Where Faith Cannot Abide
Living a life of faith means eradicating doubt and worry. Shanell Alyssa tells her story.
Shanell Alyssa performed at a City Love NYC showcase last year in Harlem. Her music is bright and inspiring and the lyrics will move you as they did for me. Listen to “Witness” featuring Caleb McCoy, available on all streaming platforms.
WG: Did you always want to be a singer?
SA: I was born in Springfield, MA, and grew up in New England. I’ve always loved the arts and athletics. I’ve been singing for as long as I’ve been able to talk. When I was in preschool, my sister and I sang “Oh What a Beautiful Morning” at a talent show. As I grew older, I joined the youth choir at my church and, eventually, also joined an acapella group in high school, and sang in my high school’s classical choir. I wrote my first song in my senior year of high school for a Spanish class assignment. I went on to lead worship in college and during my last two years of college, I wrote the songs that ultimately became my first EP.
I also acted in several local theater productions throughout my early teens and I also loved playing soccer, basketball, and lacrosse in high school but singing and writing music was my first love.
WG: How do you define your purpose in life?
SA: I wear several hats as an artist, clinical mental health counselor, and music therapist. Within those roles, and in my personal life, I strive to cultivate community with women by simply making time to connect with them. That often looks like maintaining friendships with women and getting to know women I encounter at church, at work and in other shared circles.
I value time spent in the presence of other people and have had some of my most fulfilled moments while in the presence of other women. There is a sacredness to the bonds that I share with many women and believe there’s so much to gain from being honest and vulnerable.
WG: Who inspires you as you walk in your purpose?
SA: I’m inspired by so many people. I realize that I’m inspired by different things about different people at different times in my life. I can’t say that I have one all-time most inspiring person. As of late, I’ve been really inspired by authenticity, people who are, without a doubt, genuine, confident, and loving. The people I’ve seen display this in a striking way most recently are my pastors, Wil and Deborah Bullock.
WG: Who cheers the loudest for you?
SA: My spiritual mentor Dr. Joshua Mills tells me he’s the president of my fan club. And of course, my mom and my dad. I don’t know where I’d be without their constant support. They have been my rocks and my biggest supporters from the very beginning. They’re at 99% of my shows and I know they will always have my back.
WG: What are you most proud of in the work that you do?
SA: Finishing something makes me proud. It’s not easy to get music or visuals to a place where they’re ready to be shared with people. It’s not easy to plan an event and successfully pull it off. I’ve managed to do all of these things several times. I’ve been blessed by the projects and events and seen others be blessed by them too. That’s what inspires me to keep pursuing the work.
WG: What are some challenges you face as an artist?
SA: I’ve struggled with doubting whether pursuing artistry is worth it. I’ve had moments of wanting to quit, feeling like I’m pouring so much money, time and effort into my craft and not seeing a return on the investment I’ve made. In these moments I try to remind myself that I’m doing this because I love creating. I’m not doing it for money or notoriety. I’m finally at a point in my journey where I feel like I’m doing what I was created to do, and that’s the truest thing I can pursue.
1 Peter 5:7 has been an important reminder for me over the years. It’s sometimes challenging for me to trust God and not doubt. This verse reminds me to reject doubt because God is so much greater. At times, we may feel inclined to think negatively or doubt God’s promises, but I realize now that I can choose to reject doubt and worry.
Faith is the rejection of doubt and worry. Faith requires that I seek peace and notice when doubt begins to creep in because that’s a sign that I’m not leaning in the direction of faith. It’s a reminder to shift my focus toward peace. Faith always resides where there’s peace. It can’t live with doubt.
WG: What has God shown you as you continue to grow in your craft?
SA: God has shown me how important it is to walk with the Spirit. It’s been a process, but I’ve learned that I am a spiritual being and if I walk with the great Spirit of God that created me I will live a fulfilled and purposeful life. As I’ve spent time internalizing this, I’ve reached new levels of flow in my creative process, I’ve written lyrics that I couldn’t have imagined writing, I’ve had opportunities that I could not have acquired on my own, and I’ve developed a new confidence in sharing the gifts I’ve been given.
The pandemic reminded me of the importance of enjoying the present. I’ve spent a lot of time in the past worrying about the future and wishing my life were in a different place, so I missed a lot of present moments in that season. I am really enjoying the present and all that it has to offer.
WG: Who's on your current music playlist?
SA: I recently learned about Fana Hues and have been listening to her album flora + fana. I’ve had “Try Peace” by Tiana Major9 on repeat. I’ve also been listening to a few Tierra Whack songs from her 2018 album. My church, Jubilee Christian Church, has a worship group called Jubilee Worship and I’ve been listening to a lot of their songs lately.
Favorite performance venue? I love intimate settings for music and I’ve played a few Sofar Sounds show in Boston and New York City. One of my Boston Sofar shows at a small cafe in Cambridge, MA.
Favorite song to perform? “Blind Love” - I’ve experienced so much joy seeing people sing along to that song.
Favorite way to relax? I was inspired to start running again, and I’m currently training for a half marathon. It is very meditative for me and has helped me pour into myself, decompress, and heal in ways that I did not imagine it would. I also love reading and recently started reading “The Warmth of Other Suns” by Isabel Wilkerson.
Favorite Netflix binge? I recently watched “You Don’t Know Me,” a short 4-episode crime series. It has an interesting plot that made me question how far I’d go to save someone who may not want to be saved.
To learn more about Shanell, visit her website, shanellalyssa.com, and follow her on social media @shanellalyssa for music updates, behind-the-scenes and everyday life content. Her music is available on all streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. Her first EP “Rise Above” is available on SoundCloud and Bandcamp.
This article was edited for length and clarity.
Kendolyn Walker is a creative based in Harlem who serves as producer and founder of The City Love Collective: City Love on the Radio, City Love NYC and the City Love Picnic.