Songs About Feelings

Shaindel Antelis

Shaindel Antelis is a strong young woman. Strong feelings, strong voice, strong in searching and expressing her faith.

Light shines. From her expressive soul. From the 5,500 shiny rhinestones hand pasted on her unique guitar, to her shiny sequin-studded clothes, to her shining face as she performs, spreading energy, hope, connection and fun.

Shaindel has carved out a unique path and message, though the resources were always at hand. She grew up in a home filled with music and performance. As a young girl she would wander into her father’s sound studio, put on the headphones, pick up the mike and sing her heart out.

“Even though I’d been singing for many years, I wrote my first real song, with a theme, chorus and all, at the age of ten,” she recalls. “I always wrote poetry. This really helped me get through junior high and high school, through all the teenage ups and downs, insecurities, troubles with friends, which are so painful when you’re going through them.”

Shaindel’s rhythmic music appeals to women of all ages. But Shaindel has a special gift in her has resonance with teenage girls. “I really write and sing especially for them. I know that many teens think—everyone else is perfect, while my life doesn’t make sense. I want them to know that, no, you’re not alone. My songs are very personal. I share my struggles and feelings, so that teenagers (and women) can have music that they can relate to while they work through these emotions, and they don’t have to turn to more secular music for connection and entertainment that speaks to them.”

She knows firsthand about the struggle to find one’s own voice and identity. “I cried so much as a teen, trying to find my place as a funky but also very Jewish teen.” Writing songs and poems helped her express and work through her feelings, and she started to realize her work could speak to others as well.

Things finally started to come together for Shaindel when she went to . I experienced amazing divine providence. The learning, the atmosphere—it made Torah come alive for me. Teachers welcomed all my questions and exploring. I have to know the reasons for me to feel connected. Torah has to have deep meaning for me.”

Her songwriting exploded, as she kept a diary of thoughts, poems and songs based on her impressions and experiences in Israel. Shaindel decided and affirmed that singing and sharing was her path, her special way of expressing her Jewishness. “I feel most connected to Torah when I’m thinking, writing and singing. That’s what it's all about—elevating the physical and putting a real piece of yourself out there in the world.

Sounds from the Turtle Shell | Fully fringed

Is a simple tale of two boys, Drew (Tony Adams) and Theo (Cory Thilbert), both crushing on the same leading lady, namely Taylor (Erin Lindsay), who is the lead singer of their band.  She gives neither young lad the time of day and would rather follow her dreams to theatre school in Vancouver.

The band—whose name is the title of the show—is a group of teens trying to figure out their feelings about friendship, life, and love. Unfortunately, the exaggerated acting, over-dramatization, and forced vulgarity left much to be desired. The script could have easily been cut down to about half an hour and would have then resulted in a tighter, more engaging project.

A rocky first 20 minutes on each actor’s account eventually leads to somewhat of a cute, charming, and relatable story. Luckily, the characters grow on you over time and you may even manage to crack a few honest giggles (the cast’s friends in the audience certainly did).

Musically speaking, the cast has a bit more talent, charm, and compatibility, with sweet songs featuring silly lyrics that will make you smile. Erin Lindsay’s voice was a pleasure to hear—a strong, sultry one that demands to be centre stage. Tony Adams’ guitar skills aren’t half bad on the black acoustic guitar he carts around for the show and Cory Thilbert’s keyboard and children’s xylophone playing is borderline adorable. The biggest treat this show gives us is the band’s live performance which is the sole worthy contender.

The crisis manual for early childhood teachers, how to handle the really difficult problems

Cries of joy, songs of sorrow, Chinese pop music and its cultural connotations

Tenement Songs, The Popular Music of the Jewish Immigrants

Mother Jones Magazine

If I Were a Word, Then I'd Be a Song