Exclusive Q&A by Brad Balfour, Arts Editor
After a period marked by grief, loss, and a pause in her musical journey, two-time Billboard dance charting artist Shara Strand returned with a powerful and uplifting full-length debut album, “Love Forever,” this June. A two-time Billboard-charting artist known for emotional vocals and powerful storytelling, Strand first gained recognition with “I Will Carry You” and “RSVP,” two tracks which broke into the Billboard Dance Chart. She has also performed at venues like Showtime at The Apollo and The Bitter End in NYC.
Of Eastern European heritage, a 14 year-old Shara was performing in New York professional theater and received her Equity card at the Vineyard Theatre. A graduate of NYU Tisch School, she began her career in New York’s theater and television world before shifting her focus fully to pop/dance music.
Her new 13-track recording takes the listener through various notions of love — romantic, spiritual, familial and self. The album opens with “I Will Be Here,” telling of an experience rooted in the complexities of love and its many messy, layered, and deeply felt aspects. Next, “My Green Light” pulses with sensuality, while “Desperado” reflects vulnerability. The closer, “Ascended,” is a dark-pop track with a sense of joy, celebrating the moment when one rises above fear. Together, the first and last tracks anchor the album.
Written from the heart and born out of personal transformation, it explores themes of longing, resilience, surrender, and rediscovery with results as diverse as the emotions it conveys. Strand turned pain into purpose. As she has said, “I hope it brings moments of happiness, reminding listeners that they’re not alone and giving them a reason to move, feel and heal. Whether you’re dancing or just catching your breath –– this is for you!”
Recorded at NYC’s Engine Room Audio with longtime producer Gregory Phace Fils-Aime, “Love Forever” marks Strand’s return — not just to music, but to public life again. The album is now available on all major streaming platforms.
In addition to her singing, she founded and still runs a company — Shara Makeup Studio — based on the Upper East Side of Manhattan where she balances her time between business and raising a family. She offers skin-loving cosmetics for sale in person and online. But with music, singing and dancing upfront again, this beautiful chanteuse will be performing live on November 9th at The Green Room 42 in Manhattan.
Q: When did you first realize you were a singer and wanted to be a performer?
Shara Strand: I realized from around 7 or 8 years old that music was my calling. I was always drawn to singing — even before I fully understood what it meant to be a performer. Growing up, I felt an almost magnetic pull toward expressing myself through music, whether it was singing along at home, performances at school, or later in more formal training. I knew early on that performing was not just something I loved but something that felt like my true purpose.
Q: What was the first music you heard and what did you gravitate to first?
Shara Strand: The very first music I remember hearing was what my parents played in the house — classic voices like Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, and Annie Lennox. My father, in particular, had a huge influence. He shared with me the artists that inspired him, and he was a band leader and singer as well. I was drawn to big, emotional voices and songs that told stories with depth and vulnerability. Those sounds shaped my ear and what I naturally gravitated toward as both a listener and eventually as a songwriter.
So I grew up in a big musical-theater house, so we were always listening to original Broadway cast albums like “Les Misérables” — especially “On My Own” and “Phantom of the Opera.” I was also touched by “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” from “Evita.” At the same time, I was captivated by powerhouse singers I heard at the movies and on the radio. Barbra Streisand, for example. Her songs like “Evergreen” and “The Way We Were” would move me deeply. With Celine Dion, it was “The Power of Love” and “My Heart Will Go On.”
There’s more. “I Will Always Love You” and “Greatest Love of All” were everything to me. I also loved Neil Diamond classics like “Sweet Caroline” and “Coming to America.” Later on, Tori Amos with “Silent All These Years.” I used to light candles in my room, lie on my bed, and just let myself feel every emotion through their voices. That was really the start of my connection to music as something bigger than me.
Q: What led you to your first recordings?
Shara Strand: When I was eight, I had my very first voice recital at Center Stage Studio in Marlboro, New Jersey. Up until then, not even my parents had really heard me — I would practice privately in my room.
My first recordings came from a combination of passion and persistence. After years of studying music, performing live, and writing songs, I felt a deep urge to capture my voice and stories in a permanent way. I worked with collaborators who believed in me, and I pushed through the challenges of being independent to get my music recorded. What really led me there was a desire to honor both my influences and my own story, and to create something lasting that could connect with people far beyond the stage. From my first recordings, I was totally hooked. The studio and creative process is truly my heaven on earth.
Q: What have been the toughest challenges in getting your career off the ground?
Shara Strand: Honestly, one of the hardest things has been being put in a box — people telling me I was too young, too old, too fat, too snobby. It felt like I was constantly living in the collective shadow of other people’s opinions. The breakthrough for me was learning to separate my own artistic worth from anyone else’s feelings or limitations. I’ve come to embrace the truth that you can be more than one thing. I’m a singer, a songwriter, and I also run a makeup and skincare company. Instead of competing with each other, all these pieces of my life fit together like a giant puzzle.
Q: How did you and producer Gregory “Phace” Fils-Aime connect?
Shara Strand: I was introduced to Gregory through Scotty, the manager at Engine Room Audio, where I’ve worked many times throughout my career. When I explained the kind of creative process I wanted to have, Scotty knew Gregory would be the perfect collaborator — and he was right.
Q: What has been his impact on this album?
Shara Strand: Gregory is a musical genius. He took my rough ideas and elevated them into something bigger than I could have imagined — each song became its own spiritual and musical master moment. He wore so many hats for me: coach, professor, engineer, collaborator, friend, and teammate. His belief in me and his support carried this album to a place I couldn’t have reached alone. To me, he’s an angel, and I truly couldn’t have done this without him.
Q: Back in 2016, you recorded “I Will Carry You” with Mike Greenly’s lyrics [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PjmXNa6SEg]. It became a Top 25 hit on Billboard magazine’s Dance/Club chart and raised funds to help cure canine bone cancer. What did it mean to you, knowing your song would be used to help rescue dogs from cancer and help save their lives? That collaboration really paid off.
Shara Strand: Mike is a songwriter I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with on two Billboard-charting singles [the other being “RSVP” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69NwUfp3sJE]. What stands out most about him is his ability to get straight to the heart of a message through his music. His creativity is boundless — he approaches every song with fresh ideas while still honoring the emotional truth behind the lyrics.
Working with Mike feels both effortless and inspiring. We share a natural resonance in both business and creativity, which makes the process not only productive but deeply rewarding. He has a rare talent for translating personal stories into universally relatable songs, and he brings out the best in the artists he partners with.
Beyond his artistry, Mike is extremely generous with his energy and spirit. He is charitable in the truest sense of the word, and through his connections he introduced me to the American Humane Society, which has been a meaningful relationship in my life and work. I’ve grown tremendously from our collaborations, and I know his artistry, generosity, and vision will continue to impact many people.
Q: Who else would you like to perform or collaborate with?
Shara Strand: I would love to collaborate with Jessie J, who has always inspired me. I’m wishing her the best for her health as I know she’s currently in treatment and not touring. It would also be an honor to perform with Ed Sheeran, whose artistry I greatly admire. And a true dream of mine would be to share the stage with Kelly Clarkson.
Q: What plans do you have to expand your repertoire?
I’m currently working on new material that I’m developing with a live band, which has been such an energizing creative process. My plan is to continue writing, exploring new sounds, and expanding my repertoire in ways that connect deeply with audiences while also challenging me artistically.
For more info on her songs and the show go to: www.sharastrand.com