Tag: Shania Twain

Louis Theroux Serves Up a Unique ‘Combination of Flavors’ in His New Spotify Exclusive Podcast

June 6, 2023

During his career as an award-winning documentary filmmaker, journalist, broadcaster, and author, Louis Theroux has stood at the crossroads of culture and has had countless fascinating conversations. Earlier this year, he announced his latest venture: The Louis Theroux Podcast—brought to you by Corsodyl Toothpaste and Huel—which delivers a mix of insight and comedy in equal parts.

Now Louis is ready for the world to check it out.

Created by Mindhouse Productions, the show’s nine episodes will release weekly starting today and feature in-depth conversations with high-profile stars like Craig David and Nick Cave, along with the featured guest of the first episode, Shania Twain. 

Country Crossover Icon Shania Twain Is Spotify’s EQUAL Ambassador of the Month

September 15, 2022

“Man! I Feel Like A Woman!” “Any Man of Mine.” “You’re Still The One.” The list of hit singles from country legend Shania Twain goes on and on. And while the Canadian star grew up singing and performing in the ’80s, she really hit her stride in the ’90s when she released three albums that introduced her bold and unapologetic persona to the world.

Shania’s success is unparalleled. She has won five Grammy Awards, sold over 100 million records, and accumulated over 1 billion streams across her Spotify catalog—making her not only the best-selling female artist in country music, but one of the best-selling artists of all time. 

Shania took her career to new heights in 1997 when she released Come On Over, a genre-spanning album that attracted a global fan base and proved she was a pop force to be reckoned with. But even after the release of her Greatest Hits album, Shania continues to push boundaries with her music. This year the singer released the track “Not Just A Girl” as well as a compilation album that is a companion to her new Netflix documentary, Not Just A Girl.

Shania’s boundary-breaking attitude makes her the perfect Ambassador of the Month for Spotify’s EQUAL Global Music Program. EQUAL aims to combat gender disparity in the music industry by amplifying and celebrating the work of women creators around the world. Fans can find Shania’s new song on this month’s EQUAL Global playlist. 

For the Record caught up with the superstar to learn more about what inspires her and how she’d like to see greater gender equity in the music industry. 

The artists who have most inspired me are _____.

Especially as a kid, artists like Dolly Parton and Tanya Tucker. I thought I could maybe be the next Tanya Tucker, in fact. I really learned a lot of my songwriting from Dolly Parton. Olivia Newton-John was a big inspiration for me. Gladys Knight always being the biggest, most beautiful voice I thought I’d ever heard. When I got into my teens, I started to really draw most of my inspiration from rock singers. I was a big Heart fan. I was getting into the big hair and lots of hairspray. Annie Lennox was one of my absolute favorite singers for her range. I thought it was incredible. And she had such a strong, yet feminine face and such an eye for fashion and her own personal styling. So, I guess my influences evolved as I got older. I started to really get inspired by some of the new, more recent voices as I was especially regaining my own voice after a struggle with it. So I was really targeting the higher voices like Ariana Grande and Sia, with her punch and her power. So in more recent years, I’ve been focusing on the voices that have the most flex and agility, just from my own vocal training. 

One piece of advice I’d give other women artists is _____.

Don’t be a follower. If you really plan on being a leader, then it’s probably not a good idea to get into the habit of following what other people are doing, what other artists are doing stylistically. Just be your own boss.

One way I’d like to see greater gender equity in the music industry is _____.

Acceptance . . . more unity. Music is very uniting. We just need to be celebrating music, regardless of our gender. It’s the artist’s responsibility to put their best foot forward. So it’s not because of your gender that you should be accepted, it’s because of your greatness. But then we, as an audience and as streamers, have to give artists that door. Even if we have to kick the door down, the door still has to be there. So give us a chance to get out there to the fans and let the public decide.

A few up-and-coming women artists I’m excited to watch are _____.

