Musician

I wrote all my songs on my main instruments, and the songs I would record in my bedroom were just acoustic guitar, mandolin, and sometimes bass. I really like the texture the mandolin added to my music, but my fingers were too big to play it... I could only do little riffs and whatever.

I always surprise myself with my voice. A lot of people don't get it, and they're like, 'You can't sing. Stop. What are you doing?' And it's funny to hear a lot people say I sing in falsetto because it's not falsetto - that's my voice.

Ever since I was little, I showed traits of both masculine and feminine energies. Androgyny was never something that I thought about or tried for.

I didn't go to prom because I was too punk.

I think as long as you wear your imperfections on your sleeve, people respect it more.

I just want to make good music. That's it. That's what I care about.

Music feels like a six sense to me, and it's never been just a hobby. It's something that I have to do to breathe. It's an extension of who I am.

My friends freaked out when I posted 'I'll Never Be Able To Love' on Facebook.

I'm just, 'Hi, I'm Shamir. I'm gonna sing, hug you, then you can buy my album.'

I want people to listen to my music and everyone to feel included, and I think it's kind of working because all my audiences are always so colorful.

I was inspired to make music since I was 7 because my aunt is a songwriter.

I had always been a really peculiar child. My mom would tell you I grew up roughing it with the boys and playing with action figures and toy cars and stuff, but I also had an Easy Bake Oven... I find it amazing that in a really weird way, people are mad that they can't figure out my gender.

I don't think I'm a singer that likes to flex my vocals. I'll do some runs and a bunch of high notes, but that's it. I really pride myself and I really work on just trying to sing. Like emotions. Just using my voice, not doing anything extra.

My grandma has a picture of Louis Farrakhan playing violin in her house.

If I were really being myself. I'd just curl up in the corner and knit.

I was always the tallest kid in my class.

I never felt like a boy or a girl, never felt I should wear this or dress like that. I think that's where that confidence comes from because I never felt I had to play a part in my life. I just always come as Shamir.