Shelder the Electric Clam Fish — Michelle Footz 4-piece band

“I am the director for the music programs at GISS as well as Swing Shift Big Band. I grew up on Mayne Island, and went to GISS as a high school student, where I first started writing and arranging my own music as part of the music program. I write songs that tell stories – stories that have either happened to me in real life (or in my imagination), or stories based off old folk legends and myths. The storytelling is such an important aspect to my performance, such that the pre-amble to my songs have become part of the songs themselves. I like doing research before I write a song, and then turning my research into epic fantastical folktales. Collaborating with other musicians is very exciting for me, as the other musicians’ creativity breathes new ideas and life into my songs. For example, collaborating with Brandon and Sam (two local musicians and teachers on the island) gives my music more of a heavy metal feel than it ever would when I just play my songs on my own. I am very influenced by jazz, funk and folk music, as well as punk music from when I was a kid, so my music is a fusion of all of that.”