By Claire Regenstreif
Staff Writer
Most people do not get to see what goes on behind the scenes of creating the Billboard 100. Junior Gigi Shabestari, who goes by the stage name “Wensday,” has the inside look as she writes songs for today’s music artists.
Shabestari has written songs her whole life, but she recently got the opportunity to write for a famous singer when she was introduced to musician Ryn Weaver at producer Benny Blanco’s birthday party last year. When Blanco played Weaver some of Shabestari’s songs, Weaver loved “Free,” a song which is now on her album, “The Fool.”
“When I found out my song was going to be sung by Ryn Weaver, I was so happy,” Shabestari said. “It was like all of these years of hard work finally paid off.”
Shabestari writes songs for most music genres, including pop, but her songs are mainly sad and intended to evoke emotions. Ideas for her songs are inspired from melodies in her head which she records as voice memos on her phone.
“Writing is a great way to escape the real world for a minute, take a step back and think,” Shabestari said. “It helps me deal with crazy emotions, and it is the one thing I’m passionate about.”
Shabestari has written songs for not only Ryn Weaver, but also for artists Young n Sick and Jasmine Thompson. She typically works through producers who sell her songs, but she was able to work with Weaver directly.
“I am extremely proud of Gigi’s passion and commitment to her music,” Shabestari’s mother, Donna Sabatini Shabestari, said. “It has been a challenge for her to balance high school life with her musical ambitions, and I admire her dedication to her craft. I believe she will continue to pursue her passion, and I look forward to watching Gigi continue to pursue her dreams.”
While writing, Shabestari incorporates minor piano chords into her songs, which inspire her to write more emotional lyrics that tend to relate to the brooding teenage years. Shabestari was inspired by Wednesday Addams of the television show “Addams Family,” known for its dark nature that is similar to Shabestari’s songs. This led her to choose the stage name “Wensday.” Although her songs tend to be more cynical, she also enjoys writing light and uplifting songs, depending on her emotions.
“My songs tend to be emotional because it’s important to me to relate to as many people as I can,” Shabestari said. “I know what it’s like to connect to a song and to be able to make others feel a certain way through something I’ve written.”
In order to write songs for artists, Shabestari must put herself in the mind of the artist and use a different point of view. She tries to write the songs in a way that attracts an audience.
“It is really important when it comes to lyrics to write great words that are digestible for the audience but also paint a pretty picture, so I try my best to make sure to stay conscious of that and not stray too far into my own head,” Shabestari said.
As a child, Shabestari was musical, singing and dancing for her family and friends. Her older sister also works in the music industry and has introduced her to several producers who have jump-started her into this career.
“Once I started working with people who could help me reach my goals, I realized my dream was possible to accomplish,” Shabestari said.
Shabestari plans to pursue a career in the music industry. She has already started to accomplish this by creating connections.
“All I want to do with my future is music,” Shabestari said. “I’m already so involved in it, and I feel very confident with my songwriting.”
Leave a Reply