Words by Art Jefferson
Images courtesy of Shannon Hemmett and Jennifer Latour

Shannon Hemmett is the epitome of what it means to be a multifacted artist. Not only is she a musician and singer in one of the most revered post-punk bands in the scene, ACTORS, but also operating in the field as a creative director, graphic designer, photographer and filmmaker, she has become an industry mainstay. As a painter, her work has sold in multiple countries, and now she can add tattooer to her list of credentials. Factor in her effortless style and what you get is an overall powerhouse who reigns at every discipline.

Hailing from Vancouver, Hemmett along with Jason Corbett, Jahmeel Russell and Adam Fink, created blaze as the four-piece ACTORS, taking the sounds of post-punk, darkwave, new wave and alternative, fostering a unique sonic blend that was undoubtedly refreshing. Releasing their LP It Will Come To You in 2018, Actors gained a level of prominence, earning them not only praises from the press, but a following from around the globe.

With her musical project Leathers, Shannon Hemmett creates dreamy and otherworldly tracks embodying darkwave, shoegaze, new wave and cinematic pop. Collaborating with fellow ACTORS bandmate Jason Corbett, musically they craft ethereal soundscapes that are rich and blissfully infectious. Her latest single ‘Phantom Heart’ is a upbeat gem flowing with poetic lyricism and a heart-pumping groove.

Currently on tour with her band ACTORS, Shannon Hemmett is not only one of the hardest working women in the business, but she’s also creatively an inspiration.

You are an overall artist ranging from music and photography, down to design. Which medium did you first delve into or were they always side-by-side with your creativity?

Shannon Hemmett – They were always side-by-side. I played several instruments from a young age, and we had a darkroom at school, so I quickly became fascinated with photography and its intersection with music. I wanted to work with bands; the photographs and music videos of Anton Corbijn, Floria Sigismondi, and Robert Mapplethorpe were all inspiring me at the time. For a long time I was working in and around music constantly through the visual arts, but wasn’t in a band. Starting LEATHERS and joining ACTORS finally bridged those two worlds.

Growing up, who were you listening to musically and when did your love for punk, post-punk and new wave begin?

Shannon Hemmett – Bowie is my number one forever, but beyond that, when Depeche Mode released Songs of Faith and Devotion I became immersed in their discography. Listening to Black Celebration, Violator, and Music for the Masses was like a master class in songwriting—I was drawn to their version of pop music and its darker sensibility. A little later, a German photography instructor introduced me to Einstürzende Neubauten which also lead me to Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. Both bands demanded a lot from me as a listener, I loved the contrasts; the unhinged noise, the delicate ballads. Post-punk wasn’t really a genre I knew by name until Interpol released Turn on the Bright Lights and the term was in the press constantly, but I realized I had been listening to a lot of post-punk bands all along; The Cure, The Jesus & Mary Chain, Cocteau Twins etc…

Having personally enjoyed not only your music, but your approach to album cover design and more, there is a lot of passion that comes across in your work. Would you say that having a direct involvement with creating music also plays a part in how you approach design?

Shannon Hemmett – Many of the principles of design can have parallels in songwriting (balance, contrast, movement, pattern, rhythm, and unity/variety). Their processes can borrow and find inspiration in one another. For me, design is often about finding solutions for a set of criteria, whereas music can be anything I desire, as structured or as dreamlike as I want it to be.

You are a member of ACTORS, which are currently one of the most dynamic bands in the scene. Can you talk about your origins with that group? Also with LEATHERS, you fuse everything from darkwave to shoegaze and dream pop. Was there always a plan to do a separate music project?

Shannon Hemmett – Yes, the concept for LEATHERS was underway before I joined ACTORS a few years ago. In 2014 Jason and I were playing records together at a weekly vinyl night he was hosting in Vancouver which broadened our friendship. He was starting to produce bands at his studio Jacknife Sound and the idea for LEATHERS was coming into focus for me. After we recorded ‘Missing Scene’, ACTORS was playing more live shows and he asked if I would play synth for a few shows with them. Shortly after that, I became a full-time member. I just had my third anniversary with the band.

Your songwriting is extremely poetic. But what’s interesting for me listening to your songs is that, the dreaminess of your writing also perfectly coincides with the chosen soundscape of the production. Is that a conscious decision?

Shannon Hemmett – My writing resides in that Lynchian reality, things seem normal, pleasant enough but there’s something uncertain about the atmosphere, the air pressure is different. The colours are saturated, the mood can be ethereal but also a bit sinister. As a producer, Jason understands this landscape too, and together we construct an atmosphere that is consistent from the words, to the music, and the accompanying imagery.

In terms of your approach to songwriting, do you normally write before working on the production or does that happen after listening to the music?

Shannon Hemmett – The iPhone Voice Memos app is my most valuable tool. I’ll often get ideas for vocal melodies and lyrics when out walking, so I capture them in the app and explore them further when I have a moment. Sometimes those lyric fragments will make their way into the songs, but generally, I’ll start writing a song in Logic Pro with my synth, add a vocal melody, some words, and then Jason and I continue refining the demo together in the studio.

Working with fellow ACTORS member Jason Corbett on the LEATHERS project, can you talk about the creative chemistry between you two? It seems to be a match made in heaven.

Shannon Hemmett – Jason is one of my closest friends, my bandmate in ACTORS, and producer on the LEATHERS project. We support and champion for each other as artists. LEATHERS first single ‘Missing Scene’ was the launching pad for all the projects we work on today, from music, to the visual arts, and the band admin/business we handle too. We’re a productive team, our skill sets are different but they compliment each other.

Your latest track ‘Phantom Heart’ is another great release. Again, the words are poetry in motion. What was the inspiration behind that song?

Shannon Hemmett – I created the demo for ‘Phantom Heart’ in October last year and the lyric ‘motionless days’ was a line I had tumbling around in my head for months before it found a home in that song. The song captures the feeling where the passing days seem to unwind in slow motion, but thoughts are a blur, occupied with fantasy and yearning.

Finally, what do you have in store for 2019 regarding upcoming music and shows?

Shannon Hemmett – ACTORS have nearly 100 shows booked this year, so I will be travelling and playing shows for the remainder of 2019. In a few weeks time we’ll be heading to the UK and after that, we’ll be touring Europe through August/September, and the USA in October. ACTORS and LEATHERS will both have new records out 2020, so I’m continuing to write new material for LEATHERS. Jason and I are currently in the studio working on a new single and a video for Phantom Heart directed by Kira Clavell will be arriving shortly too. Design-wise, my career has been evolving, this past year I have been apprenticing as a tattooer, so I’ll be tattooing in Vancouver and eventually doing guest spots abroad. For that, you can find me on Instagram at @shannondarlingtattoos.

https://leathers.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/leathersmusic/
https://www.facebook.com/leathersmusic
https://twitter.com/LEATHERSmusic
https://soundcloud.com/leathersmusic
https://www.youtube.com/c/LEATHERSmusic