We’re looking forward to introducing you to Shauna Knapp. Check out our conversation below.
Shauna, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I start my mornings at 4 AM to set the tone for the day — take care of my dogs, get ready, and follow a focused schedule. Balancing two jobs and my music career takes consistency and time management, but every minute counts toward the bigger vision.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Shauna Knapp — an independent pop and R&B artist from Kansas City, Kansas. I’m passionate about creating music that inspires strength, hope, and self-belief. My journey hasn’t been easy — I’ve balanced two full-time jobs, early mornings, and late nights chasing my dream — but that’s what makes my story real.
Through my brand and music, I aim to show others that dreams don’t die — no matter what life throws your way. Every song I record comes from experience, emotion, and a message that someone out there needs to hear.
Right now, I’m working on my new holiday album “Christmas Magic”, set to release November 28th, and continuing to build my brand — from music to fashion to empowering others to keep pushing for their dreams. My goal is to create not just a sound, but a movement of resilience, glam, and inspiration. ✨
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The relationship that most shaped how I see myself is the one I had to build with me. As an artist, you go through so many phases — people who doubt you, situations that try to break your confidence, and moments where you question if you’re enough. I’ve experienced relationships that hurt me deeply but also forced me to look inward and find my strength.
Learning to love myself, trust my vision, and stand firm in who I am — that changed everything. Once I stopped waiting for others to believe in me and started believing in myself, I became unstoppable. That self-relationship is what keeps me grounded in my music, my message, and my purpose.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain the moment I realized my story could help someone else. For a long time, I kept everything bottled up — the heartbreak, the struggles, the disappointments. But the truth is, pain has a way of turning into purpose if you let it.
When I started recording songs that reflected what I’d really been through, that’s when everything changed. I wasn’t just singing anymore — I was healing. Every lyric became a piece of my story, and every performance became a reminder that I made it through. My pain became my power the day I decided to stop running from it and start creating with it. That’s when I truly found my voice. 🎤✨
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
The public version of me is definitely a part of the real me — just the more confident, polished version that’s ready to perform and inspire. But behind that, I’m still the same girl who wakes up at 4 a.m., lets the dogs out, works two jobs, and keeps pushing for her dream no matter how tired she is.
What people see on stage or online is the result of all the hard work, pain, and growth I’ve gone through. I’ve learned to balance being authentic while still protecting certain parts of my peace. So yes — what you see is real, but it’s also the version of me that’s learned how to turn her story into strength and her life into art.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I never gave up — that no matter what I went through, I kept fighting for my dream and used my voice to inspire others to do the same. I want people to remember me as someone who turned pain into power, who stayed real, and who helped others believe in themselves through my music and my story.
I don’t just want to be known as an artist — I want to be remembered as a woman who made people feel something, who proved that dreams don’t die, and who left behind a little more hope and magic in the world. ✨🎶
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shaunaknapp.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaunaknappkc
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/shaunaknappkc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shaunaknappkc
