Today we’d like to introduce you to Peter Shapiro
Hi Peter, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Good day! I appreciate you taking the time to speak with me and hope your readers find some interest in my story. My name is Peter Shapiro and I am a husband, father, and musician.
My family moved from Brooklyn, NY to Saint Joseph, MO in the early 90s. Being ten years old and approaching adolescence, it was textbook culture shock of new environment, school, people…especially being one of just maybe a handful of Jewish kids. This wasn’t the mixing pot I knew. I was shy, different and not cool. I still tried to break through the developed foundations of my peers.
It’s not a sad story, but a classic elder emo story of ‘not belonging’ that followed up until college where I found a creative outlet. I studied video production, wrote stories & plays, surrounded myself with uniquely cool people and began playing an instrument more seriously. (My mom bought me my first guitar. It was a terrible one…but THANK YOU, MOM!!) Music is magic – we create something that didn’t exist in that specific way up until it just did. Abracadabra! Beautiful!
Of course beauty is in the eye of the beholder and the ear of the listener. I quickly started a terrible band with some friends. A buzzsaw of four-chord anthems with a flurry of my little words yelled at the top of my lungs! Got in a van and we explored the United States. Conflicts & life occurred. Started an arguably less terrible band with better friends. Got in a worse van and explored more of the United States. Had loose change thrown at me by strangers. Spit on. Kept strong. Cheered on. Sing alongs. Told my lyrics saved a life. Always moving in incredible ways.
Then I physically moved to Kansas City for my job in the early ’10s – sounds old timey to describe it that way. I’ve always been appreciative of the work/life balance my employer has provided. Music remained crucial to digging through the daily grind. I escaped reality and filled packed rooms with loud noises…then played to empty ones. Expressed ALL THE emotions. Slept on floors. Destroyed my body for 30 minutes of adrenaline. Balanced the work, relationships, family…sometimes didn’t balance and fell. Failed. Froze. Sweated. Lived. Laughed. Ate all the Taco Bell and gas station roller meat. Heard amazing sounds, saw incredible sights, met epic fans and have friends for life. Made memories that only WE have. Good times to be had!
Fast-forward a bit past additional defunct projects, life lessons, and arthritis and ‘ta-da!’ I’m turning 42 this year – during the roaring ’20s!!! I’m a corporate 9-5’er, married to a wonderful woman and a bonus dad to two incredible boys (that are quickly turning into men themselves.) Still craving the itch to create & perform, my family encourages me to do so. Scratch that; it’s more than cheerleading. My wife makes music with me and my kids help with the merch booth! F-A-M-I-L-Y! Best times to be had!
However, still not a cool kid.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road is under construction and full of pot holes. Nothing wrong with a little bit of character development. Considering the navigation that had to happen to get to this point in my journey, I am thankful for the detours. The timing of people coming and leaving and returning and weaving all had to happen. Now I get to create music with my wife and some of my best friends!
Coordinating schedules and balancing our different perspectives can be an occasional challenge. However, these differences push us to become better at our craft and think about things in new ways. Each of us have value and a voice. When you love something, you will find a way.. #teamworkmakesthedreamwork
Being in a band is just like being in a romantic relationship…just typically with more people and less kissing. Time is our most valuable asset and we all have the same daily allowance. As we get older, the amount split increase to families, partners, jobs, joys, stressors. Carving out space to ‘make some tunes with pals’ isn’t always the priority. It shouldn’t be, But we can…
Be kind. Be considerate. Be communicative. Be present Believe in what you are doing. Playing original music is not exchanging my emotional currency with the monetary kind – but I love it. I will continue to invest in it. All the wrong ways and bathroom breaks along the road trip of life are adding up to something real special. Big things coming soon! (Maybe a ball of twine!?)
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Today my focus is on two musical passions:
The first is Modern Canvas – primarily a studio project with Cassiopia (my wife) that allows us to make whatever music we want. She’s so talented as a lyricist and vocalist! I established a small studio in our basement called ’23dreams’ that allows us to go wild! It’s quite freeing to not be bound by genre. We can develop a rap banger, an acoustic ballad, twangy country dirt, a pop gold hit, angsty rock anthem, etc. There’s experimentation and the quality time brings us closer together. Keeping the magic alive!
The second is Better Whenever. A description for bW is: “Better Whenever is a rock band fueled by the shared love for pop punk, hardcore, emo, and pizza. Driven by the desire to create meaningful connections through music, Better Whenever combines the catchy melodies of pop and the raw intensity of punk rock. With a DIY ethos, they aim to support the local music scene and are proud to call Kansas City their home. Share a slice, tell a story, and sing along!!!”
Better Whenever is:
Patrick Rivera (bass/vocals)
Peter Shapiro (guitar/vocals)
Aaron Garcia (guitar)
Cory DeBoer (friend & former bandmate from a previous project) has been absolutely amazing on drums for writing/recording/performing while we secure a permanent drummer. [At the time of publication, if someone is interested in teaming up on drums…hit up our DMs!]
We just released two songs available on all streaming services – “The Weekend” and “Midwest Dreams”. They were recorded ourselves in the aforementioned studio and I am beyond stoked on how they came out, We’ve played a couple of rad shows so far and hope to see you at one soon!
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
You can connect with me and my projects on all the social media standards! It would be an absolute thrill to hear feedback or collaborate with others from our engagement!
Better Whenever
Website | https://betterwhenever.com
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/betterwhenever
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/betterwhenev/
Spotify | https://spoti.fi/3XsyIWQ
Apple Music | https://apple.co/4cRnboF
YouTube Music | https://bit.ly/4e31V08
Amazon Music | https://amzn.to/4e8wcLg
Modern Canvas
Music | https://bit.ly/4gvmEvz
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/modrncanvas
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/modrncanvas/
Contact Info:
- Website: https://betterwhenever.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterwhenev/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterwhenever/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BetterWhenever
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/modrncanvas
