Interview: Shannon Jae Ridout
They’re more like old friends who kept me company through a lot of dark times and it’s cleansing to release them out into the world.
Two Busted Boots And A Broken Heart, the latest album from singer/songwriter Shannon Jae Ridout is a beautiful and heartfelt collection of songs that tugs at the heartstrings in a totally cathartic way. Gavin Brown talked to Shannon about the album and the musical journey it took for the album to come to fruition.
E&D: Your new album Two Busted Boots And A Broken Heart has just come out. What has the reaction to it been like so far?
Shannon: It’s been great, very heartwarming. A lot of folks have written me kind messages and people seem to especially be stoked it’s available on streaming platforms.
E&D: This is your first new album in over a decade, how does it feel to be back with this record?
Shannon: A bit surreal… a bit like a weight has been lifted, or has shifted.
E£D: Were you still making music in that time?
Shannon: Yes, during most of that time I was travelling, playing shows, busking and working on new material and playing songs from this album.
E&D: The songs were written more than a decade ago as well, do they still feel fresh to you releasing them in 2026?
Shannon: I don’t know if I would say fresh, they’re more like old friends who kept me company through a lot of dark times and it’s cleansing to release them out into the world.
E&D: Can you tell us the biggest inspirations for the album and its songs?
Shannon: Hmmm… no. kidding… kind of. I think it all comes down to life experiences and having the need for an outlet.
E&D: Was making the album a cathartic experience for you?
Shannon: Yes, very much so.
E&D: Did you always envisage these songs having such a raw and haunting feeling to them?
Shannon: I can’t claim too much intentionality there, that’s just kind of where my ear goes, and my mind.. And my soul.
E&D: You have been a huge advocate for mental health awareness, that must be an important topic to speak about?
Shannon: I hope to be a huge advocate one day. I do think it’s important to speak about though. I’ve been surrounded by and/or experienced mental health issues my whole life and I’ve found it extremely helpful to listen to others, especially when I haven’t felt like talking and/or have felt ostracised and alone. I do believe the more open we are about the things that are difficult to talk about, the less alone we feel. Our minds can be incredibly convincing in the lies it tells us when we’re at our worst and it would be a beautiful thing to see younger generations facing mental health struggles with support teams and people who are educated and have more understanding and empathy rather than the stigma that is dissolving, slowly, but still stands today.
E&D: it must feel good when people have reached out to you saying that your music has helped them?
Shannon: It’s beautiful, emotional and quite humbling. It really puts things in perspective and I’m thankful they find some remnants of the healing that went into the music.
E&D: What albums have the greatest healing effect on you?
Shannon: Great question! Top answer hands down for this past decade – Philip Glass’ Metamorphosis solo piano album – I’ve listened to it at least a thousand times.
Neil Young – Harvest Moon – nostalgia
Karen Dalton – 1966 – her voice…
E&D: Is the greatest outdoors a big influence on you and your music?
Shannon: Absolutely, it all just makes a bit more sense out in the natural world. It’s where I go when I need to think, contemplate, process, find answers, listen and learn. Et cetera.
E&D: Who are the musicians who have had the biggest influence on you as an artist?
Shannon: Neil Young, Karen Dalton, Townes Van Zandt, Nina Simone and my late husband Nicholas Ridout.
E&D: Have you been working on any other new music?
Shannon: Yes, I’ve been working on a lot of new music and am always working on older songs that aren’t quite “right” or finished yet too.
E&D: Can you tell us how the record release show went and how did your new material go down?
Shannon: It was lovely – Dana Anastasia and Annie Ford really set the mood for the evening with their music and the folks who came out, came to listen which is always incredible. I played a few really old songs, a handful from the album and a few new songs from this past year and they were the ones that I got the most feedback about so I’m thankful the new material was noticed and well received.
E&D: Have you got more live shows planned for the rest of the year?
Shannon: Not currently.
E&D: What else have you got planned musically for the remainder of 2026?
Shannon: Got an announcement coming out next month with AntiCorp Records and I’m hoping to get back into the studio by winter, other than that I’ll just be working on more new stuff in my writing room.
Photo by Carley Ridout Heath
