![](\"https:\/\/guitargirlmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Screenshot_42.png\" "\\"Entertainment")
<\/a>Music has been a part of Shevonne Philidor\u2019s life for as long as she can remember. She\u2019s been playing guitar for the last 13 years but is quick to distinguish herself as an entertainer first and guitarist second. She draws inspiration from the entertainment flair of Prince, the vocal mastery of Whitney Houston, and the style of several movies that she loves.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n In her interview, Philidor tells us about her favorite gear, how she goes about making new music, and how she defines her sound.<\/span><\/p>\n Tell us your name, where you are from, and what you always wanted to be when you were growing up.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n My name is Shevonne Philidor. I\u2019m from Tampa, Florida, and when I was younger, I always wanted to be a singer or an astronaut.<\/span><\/p>\n How long have you been playing guitar, and what got you into playing?<\/b><\/p>\n I\u2019ve been singing my whole life, and I\u2019ve been playing guitar for 13 years. My mom got me my first guitar when I was 15 years old. I started writing songs when I was 16, but I really started playing seriously at the age of 17.<\/span><\/p>\n What does music mean to you? And, how (if at all) do you think music helps to bridge the gap between people around the world?<\/b><\/p>\n Music has created a platform for me to inspire and to love, and has given me the freedom to let go and be myself. Music is the universal language that everyone understands, even the birds.<\/span><\/p>\n Let\u2019s shift gears to music. What are you currently working on in the studio?<\/b><\/p>\n I\u2019m working on my second album right now and much more. My sound has grown so much, and I can\u2019t wait to share it with everyone.<\/span><\/p>\n How would you describe your sound and how you start your creative process?<\/b><\/p>\n I would describe my style as alternative soul. My sound is a mix of rock, R&B\/soul, and indie. When creating, I usually start with making a chord progression, and then I start writing lyrics to it.<\/span><\/p>\n I love your photoshoots and content you post on Instagram. Do you come up with photoshoot themes by yourself?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n I\u2019ve picked the location and dressed myself for all of my photoshoots! Honestly, I don\u2019t really think about the theme. Instead, I go for a mood or a vibe.<\/span><\/p>\n Talk us through gear. What companies are you endorsed by, and what are your go-to pieces of gear?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n I am endorsed by Luna Guitars. My favorite Luna right now is my Gypsy Exotic Black\/White Ebony acoustic-electric guitar. It\u2019s a great acoustic guitar for a rock star! It has a wild energy to it that I love.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Artists and the industry have been suffering during COVID-19. How have you been getting through the pandemic?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n At first, I was really worried about whether or not I would ever play again! I\u2019m a full-time artist, so it was scary. However, I decided to not worry about it and just let the universe take care of it. So I decided to focus on self-love and introspection. I meditated, read books, spent time out in nature, and hung out with my cats! I also wrote some songs, and then all of a sudden, shows started happening again. I live in Florida, so I\u2019m very grateful for things being pretty open here with live shows!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Who inspires your sound and look?<\/b><\/p>\n I\u2019ve been inspired by so many. I\u2019m an entertainer first, singer second, then a guitarist. My inspiration mainly comes from Michael Jackson, as well as Prince since he played guitar too! As for vocalists, my inspiration comes from Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin. Prince has been a huge inspiration to me all across the board. He didn\u2019t care what people said. I love his confidence, and his guitar skills are literally amazing! I always said if I could just be as good as Prince on guitar, I\u2019d be satisfied with my playing!<\/span><\/p>\n My look is inspired by a few things. So if you take a pirate, scarecrow, clown, and cowboy and mix it up, it\u2019d be something like that. I\u2019m very inspired by movies when it comes to looks!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Tell us three of your favorite artists you are currently listening to and two artists that no one would guess you like.<\/b><\/p>\n I am currently listening to M83, Vulfpeck, and Thievery Corporation. Something people wouldn\u2019t expect is that I love musicals and movie scores, so Hans Zimmer\u2019s compositions for <\/span>The Lion King<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>Interstellar<\/span><\/i>, and <\/span>Gladiator<\/span><\/i> have been some faves. I\u2019ve also been listening to the music from one of my favorite musicals, <\/span>Les Mis\u00e9rables<\/span><\/i>. The soundtrack from that show is amazing!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>