Shannon Hudson's New Single "Air to Your Fire" Sparks Deep Emotion in New Interview
- STAFF
- Sep 24
- 11 min read
By: Staff
Shannon Hudson’s “Air to Your Fire” is a stunning, heartfelt anthem of quiet strength and vulnerability.
Shannon Hudson’s new single, “Air to Your Fire,” is a mesmerizing introduction to his long-awaited four-album project. The track, with its understated power, hints at an artist deeply invested in the quiet moments that hold us together during times of struggle. It’s a song about being the steady presence when everything else feels uncertain, about offering gentle strength without overshadowing the fire of another. With a raw honesty that cuts through the noise of today’s fast-paced world, Hudson invites listeners into a space of reflection and connection.
We spoke with Shannon to explore the deeper meanings behind this captivating song and what led to this unique moment in his musical journey. The first release from his expansive project, “Air to Your Fire” is more than just a song, it’s a personal reflection on humanity and the vulnerability of showing up for someone in their darkest moments.
But what’s behind the name? How does a song so intimate come to life in a world so noisy? And what does it mean to create something that resonates not only with personal experience, but with a universal need for connection?
Shannon takes us through his creative process and the influences that have shaped his distinctive sound. From the isolation of living in a shared room in Germany to the solitude of writing in the Texas hill country, his journey as an artist is one of transformation and deep introspection.
Read on to discover more about this remarkable song, the creative forces at play, and what Shannon Hudson envisions for the future of his music. It’s a conversation that uncovers the layers behind the sound, and one that promises to resonate long after the song ends.
Keep scrolling to get into it with Shannon Hudson .
Here’s how it went:
Begin Interview:
Hello Shannon Hudson , we’re thrilled to have you here for this interview! We've had an amazing time exploring your music and diving into your creative journey. Now, we’re even more intrigued to get a deeper look into both your brand and your personal and professional inspirations.
We loved “Air to Your Fire.” After experiencing it we wanted to hear your take directly.
Q. What’s the story behind the song? What inspired you to write it, and what does it mean to you personally?
A. Thanks for this question. As you implied, I think a good song probably means slightly different things to different people. So - just because I wrote it, I wouldn’t claim to know what it’s about any more than anyone else. That being said, when I wrote it, it was coming from a place of wanting to be a support for someone else. It’s really easy to tear people and things down. It’s really tough to help build someone up. And maybe it’s something we’re losing - at least what is being portrayed in the media. In general, I’d love to hear more stories about people building each other and supporting each other. That’s not really in my feed much. It’s not on the evening news very often. We don’t celebrate it as a society - and that’s a shame.
Personally, this song really was about me being better at this. What questions do I need to start asking myself every day to make sure I’m supporting my loved ones, and doing what I can to help them get to where they want to go. To help them through a hard time. How can I be an air to their fire, so that they can burn bright?
Q. The song's title, “Air to Your Fire,” is incredibly evocative. What is the meaning behind this title, and what do you hope it conveys to listeners about the relationship you're describing?
A. Thank you. The title is the same idea I described - I want to feed the passion and fire of the people around me. I want to build up their flame. I want them to burn brightly, and achieve their dreams. I want to be that extra boost when they are going through a hard time. Maybe I can create a l little space for the air to get in there.
Q. Is there a specific moment or person in your life that this song is especially connected to, or was it more of a general reflection?
A. For me, when I wrote it, it was definitely my direct family that I was thinking about.
Q. This single marks the beginning of your ambitious four-album project. How did the idea of releasing the albums one song at a time come about? Was there a particular reason you chose this method of release?
