Leap of faith pays off for singer/songwriter David Shanhun

Leap of faith pays off for Auckland based singer/songwriter David Shanhun

Auckland-based singer-songwriter David Shanhun is reaping the benefits of a leap of faith with his new single “I Believe In You” reaching number two on the New Zealand country charts on iTunes on the first day of its release.

The single, which became available on iTunes yesterday (subs 30 July), is the first to result from his collaboration with iconic US label ‘Musik and Film’ (www.musikandfilm.com) and comes out in the within weeks of David hearing whether he is the winner of the Horizon Award at the New Zealand Country Music Awards on 17 August.

David is the first person to have ever received two nominations for the coveted award for emerging country music artists.

“When I quit my job at a call centre in November 2010 I was following my dream,” says David, “but with no gigs, no savings and no Auckland music contacts it was a giant leap into the unknown. The name of the new single “I Believe In You” sums it all up really.

“After plucking up the courage to embark on my journey as a professional musician I made more in my first two hours busking than I would have for a whole day working at the call centre.”

The warm and inspiring performer has been receiving positive responses from audiences ever since.

His last single, “Missing You” held the number one spot on www.theaudience.co.nz for five weeks.

Musik and Film’s President, well-known music producer Stephen Wrench, is effusive in his praise of David’s new single “I Believe in you”.

"We have worked with many names over the years and been involved with many hit songs. When I first heard "I Believe In You" I found myself singing it for days and days. I knew then the potential of this song. It is melodically pleasing and the words have a message.

“The way I judge music is by asking, "Does it stay in your head and do you find yourself singing it days after?" But most importantly, “When you listen to it does it move you? Does it make the hair stand up on your arms? Does it bring tears to your eyes? David Shanhun's "I Believe in You" does all the above.”

Aucklanders can see David live when he plays support for Paul Ubana Jones and Bryce Wastney as part of their “Songbook and Six String” tour at the Vic Cinema in Devonport on 5 September. He will also be touring around New Zealand later this year with well-known Australian singer-songwriter Mark Moroney (www.markmoroney.com). David will also be appearing on “Good Morning” on TVNZ on 15 August.

About David Shanhun
Born in Western Australia, David moved to New Zealand with his family when he was nearly two years old. David played a number of instruments as a child, including piano, trumpet and trombone, before picking up the guitar when he was 14, inspired by well-known songwriter Dave Matthews.

David initially embarked on a B.Mus in Classical Guitar at Massey University in Wellington. He chose not to complete the qualification but his studies introduced him to musicians such as Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed and Tommy Emmanuel.

David taught guitar in high schools for four years, before moving to Auckland in 2010.

Later that year he embarked on his career as a professional musician enjoying early success as a finalist in the 2010 Singer Songwriter Syndicate’s “Singer/Songwriter” competition. The following year David was nominated for the Horizon Award (promising new artist) at the New Zealand Country Music Awards and was a nominee for the Pat McMinn Rising Star Award.

In 2012 David’s single “Missing You” held the number one spot on www.theaudience.co.nz’s weekly chart for five weeks. In 2013 David became the only artist to have been nominated twice for the coveted Horizon Award.

For more information about David Shanhun go to www.davidshanhun.com.

ENDS

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