"...Blessing and a curse" says Shameia Crawford

Who is Shameia Crawford?  Some may simply classify her as a Soul or R&B artist but I believe the essence of her artistry is rooted much deeper.  Shameia first displayed her talents to her local church congregation and by the age of 5, knew that she wanted to be a singer.  By the age of 17, she released an independent album.  In addition, to such a great accomplishment at a young age, she continued her pursuit of a musical career at Winston-Salem State University, earning a degree in music. 

​Like the soul singers of the past, her music combines elements of Gospel, R&B, and Jazz, but what keeps her unclassifiable is her personal technique of impelling the hearts of audiences with her voice.  In 2014, she sang her way into the hearts of America on ABC’s Rising Star.  

​On the day that I spoke with Shameia about her music, I recall her personality being as warm as her vocals. Her smile illuminated the room and she was completely humble, yet confident, in her musical abilities.  

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Shortly into the conversation, I recognized her aspiration to capture the emotions of every audience that she stands in front of.  “I believe in my voice and I believe that I have something to offer that no one else does”, says Shameia.  Indeed, she has a special gift and it is considerably identifiable whether she is singing background vocals for legendary soul artists like Angie Stone, accompanying gospel singers like Vashawn Mitchell, or performing her original music. ​