Birth name Amanda Shires Instruments FiddleGuitar Years active c.1997–present | Genres Americanaalt-country Name Amanda Shires Occupation(s) Singer-Songwriter | |
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Born March 5, 1982 (age 42) ( 1982-03-05 ) Role Singer-songwriter · amandashiresmusic.com Profiles | ||
Amanda shires wasted and rolling
Amanda Shires (born March 5, 1982) is an American singer-songwriter and violin player. She has performed as a member of the Texas Playboys, Thrift Store Cowboys and Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, as well as in a duo with Rod Picott. Shires has released five solo albums, her most recent My Piece of Land on the BMG Rights Management label in 2016.
Contents
- Amanda shires wasted and rolling
- dress blues jason isbell with amanda shires
- Early life
- Musical career
- Personal life
- Awards and citations
- Appearances in other media
- Musical style
- Discography
- References
dress blues jason isbell with amanda shires
Early life
Following her parents' divorce, Shires' childhood was divided between the Texas cities of Lubbock and Mineral Wells. She acquired her first violin at the age of ten from a pawn shop in Mineral Wells. At the age of 15 she joined the Texas Playboys, the former backing band for Western swing legend Bob Wills. She is distantly related to noted photographer Erica Shires, who produced the video for the song "Swimmer".
Musical career
Shires released her first solo album, the mostly instrumental Being Brave, in 2005. Four years later, having relocated to Nashville, she released West Cross Timbers and in the same year released Sew Your Heart with Wires, a collaboration with Rod Picott. Her next solo album, Carrying Lightning was released in 2011, followed by Down Fell The Doves in August 2013 and My Piece of Land in September 2016. The latter proved to be Shires' breakthrough, gaining her a nomination from the Americana Music Association.
Since 2006 she has toured extensively with Picott. Additionally, she has performed and recorded with Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, Devotchka, Chris Isaak, Thrift Store Cowboys, Todd Snider, and Justin Townes Earle.
Shires won the Emerging Artist of the Year Award at the 2017 Americana Music Honors & Awards. As of 2017, Shires is supporting John Prine on his worldwide tour and is also joining Isbell for select dates.
Personal life
Shires began dating fellow musician Jason Isbell in 2011. The couple married on February 23, 2013 and had their first child, Mercy Rose, on September 1, 2015.
Awards and citations
The song "When you Need a Train It Never Comes" from Carrying Lightning was ranked the fifth best song of 2011 by American Songwriter.
Appearances in other media
In 2011 she appeared in the movie Country Strong as one of the musicians backing singer Kelly Canter, played by Gwyneth Paltrow.
Musical style
David Menconi of the magazine Spin said that Shires "sings [...] like an earthbound Emmylou Harris", and her vocals have been likened to those of Dolly Parton. The imagery in her songwriting has been compared to that of Tom Waits. Although her principal instrument is the violin, she also plays the ukulele.