Shandelle Cooke is one of Geelong’s best-loved performers, but the chanteuse is not content to rest on her laurels.
This month Cooke launches two new shows; Number One Divas, which presents music from the chart-topping female artists of the last 40 years, and James Bond Classics, which ranges from the music of Shirley Bassey to that of Billie Eilish.
The premiere event, which will feature both 50-minute shows back-to-back, will be held at Christian College’s Gibson Music Performance Centre on July 20 and include a stellar seven-piece band, arranged and directed by her long-time musical partner Andy Pobjoy.
The two new shows, which will be recorded live, represent Cooke’s desire to once again perform in theatre and cruise ship settings.
“At the moment I’m comfortable, and for me that’s not always a good thing,” Cooke said.
“I’m wanting a challenge… there comes a time where you think, what more progress can I make with my craft? What’s going to fill my cup? That’s where I’m at.”
Inspired by her musical family, Cooke began singing in choirs when she was 10, performed with GSODA as a teenager, and began gigging with bands and performing lead roles in musicals after finishing high school.
“(Music) is about making people feel something, it’s making them leave with a memory,” she said.
“It’s different to me now than it was 20 years ago. Then I was thinking, I’ve got to sing it really well, I’ve got to sound good.
“Now, I’d rather bring the lyrics to life and make sense of them as a story. That’s how you have people walking away feeling affected by it in some way, because they believe the story.”
Visit eventbrite.com.au for tickets and more information.
