Shannon Curfman

The 14-year-old with the strong, sultry voice belts out the blues, R&B, rock and soul, and is poised to move from up-and-comer to chart favorite.

The Fargo, N.D., native made her debut in a local talent contest at age 7. By 10, she was gigging at coffeehouses. In 1998, she and her parents moved to Minneapolis to further her career.

“Minneapolis was like a huge, big step for us,” Curfman told POLLSTAR, explaining why they chose that city over Los Angeles. “And my mom was nervous about driving and the traffic and all the little stuff. When you grow up in Fargo and live there for 40 years, that’s all you know. So, definitely, Minneapolis was a step all on its own.”

The move paid off and her debut album, Loud Guitars, Big Suspicions, was released on indie label Pop Sense Records, headed by her manager, Jake Walesch. She co-wrote seven of its 11 songs and recorded them when she was 13.

Next came what the teen described as her big break – signing with Arista last July. “It just means that much more of a machine is behind you, connections and things like that to get my music out there. It definitely doesn’t mean when you get signed, you’re gonna make it. It just means you have the chance, you have the people behind you and then the work has just begun.”

Life since Arista seems charmed. After some tinkering, the label rereleased her CD in September. It includes remixes of several of the original album’s songs, new tracks and a cover of The Band’s “The Weight.” Her single “True Friends” is climbing Gavin’s Triple A chart; it landed at No. 20 January 21st.

The lucky streak extends to her touring résumé, which includes opening for Buckwheat Zydeco and John Mellencamp, and appearing at the Chicago Blues Festival and Milwaukee’s Summerfest.

Bolstering her charmed existence, the electric guitar player said she hasn’t encountered mishaps on the road, where she performs more than 100 shows a year.

“I haven’t had any yet,” she said, then turned to her mother and asked if she could think of any negative experiences. Nope.

“Right now, I’m enjoying everything about it. You have to make it fun, have to keep a positive attitude about it ’cause if you start thinking of it negatively, I can see how people could get sick of it after being on the road for 30 years. The 8-to-5 job isn’t my thing. … This is definitely the lifestyle for me,” said Curfman, who turns 15 in July.

“I go back home and I’m going nuts already staying home for a week. It’s just horrible, like a drug or something. I just love the traveling, the hotels, the swimming pools, and being able to play in front of different places and people.”

She admitted, however, that she doesn’t always know where she’s performing when she’s onstage. “It’s more blended into hot or cold weather and then sometimes it’ll go into the Southeast and Northwest,” she said of identifying her whereabouts.

Continuing the hectic pace, the home-schooled artist began her West Coast tour January 20th. She has dates through February. Before the tour ends, she’ll add the acoustic guitar to her performances. Her next single is due out Valentine’s Day and she’ll travel to Japan for a two-week stint in May. There, she said she’ll open for Buddy Guy and other acts. In the interim, she’ll do showcases and explore being part of a House of Blues tour.

Her next recording session is probably a year out. “The next record depends on how long these singles take us through; hopefully, as long as possible.”

Her sophomore album will likely feature a few solo-written songs. Walesch teamed her with experienced writers her first time out.

“I think it was definitely the right thing to do to collaborate with other people, and learn the structure of writing, and have other people’s opinions to make you more aware of things,” she said.

The result was a compilation of several mature-themed songs that could make a grown man blush. “The ideas come from different places,” Curfman said of the disparity between her age and the lyrics. “It doesn’t have to come from my own life, but things that I know are going on or seeing or hearing or from other songs or TV or movies or whatever.”

Despite the professional lessons, “The most important things I’ve learned have been more personal,” Curfman said. “All the attitude things – to keep your head on straight, not get an ego, to treat people how you want to be treated. … To me, that’s as big a part as the music.”

Does she practice what she preaches?

“Mom, do you have to keep me in line?” she hollered.

“No, I think you do a pretty good job,” Mom replied.