A - I started recording with these wonderful session musicians all over the world, and started just going one song at a time. At some point, I went through my back catalog, stuff from a long time ago, stuff from a few years ago, and brand new stuff, and just checked everything that I’d want to record if I had the time to do it. It turned out to be 4 albums worth of material. Because I was on a roll, I just kept recording until I finished all of it. Once I had it all finished, then I had to figure out what the release strategy was going to be. So - for streaming platforms, I’m releasing one song at a time every 6-8 weeks over the next few years. However - I have a lot of fans who love Digital Downloads, CDs, and Vinyl. So - I wanted to make sure those folks were taken care of. In short, you can get all 4 albums now on Digital Download anywhere. Because my physical distribution is limited, you can get all 4 albums on CD in the United States. And the first album, Signal and Noise, is available on Vinyl in the US as well.
This is all available on Bandcamp or my website, www.shannonhudson.com
Q. How do you approach the songwriting process? Do you start with lyrics, a melody, a specific feeling you want to convey, or something else entirely?
A. It’s pretty varied. I’ve been writing songs with at least a hint of seriousness to the process for almost 30 years - so I’ve had a lot of trial and error. I’d say most of the time, I get a melody in my head. In general, the melody is always going to be the most important thing to me - but there are a lot of songs I’ve written that start with an image or a guitar riff. For Air to Your Fire - I had the first line, and the melody of the first line as the beginning. The idea/phrase, and the melody came to me at the same time.
Q. Are most of your songs inspired by your own life and experiences, or do you sometimes dive into completely fictional worlds? What’s your relationship to the stories and characters in your music, are you typically one of the “cast” members within those themes?
A. I think there’s always a viewpoint or bias, or whatever you want to call it - that comes from my life and my experiences in my songs. That being said, once I kinda figure out what the song is about, I do spend a lot of time thinking about the correct vehicle to carry it - or even the correct perspective. So - for Air to Your Fire - once I realized, this is a song about meeting people where they are at, and figuring out how you can support them - I then had to ask something like “okay - what are the situations the other people might be in where they need a little air to their fire?” - In that case - I’m thinking about other people - other characters - other perspectives. What’s a situation a typical spouse finds themselves in that could benefit from support? The guilt never letting go is a big one. So - “When the guilt catches you escaping” came from that.
Q. How do the stages of music creation develop for you? Do you start things off in your home studio, or do you collaborate with an outside producer? When it’s time to finalize the track, do you handle the mixing and mastering yourself, or do you bring in someone else to help perfect it?
A. These days, I tend to have a pretty clear vision of the sound I want - so I’ve been producing my own records for quite awhile. I do come to the session musicians mostly with an idea - and I let them run with their interpretation of it. I rarely have a “play this specific part” mentality - although there might be moments - I want a big cymbal hit here that rings out - then 3 beats of rest - then come in with a big fill. For finalizing the track - I mixed my last 4 albums myself. They were all mastered by someone else - which I love to have that last outside, unbiased perspective on it.
Q. You’ve mentioned the connection between your music and humanity, something the modern world often overlooks. In a world that can feel increasingly disconnected, what role do you hope your music plays in bridging that gap for listeners?
A. I hope it reminds people that we are human. I think that some parts of modernization have made it easier to dehumanize a group or just other people. They are the [insert political view]. I’m not an expert - but it’s certainly more entertaining and profitable in the media space to drive people apart, and to have them angry at each other. I hope my music is a small reminder of the opposite. That we are humans, and almost all of us are just doing are best. Maybe you can lend a hand to someone who doesn’t expect it. Maybe you can be the air to someone’s fire.
Q. Do you find that your most vulnerable experiences often translate into your strongest songs? Do you share your most intimate feelings, or do you prefer to keep certain parts of your story veiled, allowing the listener to derive their own interpretation?
A. I think the important part is tapping into how those experiences made me feel. It’s probably not the experience itself. If I can be specific about the feeling, and capture it well, that’s what is going to resonate with someone else. When I sing “When the morning alarm is a rope around your neck, and every second pulls a little tighter…” - I think most people know that feeling. Was I tapping into a specific moment from my life? No. But I certainly know how it feels to be laying in bed and dreading the day ahead of me. I know what it’s like for my partner or my son to feel that way. So - the feeling is very real - but sometimes the vehicle isn’t personal.
