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One day, oh, let's say three weeks ago, I was browsing through channels and landed on (as I usually do) MuchLOUD (MuchMusics "rock, punk, metal alternative" specialty channel). I think I stopped because the new Slipknot video was playing, and I snickered a bit when directly after that, a catchy, pop-punky beat started up. I didn't recognize the video, and I'm always one to give things a chance, so I left it on.

Well, I'm glad I did. The video was for "Operator (Girl Like Me)", from new Canadian artist, Shiloh. I loved the song, checked out her MySpace and quickly emailed a few people to see if I could set something up with her (I enjoy snatching up fresh talent). Well, the morning I was set to talk to her, I found out that she was fifteen, and my respect factor for her jumped tenfold. Seriously, go to the girls MySpace when you're done reading this and listen to that voice! You don't usually hear that coming out of a fifteen year old. But I digress, this is an interview!

"The message I want to send out it is be who you are, and say what you feel."
– Shiloh

First off, for our readers who don't know who you are, roll call! Can you introduce yourself and tell us what you do?

My name's Shiloh, I'm fifteen years old, and I sing.

What was it that got you started in music and what inspires you to continue making music?

I got started in music kind of like... from my dad. He was kind of always like blasting music around my house and stuff. At 3 O'Clock in the morning I heard Alice Cooper every single night. And what got me inspired in music really was a lot of different artists that I'm always listening to and also I guess I could refer back to my dad since he was a DJ for about 15, 20 years.

Cool, okay. So what are some of your major influences when you're writing music or when you're putting everything together?

Well when I'm writing music my biggest influences would be like... well, writing or singing, and just music in general I'd have to say Celine Dion because she's worked her butt off to get where she is right now.

That's true. Any others? Or is it mainly her?

It's mainly her. I like Frank Sinatra, too. Kind of a wide range.

That's always good though! So you've recently signed to Universal Music, and you have a CD coming out in 2009-

Yeah, it's coming out in March!

Oh, March? Awesome, okay! So what's it like waiting for the CD to drop, and what kind of songs can we look forward to hearing?

I can't wait for the CD to come out and some of it is kind of like the single that's out right now, which is "Operator", and you'll see that, like, I wrote three quarters of the album and there's some serious stuff that really came from my heart. There's some really serious stuff, some upbeat stuff, some fun stuff.

So a wide range?

Yeah!

So what was the recording process like for you?

The recording process was really... well, sometimes it was a bit tiring but once you get really used to it, I absolutely loved it. Because I absolutely love being in the studio.

I can imagine it being a little overwhelming at first?

At first it was a little bit overwhelming, yeah. Because you sing the same line over and over again, but it's really really fun. Once you're in there for a good hour you get used to it, and it's really really fun.

I found out about you because I caught your video for "Operator (A Girl Like Me)"on MuchLOUD, so how has the reception to the video been?

It's been good, I've had a few people recognizing me, just kind of like when I'm out getting groceries or whatever. But mainly I've gotten a few comments saying like, 'are you putting down people with blond hair and blue eyes?' type of thing, and it's like, no I'm not! It's just kind of a really fun video, and I've gotten a lot of good feedback from it.

I also heard that your songs have been used for the show Gossip Girl, which is pretty cool-

Yeah! I think the song was "Alright" that we used for Gossip Girl.

Cool, but how did that come about, and do you think it's helped in the ways of exposure to your music?

I think it's helped in the ways of exposure for my music! And the song writers of "Alright" sent it in to the Gossip Girl people I guess... But I don't really know a lot about how all that worked.

So you were just kind of told, "Hey! Your songs going to be on Gossip Girl!" ?

Yeah! That kind of thing!

That must have been fun! Just like "Oh! Awesome! Okay!"

Yeah! (Laughs) I was like, 'Oh, okay!', and they're like 'we'll tell you when the episodes on!', and I'm like 'alright'!

Sounds good! So what's the biggest challenge that you've had to face so far?

I think the lifestyle change really. It's having to go go go all the time, and then... it's kind of like a hurry up and wait type of thing. You know, you're kind of just in a rush, in a rush, in a rush- Okay! Sit and wait for a few hours. In a rush, in a rush, in a rush- wait for a few hours. .

Yeah, I can see that, part one, getting really tiring, and part two getting really annoying!

It can, I guess, if you don't have the energy for it, it can be annoying. But for me, I'm pretty hyperactive person, so I have the ability to go go go all the time.

So I take it you adjusted to that pretty well?

