From an episode of Neon Sunset∙Presented by Annaliese Redlich
Interview
Neon Sunset: Shannon Shaw Opens Up About Love, Loss, and The Moon is in the Wrong Place
Shannon Shaw from Shannon and the Clams joins Annaliese on Neon Sunset to discuss their recent release The Moon is in the Wrong Place, the devastating LA wildfires and play some influential song selections.
As the band’s seventh album, The Moon is in the Wrong Place delves into themes of love, loss, and resilience, balancing the beauty and sadness of life and death.
The album is deeply personal, inspired by the tragic loss of Shannon’s fiancé, Joe, who passed away in a devastating car accident in the bean field where he worked.
“Me and his family ended up spending days and nights in that field. It felt like scorched earth, soulless. But over time, I noticed blossoms, bees, and dragonflies—small signs of beauty in a place of heartbreak.” Shannon recounted.
Despite the grief, the songs came to her immediately, and she channelled her emotions into music. The jangly garage soul and country-tinged tracks capture moments of joy and light even in the shadow of loss. “When I think of Joe, I think of joy, life, and beautiful things,” she says.
Shannon describes the album as an act of devotion. “I think of this album as building a pyramid for a pharaoh, and Joe is my pharaoh. This album is my pyramid.”
With its lyrical themes of creating portals to magical universes and finding beauty in sorrow, The Moon is in the Wrong Place showcases the band’s ability to turn personal pain into universally resonant art. After 15 years, Shannon and the Clams continue to craft music that blends sadness and hope into something timeless.