Q. In your earlier years, you performed with a full band, but now you often perform solo with just an acoustic guitar. How do you approach these solo performances differently? Is there a particular vulnerability you experience in solo performances that you wouldn't feel with a band?
A. It’s an enormous difference. When I’m solo/acoustic - I’m the whole thing. I’m producing all the sound that’s happening. There’s no one to “dance” with. The way I have to play and sing has to really ebb and flow way more dynamically - because a 2nd guitar can’t just come in to add volume and excitement - there is no 2nd guitar.
There probably is a more vulnerable place. I’ve gotten good at getting quieter to get people’s attention. With the full band - you are the loudest thing in the room. People are going to hear you.
Q. You mentioned writing a lot of your songs during a time when you were living in a shared room in Germany. Could you share more about that period in your life? How did being in such a confined space impact your creative process?
A. Yes! This was almost 30 years ago. I have 3 siblings, so I’ve always had a bunch of people around, but this was just an interesting time in my life. I had just bought a guitar for the first time - actually my Grandmother bought it for me. An amazing, black, Fender acoustic guitar (dubbed “Smoke”). I was in an overseas program that my University offered, and living in a foreign country. I lived in a large house with 50 or so other students. I shared a room with 3 other guys - all of which I still keep in touch with. There was a big walk in closet that we called the “Bat Cave” that had room for 2-3 chairs to be set up in it - and I would play guitar and sing for hours in there. I grew up playing piano - but had never really played guitar up to this point - so a lot of horrible playing. But this is where I wrote a lot of songs. I was seeing a whole new world to me - Europe - and coming home every day or week - and putting some of those experiences into songs. I’d put on little concerts in the house as well. It really was the start of me thinking - okay - I can write my own stuff and people could like it.
Q. What are your top 2 local dream venues to perform at, and what are your top 2 world-renowned venues? If you could take the stages there, what would be the first song you’d perform?
A. The Saxon Pub is an iconic Austin venue that I love. It’s essentially a dive bar with an amazing sound system in it. If/when I put together a full band again, I’d love to play at that place. Another local venue - if I’m stretching my legs out fully - would be ACL Live at the Moody Theater. This is where they now film the show, Austin City Limits. I’ve seen everyone from The Black Crowes to Jason Isbell to Gregory Alan Isakov there. It would be a dream to play.
For world-renowned venues - first - I’d say - I’ve gotten to do this a bit. My previous band, Come And Go - got to play The Whisky A Go Go in Los Angeles a lot of times. Probably between 20-30 times. So - I’m fortunate in that regard. It would be a dream to play the Hollywood Bowl because I lived in LA for so long. It’s just an iconic spot that I have a lot of history with. I haven’t seen a ton of shows overseas, but if I did see a football (soccer) match at Wembley a couple of years ago. So - If I’m dreaming big - why not?
Assuming a full band - I’d probably open with “White Lion” or “Road of Bones” - two more rock n roll songs.
Q. Outside of music, who or what has had the biggest influence on your personal growth or artistic perspective?
A. My wife and my son are the biggest influences on everything I do. They are just amazing human beings.
Q. What do you want people to remember most about you after hearing your music and reading this interview?
A. I’d love people to be inspired to give the music a listen. I think - all in all - it’s about listening to something new - and maybe you love it, maybe you don’t. But it’d be cool if you did.
Q. You’ve created music in a variety of settings, from the streets of Los Angeles to the quiet of Texas hill country. What’s the next chapter for you as an artist? How do you see your music continuing to evolve, both in sound and theme, in the years to come?
A. I’m producing a couple of other artists right now, and that’s been extremely rewarding. Essentially, I’ve figured out how to do this thing, and do it well - and now I can help some other folks achieve the same thing. So - I think that will continue to be part of how I spend my time. In the last 2 months, I’ve also written at least another record’s worth of songs - So when the time comes around, I’ll definitely be ready to start recording another one.
Shannon Hudson , thank you so much! We appreciate you taking the time to talk to us.
A - Thank you so much. Really appreciate it.
End Interview
