform since she was a teenager.

“It’ll be really interesting to see people and get their perception of what I’ve done in the past 10 years,” Heckman said.

In the meantime, she’s continuing to work on music and producing fresh material. Heckman’s advice to other aspiring musicians in the region is to keep pursuing the art.

“If somebody were to tell me, ‘Stop writing music. Don’t ever sing again. It’s not right. It’s not what you’re supposed to do,’ I would be crushed. It would just completely crush my spirit,” Heckman said. “If it’s your creative outlet and it’s something that drives you...I’m going to keep doing it, so I encourage other people as well.”

Danielle Kaeding can be reached at dkaeding@ashlanddailypress.net.

Who: Shaunna Heckman

Where: StageNorth, Washburn

When: Saturday, Feb. 12, 8 p.m.

What: New album “Saturn Return”

Contact: www.sonicbids/shaunnaheckman


- Ashland Daily Press

Shaunna Heckman’s EP “Saturn Return” is a five-song blend of new age, electronica and dream-like music and it includes one song that was recorded in a confession booth.
Heckman’s CD release show is at 8 p.m. Friday at Sacred Heart Music Center. Also on the bill: Russian Bride and Toby Thomas Churchill. She has shared the stage with Trampled by Turtles, Low, Retribution Gospel Choir and Sara Softich.
Here are five things Shaunna Heckman wants you to know about “Saturn Return”:

1. This EP is named after the astrological phenomenon “Saturn Return,” which occurs and influences a person’s life development at 27- to 29- or 30-year intervals according to their “life chart.” These intervals or “returns” coincide with the approximate time it takes the planet Saturn to make one orbit around the sun. It is believed by astrologers that as Saturn “returns,” a person crosses over a major threshold and enters the next stage of life. I will be 29 this summer, and am in my first Saturn return, which is most significant because it represents the first test of character and the structures a person has built life upon. During this time, goals are consolidated and people are given a better vision of where they are going in life. Many changes happen between 27 and 30 as it marks the true beginning of adulthood, self-evaluation, independence, ambition and self-actualization.

2. All songs were written over the past year, representing a period of self-growth consisting of forgiveness, letting go, facing fears, taking chances, ambition, motivation, moving forward, accepting truth and falling in love.

3. Bernie Larsen (Spinout Records, Cry on Cue) plays guitar on and produced “Closer to Me.” Vocals for this song were recorded in a confessional booth at Sacred Heart studio. Other artists on this album include Dicky Brooks, Tim Nelson and Kyle Keegan. Engineering, mastering and additional production by Tom Fabjance.

4. The style of music is inspired from artists such as Lou Rhodes from Lamb, Imogen Heap, Elizabeth Frasier, Portishead, Massive Attack and Bjork. It has taken 10 years to finally create and produce the sound I have always wanted.

5. “Who’s on Fire Now” is a song representing a major turning point in my life. The words in this song came from learning to trust my intuition rather than manipulate it. It was through the message of these words that helped me make the necessary changes in my life. My mind was jumbled and conflicted; however, once I broke free from what was holding me back, I felt like I was on top of the world and ready to take hold of my future with strength and confidence.

Go see it

What: Shaunna Heckman’s CD release show

When: 8 p.m. Friday

Where: Sacred Heart Music Center, 201 W. Fourth St.

Tickets: $7 at the door - Duluth News Tribune