Mickey Guyton—I think you’re incredible. I love your personality and I think you’re going to be around for a really long time. I look forward to everything that you have coming up next. I’m also a big cheerleader for Tiera Kennedy because, Tiera, I believed in you right from the beginning. So just keep it going. Keep those great songs coming; keep songwriting. There’s so many fabulous women that are just in front of you. I mean, Brandi Carlile is one of the best female songwriters I think I’ve ever known. So keep looking to these other great songwriters in front of you, and I look forward to seeing more of you.

My girl-power anthem is _____.

Is this, like, a trick question or something? Cause I know I have at least a dozen or more . . . but I’m going to say right now, in my spirit, it’s “Roar” by Katy Perry.

Hear Shania’s new hit, as well as songs from other women artists, on our EQUAL Global playlist. 

All-Stars Shania Twain, Lauren Alaina, and Lily Rose Join BRELAND in the Debut Episode of ‘Spotify: Discover This’

October 18, 2021

Country artists and fans can attest that over the last 50 years the genre has grown remarkably. It’s something we’re exploring in Spotify: Discover This, one of our three expanded company news podcasts that’s dedicated to sharing fresh insights on music, podcasting, cultural moments, and trends. And in our inaugural episode, we’re getting a little bit country. 

Twenty-six-year-old artist BRELAND, known for his viral hit “My Truck,” joins us from the road to guest host and explore the evolving sound.

“We look at [the ’90s] as the golden age of country music, but I think we’re in a golden age of country music right now,” the singer shares in the episode. “We have to respect what came before us to be able to have context for moving forward. And I think being able to honor that history is so significant, and this is a really great time to do it.”

Together, BRELAND and his four guests offer an expert overview of the genre’s history and recent trends. Artist Lauren Alaina kicks off the conversation by unpacking the meaning of success and giving BRELAND some hilarious tips on pre-show prep. Spotify’s Head of Artist and Label Partnerships in Nashville, Brittany Schaffer, also digs into an unexpected trend: the rise of nostalgic ’90s songs.

Of course, no country conversation would be complete without the one and only Shania Twain. The icon’s ’90s hits have been included in the recent resurgence thanks to a wave of enthusiastic Gen Z listeners. The singer joins the episode to reflect on her expanding audience and changes she’s seen in the genre over the years.

“In my experience, every genre of music evolves over the decades and that goes for country music as well,” Shania shares with BRELAND. “ . . . I’m just really proud and happy to have been a part of that. I like to go with the change, and I like to be part of the change.”

Lily Rose, one of 2021’s fastest-rising stars, concludes the episode with a look to the future, examining modern-day success in the industry and growing diversity and representation in Nashville.

Don’t miss a moment. Buckle up and accompany BRELAND on a unique tour of today’s country music on “Expanding the Sound of Country Music.” And stay tuned for the premiere of Spotify: Mic Check on October 21 and the relaunch of Spotify: For the Record on October 28.

Spotify’s Latest Digital Experience and Singles Are a Celebration of ’90s Country Music Nostalgia

September 21, 2021

Nineties country music gave us power anthems like “Man! I Feel Like A Woman” and seven hit-filled albums from the legendary Reba McEntire, and it made stars out of the young duo Brooks & Dunn. As listeners return to these classic songs, albums, and moments in droves, Spotify has decided to honor them with an interactive microsite, Spotify Singles, video content, and more.

These days, the timeless songs and stories behind ’90s country music have found a new generation of ears: Gen Z.

To celebrate this resurgence, today we launched a campaign highlighting the staying power of our country catalog while also promoting the next generation of emerging country stars who are inspired by those that came before them.

Head to our 90s Country Digital Experience to reconnect with your old country favorites and discover the classic songs that shaped the genre’s sounds of today. Enter into an interactive experience by answering ’90s-inspired questions like “Who’s riding shotgun?” and “How big is your hair?” Then select an iconic artist (perhaps Shania Twain or Alan Jackson) as your copilot and choose your hairstyle, whether that’s a mullet or a head full of curls. Once you’re done, the site will analyze your responses and generate your top ’90s country albums as well as a personalized playlist.