Shawnie the Tsunami’s artistic identity began with a childhood nickname, a search for the right rhyme and the desire to create something memorable enough to carry into his earliest YouTube videos. “Tsunami” eventually became more than a catchy addition to “Shawnie.” It gave him an identity he could experiment with, a visual language built around tidal waves and a name capacious enough to hold the different versions of himself that his music would later preserve.
Since then, the East Saint Paul artist has built a catalog that moves through uncertainty, self-exploration and growing confidence without losing the vulnerability woven throughout his catalog. His recent single, “Distant,” continues that evolution, while his upcoming release, “EASTSIDE.,” brings his story closer to home with a direct nod to the neighborhood where he grew up.
As Shawnie continues refining his sound and expanding the world around it, his focus remains on creating work that makes people feel something. In this edition of World Of, he discusses the origins of Shawnie the Tsunami, the experiences preserved across his projects, his approach to turning personal moments into music and the kind of artist he hopes to become.
This interview has been edited for clarity and flow.
Originally published on Creating Romancivity.
Matilia, World Of: You’re from Saint Paul, Minnesota! Are there parts of Saint Paul that someone could hear in your music even if you never named the city directly? And how did your upbringing influence the way you approach music making?
Shawnie The Tsunami: I think Minnesota is still developing a sense of individuality when it comes to the general art scene. That allowed me to be inspired by a wide range of different styles and genres. I grew up in East Saint Paul, and similar to most of the Twin Cities, I was able to be influenced by a lot of different cultures and backgrounds. I also have a song named “EASTSIDE.” that will be released soon! So I had fun shouting out the neighborhood that I grew up in.
World Of: What is the story behind the name Shawnie the Tsunami, and what does that name allow you to express that your everyday identity may not?
Shawnie: I was nicknamed “Shawnie” by a cousin at a young age. So I took that name, and decided to add my own flare to it. At the age of 15 I began creating YouTube videos, so I wanted to find a catchy word to pair with my nickname. After trying out a variety of words that rhymed with Shawnie, I thought Tsunami would work perfectly. That has allowed me to play with my identity as an artist, and now I have incorporated tidal waves into my brand.
World Of: What kind of person were you before you started releasing music, and how has becoming an artist changed the way you understand yourself?
Shawnie: I was pretty shy as a kid, but after attending an art program in middle school, it allowed me to explore how to express myself through art. Now I’ve fully grasped my relationship with art and how it impacts my confidence.
The confidence Shawnie describes didn’t emerge as a separate layer placed over his earlier personality. It grew from learning that art could become a language for the parts of himself he once kept quiet. That sense of ownership now extends beyond performance and into the labor of constructing a song from beginning to end.
World Of: What part of your musical journey do you think deserves to be documented more than anything else?
Shawnie: I think the times when I fully produce a song are the situations that need to be documented, and also more appreciated. I think further down the line people will realize how time consuming being a part of the entire process is. Especially because tons of artists nowadays are okay with doing the bare minimum.
World Of: Do you tend to write from inside an experience while it’s happening, or only after you have enough distance to understand it?
Shawnie: I prefer writing while I’m actively going through the experience, because it makes writing the song easier for me. I’m the type of person that needs to write down an idea or lyric immediately, or I will forget exactly what I want to say. I definitely can write when it’s further down the line, but it takes a little longer to recollect every single aspect of the situation. I think having more details is better, and for me that’s while the situation is happening.
World Of: Have there been moments when releasing a deeply personal song changed your relationship with the experience that inspired it?
Shawnie: I think I do a pretty good job in not entirely exposing a personal experience in a song. I tend to write a lot of metaphors or slightly generalize the situation so that nobody feels called out. So I think when I mention a specific situation in a song, it goes over the person’s head. Or it’s the opposite, someone thinks that I’m referring to them when I’m not. Overall, I think it helps me cope with the situation better. Otherwise, those thoughts would be stuck in my head, and it would be harder to get over those experiences.
Writing from inside an experience gives Shawnie access to its details, while metaphor gives those details somewhere to go. By softening the edges of a specific situation, he can process what happened without turning a song into a public accusation. That balance between immediacy and distance has followed him across projects that preserve some of the most distinctive stages of his life.
World Of: When you think about going, going, gone, Gold Tears, and Get Out My Way!, what version of yourself does each project preserve?
Shawnie: My first project going, going, gone helped express how I felt about getting older, and not quite being at the place that I wanted in my career. Gold Tears was a time in my life where I was exploring my identity as an artist. Lastly, Get Out My Way! exudes confidence, and it depicts my current mindset. At the moment, I am determined to achieve all of my goals, and I won’t let anyone get in the way.
