We had the good fortune of connecting with Shayna Gladstone and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shayna, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
The principle that matters most to me is integrity and congruency between words and actions. To me, strong integrity is when actions, words and decisions and their impacts on others and the world are thoroughly considered. Integrity includes honesty and righteous action, social and ecological responsibility and having great awareness and consideration of the whole. This is extremely important because if we are in integrity, it means that we are truthful, transparent and at the root of it all, caring and respectful. This principle encompasses so much of how to take care of life in a good way. Yet, unfortunately, most of the leaders of our world are far from having integrity which is why we have arrived to a place of no return in regards to ecosystem collapse, war and global scale social injustice. This principle connects with congruency between words and actions because if we are presenting ourselves as one thing, but not living the truth of which we are presenting to others, we are out of integrity. We are both lying to ourselves and others. It takes considerable effort and personal work to be in congruency between our words and actions but not everyone wants to do it. Why, because it’s uncomfortable to our ego to see where we are incongruent. Some call it “shadow work”, that is to shine a light on the darker parts of ourselves (that we all have) and admit where we have been wrong. However, this is necessary work for all of us to do both because if not, we are living a lies all of our lives, and that can cause suppressed pain or manifest in illness and because we need to be examples for the next generation, so that we can raise the future leaders with integrity, congruency and awareness of the greater whole.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Music has been a thread that has followed me since I realized I had a voice that could sing when I was a baby. My mom loves to tell the story that I would mimic Alanis Morissette in the backseat of the car when I was 3 years old. She thought it was the funniest thing. Ive been writing poetry and lyrics forever, and have always sung in choirs, solo performances and was on stage for dance performances starting at 3 years old. I’ve always loved expressing myself through music and dance.

I did not follow music as a career until I turned 30 when I released my first EP in 2020 during the pandemic. Everything I did before 30 prepared me to release the most potent and high quality music I could have ever dreamed of. My music career grew exponentially. I have been blessed to receive a lot attention from the start. My first concert (online) that was my EP release show was broadcasted to Unify’s Facebook of which has 2.3 million followers. Since then I’ve headlined many festivals, and have opened for Londrelle & Porangui.

It has been a wild-journey weaving all of my passions and life experiences into a career. From childhood, a very deep and spiritual connection with nature and community building were my original guiding forces. This first manifested in being an activist with GreenPeace & Sierra Club through college, and then 10 years of living on farms and building a global network of ecovillages & regenerative farms, www.numundo.org. I have been forever in love with building community through event organizing and facilitating transformational group experiences,. This led me to build multiple retreat companies, and have lead countless programs related to leadership, sustainability and nature-based spirituality over the past 10 years. I have also been privileged to continue to receive spiritual mentorship from numerous Native & Indigenous elders since 2013 which has been my complete foundation and guiding compass in life.

I grew up listening to a wide variety of music, but my first casette tape was OMC “How Bizarre”, a 90s pop and hip-hop fusion track that I listened to on repeat. My life was colored by old school 90s hip-hop, like Notorious B.I.G, Tupac, Eminem, Bone Thugs & Harmony, J-Lo, Ludacris, and later fell in love with the queens, Erykah Badu, Lauren Hill & Indie Arie. Inevitably, being from Metro-Detroit, soul and hip-hop culture painted my spirit from a young age.

When it was time to put out my first music, R&B and Hip-Hop is what flowed out of me like a fountain. With a decade of earth based spiritual wisdom received, and my fire lit to pursue this music career, I am pioneering a niche of “Old-School R&B Medicine Music”. I am weaving water prayers and rituals, uplifting indigenous peoples and local ecological projects into my concerts whenever possible – and will continue to use my platform and voice to promote and support our ancient future.

The journey up until now has been nothing close to easy, but rather arduous and yet I have had experiences that I could have never dreamed were possible and I am grateful for every breathe and every waking-moment to experience being human on this precious Mother Earth.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
A hike and picnic in Augustus F. Hawkins Natural Park, a green oasis with native plants, a wetlands area and dirt trails leading up gently sloping hills, sunset at El Matador State Beach, a half day of bike riding in Venice Beach, attend several workshops and classes at Yoga Deck, an urban sanctuary for yoga, meditation and restoration, Dinner and brunch at the most delicious and vegan plant based bistro, Sage, and of course we could not conclude the week without an iconic visit to Hollywood and a drive through Beverly Hills.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The credit goes to My Mother, Sue Knill, my Father David Gladstone, my ancestors, my beloved soul family, my spiritual elders alive and deceased, Tomas Shash, Donnie Blaikie, Joanna Macy, Alfonso Castillo and many more.

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/sisterstonemusic

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sisterstoneofficial

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SisterStone

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7lYcYbiWNI5eiHL3KpNS68?si=lJj4YxD-R_68BcTx1O0AVA

Image Credits
Jenna Pomaville and Kyle Tanner

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