Oh yeah! And I get bored pretty easily, so if I'm not doing something all the time, then I just get really, really cranky. (Laughs)

Ah, alright (laughs). Well then there you go! It's a good choice for you then.

Oh yeah! (Laughs)

So, what kind of message do you ultimately want to get across with your music?

I think in my music I want to get the message across that, you know, people... I've said this before, especially in the "Operator" song, people ought to be themselves, and you know, don't let anybody change that. I mean, there's a lot of pressure, on girls especially, nowadays to be someone that they're not, and it can be quite frustrating for them. The message I want to send out it is be who you are, and say what you feel. The people that care for you aren't going to mind, and they're going to love you for who you are, but the people that do mind who you are, and think there's something wrong with you... they obviously don't care.

Yeah, and they're just not worth it in the long run.

Yeah, they're not worth it, they don't matter. I've always been the kind of person that... you know, I'd be sitting there, and I'd be thinking, 'why are people trying to change me?', and stuff and... I just want everyone to come to that self realization of you don't have to change. I went through a phase in my life where I felt I had to change for everybody. And, well, now that I'm over that... (laughs).

I think that's something everyone can relate to, too. I mean, I'm pretty sure everyone's had at least one person that's tried to change them.

Oh yeah, for sure. Everybody's had that.

So that's definitely a good message to get across.

And it doesn't just apply to teenagers, either. It applies to parents, too. Like, people at work trying to change how your process is, the way you work. But well, if it works for you, then do it, right?

Definitely. So, we here at The Sound Faction are five of the most random people you'll ever meet, so we try to end each interview on a less serious note with just five random questions to leave everyone smiling. Are you up for that?

Go for it!

Awesome, so question one, what's your favourite snack food, that if given the chance, you would eat until falling into a snack food induced coma?

How many snack foods? Just one?

Yeah, just one that you would completely gorge on.

I would have to say... that that would be Real Fruit Gummies. Those are flippin' amazing.

Those are delicious!

They are! They're so good, and they make me so sick! Like if I eat too many of them I'm just sitting there, feeling like... ugh.

And it sucks, because it's one of these that's so good, and you're eating them, and you're eating them, and all of a sudden you're sick!

Oh yeah. I suffer for it.

But it's so worth it.

Oh yeah, it's definitely worth it!

Alright, who would you want to win a date with?

Who would I want to win a date with.... ...uhm... (laughs) I don't know! Because I don't really think about that much! No one, really? I mean, myself- Yes! Myself!! At the Spa! Oh my god, that would be amazing! I want to win a date with myself at the spa! Just me and my cucumbers on my eyelids!

(Laughs) Nice! With the holidays coming up, everyone has at least one guilty pleasure Christmas show, so what is your favourite guilty pleasure Christmas show?

I'd have to say Frosty The Snowman. Or The Grinch.

The Grinch is always good. If you could be the champion of anything in the world, what would it be? (But, if you say the world, we will have to laugh at you.)

Hmmm... I want to be the champion of being able to eat the most marshmallows WHILE saving the world! Ha! Laugh at that!

(Laughs) That's fantastic! I love that.

(Laughs) I can't eat a lot of marshmallows, it's pretty gross.

Are there a lot of people that can eat a lot of marshmallows?

I think most people get sick after awhile.

Yeah, exactly!

But I can still eat them until I get sick!

And you don't notice they're making you sick until you're sick!

No, and I just kind of munch on marshmallows and then I'm like... I feel huge! Like Blaaaagh...! This is gross! And it lasts for a few good hours.

Yup! So, name one guilty pleasure anything that you have.

I'd have to say my MAC make-up. That's my guilty pleasure out of everything I own.

Nice!

I'll just sit there and kind of mess with it all the time. It gets really annoying to some people, and they're like, 'can you stop please?'

(Laughs) I can't say anything, I'm the same way with Urban Decay.

Oh nice!

And lastly, this is a shameless self promo spot! So anything we didn't cover, anything you want to say about yourself, this is your chance.

I'm a whole lot of energy, and I'm super excited for this album to come out, because I'm anxious to see what kind of feedback I get from it. That's what I've got to say!

Alright, well thank you very much for talking with us!

Thanks so much, Manda!

I'd like to take the chance to thank Shiloh once again for taking the time to talk to us, and to wish her the best of luck with the release of her debut CD, and with everything she does in the future! You can find her song "Operator (A Girl Like Me)" on her MySpace, which is here!