World Of: Where do you hear the clearest evidence of your growth when you compare your earliest work with what you’re making now?
Shawnie: Mainly in the production of songs. I think I got a better sense of how to make my vocals sound almost comparable to bigger artists. And I think I will only get better as time goes on.
World Of: Even as your sound and perspective have evolved, what has remained unmistakably Shawnie throughout every era?
Shawnie: How vulnerable I’ve been has been very consistent throughout the years. I think my art allows me to be an open book, and I think that is the main thing people admire about my artistry.
World Of: Is there something you believed an artist had to be when you began that you have since had to unlearn?
Shawnie: I used to believe you needed a certain amount of streams or followers to be considered a true artist. I have now realized that artists come in all sizes. In fact, it can be more rewarding when you have a few loyal listeners that are easier to connect with.
The evolution across Shawnie’s catalog isn’t only technical or stylistic; it also reflects a changing definition of what makes an artist legitimate. Moving away from numbers has returned his attention to the smaller, more direct forms of connection he can actually feel, raising a more important question than how many people are listening: what does he want the people who are there to carry with them?
World Of: How do you want listeners to feel after spending time in your world, beyond simply enjoying the music?
Shawnie: I want to continue making music and writing lyrics that at least someone in the world can relate to every time. That’s why I take a specific experience and generalize it in the song. I want the listener to experience the same emotions I’m feeling at the moment.
World Of: As your audience grows, what parts of yourself and your artistry are you determined not to lose?
Shawnie: I want to continue displaying my vulnerability. I’m hoping to have a discography that covers many different experiences so that I can touch as many people as possible.
World Of: Years from now, what do you hope people understand about Shawnie the Tsunami that cannot be measured through streams, accomplishments, or popularity?
Shawnie: I want people to understand how deeply I care about entertainment and making people feel emotions through my performance art. No amount of streams or success will ever take that away.
That commitment is what continues to anchor Shawnie’s work as everything around it evolves. His sound may sharpen, his audience may grow, and each project may preserve a different version of who he is, but the purpose remains the same: to create something people can feel and recognize themselves within.
“Distant” by Shawnie the Tsunami is out now, with “EASTSIDE.” coming August 7th.
Connect with Shawnie The Tsunami
⭐Artist Support⭐
Get Featured
- Join the World Of series – Want to be featured? Reach out!and tell me a little about yourself, your work, and what you’d like to highlight. Features can take the form of interviews, profiles, project deep dives, origin stories, and more. If you’re not sure what format fits best, I’m happy to suggest one based on your story and goals.
- Join the Are You Listening Yet? series – I’ve been receiving a lot of incredible music and World Of submissions lately. Love it! So, alongside full features, I’m also curating ongoing round-ups highlighting artists I’m listening to. If you’d like your work considered for that as well, feel free to mention it when youreach out.
- More Coverage – I currently contribute to a few independent music publications, so there may be opportunities for additional coverage beyond World Of. Feel free to reach out with any inquiries.
Services
- Narrative Writing & Creative Consultation – If your music is strong but people still don’t fully understand who you are, what your project means, or why they should care…If you don’t know how to convey your identity, your message, or the world you’re trying to create…If your artist bio feels generic, your visuals and music don’t seem connected, or you struggle to explain the story behind your work…I can help bring it all together! I help artists transform scattered ideas, influences, visuals, and experiences into clear, compelling narratives and immersive creative worlds that audiences can understand, remember, connect with, and fully immerse themselves in. Whether you need an artist bio, EPK, brand and identity writing, release storytelling, world-building, social content, or long-form content, I’m happy to help you communicate the story behind your work in a way that’ll resonate with your audience and draw them into your world.
Check out my Narrative Writing Services here! - Fan Engagement Support – If you don’t feel connected to your audience, don’t have time to actually engage with them, or constantly release yet hear nothing but crickets when you do, then it sounds like you need to upgrade from having casual listeners who barely interact to having actual fans who are invested in you. I can help with that! Check out my Fan Engagement Services here!
Free Support for Emerging Artists
There are a ton of emerging artists who have incredible music but don’t have the resources to invest in artist storytelling, publicity, or release prep.
So I decided to offer a bit of assistance!
I’ve just launched my Lift-Off Partnership Program, where I’ll be partnering with a small number of emerging and independent artists to provide free support with things like artist storytelling, PR, streaming profile optimization, fan engagement, and more while I continue expanding this side of my portfolio.
If you’re an artist (or know one) who could benefit from this, I’d love to hear from you! 🚀
Let’s Connect
Community is important to me, and I’m always open to connecting with artists and music writers! Feel free to reach out any time, for any reason.
Connect with me on LinkedIn, email me, or shoot me a message!
Thanks so much for reading! Much love <3