shirley levi DIY spotlight

DIY Spotlight: Shirley Levi

Shirley Levi is the embodiment of a DIY artist, a self-taught singer, songwriter, producer and activist. Her guitar-driven style and soulful vocals are a blend of rock, country, folk, pop and blues that she calls Shirley RAWk.

Levi has come a long way from her days playing in the San Diego music underground… Nowadays, she opens for musical legends like Neil Young, Dixie Chicks, Ryan Adams, Ben Harper and Sheryl Crow and has earned endorsements from Gibson Guitars and Marshall Amps.

Although she writes and produces her own music, Levi  had the honor of working on a track with hit maker Val Garay (who has over 100 Gold and Platinum Records).

NPR flagship radio station KCRW called Levi an “Artist to Look Out For.”

Indeed, accolades have come from music publications, journalists and blogs around the world. Many compare her to musical legends such as Pasty Cline, Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan, Lou Reed and Patti Smith.

In addition to being a self-sufficient artist, Levi is also an outspoken activist and uses her music to advocate for change––yes, she’s a rebel with a cause. Her lyrics are filled with messages of unity, compassion and determination, with vocals that often sound like a punk rock prayer.

Although Shirley Levi is an American artist, she also celebrates all races and hopes to unite people by infusing Hebrew, Farsi and Spanish into her music and live sets––a gutsy DIY move.

For more, check out shirleylevi.com