Everyone has some special talent, but for 17 year old Shane Christian Shewjattan, or Shaneiken as he is sometimes fondly called, music is more than just some special talent- it is his favorite pastime, his love and a lifestyle.

The genesis of this young man’s piano skills dates back to when he just a little six year old listening to his older brother practice the instrument after returning home from music lessons. Incredibly, Shane developed a skill whereby he could just listen to the songs his brother played and replay on the piano without being told what keys he needed to play and in what order.

“When he [Shane’s older brother] was done practicing, I would start playing his pieces by ear sound, which amazed my parents who then pushed me to develop this gift,” the young Shewjattan recounted.

This skill of playing by ear is something he takes much pride in, since it relates to him basically knowing all the sounds of each key of the piano. “This is something that shocked a lot of people who found this very difficult to do, even those who were playing for many years, but it just came naturally to me,” the young pianist said.

Aiming to hound his skills, his parents encouraged him to start formal music lessons. These lessons gave him confidence and developed his preexisting skills.

“Without Miss Henry [his piano instructor], I don’t know where I would be right now as it relates to music,” he said.

Thereafter, he was able to write practical and theoretical examinations (grades one to four) with the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music (ABRSM) examinations, (internationally recognized, British music examinations) and obtained distinction and merit passes in these.

However, he was confronted another set of impeding examinations- the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations and now the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) so his musical endeavors in this regard are paused.

Along the way he also learnt to play the guitar which similarly to the piano happens to be an outlet of relaxation, but perhaps playing the piano was his greater calling.

Although he enjoys playing all types of music from RnB to pop, he accounted, “One of my favorite things to do is recreating reggae and soca songs on the piano on the piano.” The uniqueness of this is that he uses his talent of playing by ear; so he listens to these songs and basically recreates the melody on the piano, playing all the right keys in tune with the music.

Shewjattan affirmed, “You don’t really hear piano covers of those types of music so people tend to love those.”

Though Shane boasts his own electric grand piano at home, he would usually serenade his colleagues at Queen’s College with his renditions of popular songs on the school’s grand piano.

When he begins to play, students would flutter into the auditorium to be closer to the musical magic and sing along to the tunes he would be playing.

Many of his friends at Queen’s College attest that he is a master of the piano in his own right especially since he plays different genres of music- outside of the usual classical piano music. Shane himself even highlighted that his supportive friends would request him to cover certain songs and they were the ones who encouraged him to start sharing his pieces on social media.

Using a social media outlet that allows you to share photos and short videos, Instagram, Shane would upload his piano covers done right at home for his friends and the small, but growing fan-base he has developed so far.

His unorthodox piano covers include songs such as ‘Ova Dweet’ and ‘After All’ by dancehall artistes, Popcaan and Alkaline; a cover of the Ed Sheeran song ‘Shape of You’ that has quickly become a worldwide favorite and other well-known pop songs and even a rendition of a 2013 Bollywood hit- ‘Tum Hi Ho’.

His most recent upload, his piano cover of last year’s dancehall summer hit ‘Ova Dweet’ by Popcaan has garnered a great deal of popularity among the Instagram savvy teens and young adults in Guyana. An excited Shane related that he has been receiving a lot of positive feedback from his Ova Dweet cover with all of his friends just “sharing and sharing” the video.

He related that anyone seeking to have a quick preview of his music would be able to find these covers along with other snippets of the young pianist’s life on his Instagram account: @shaneiken.

However, while social media is currently his only outlet for sharing his talent with others, Shane also noted that he had played at his secondary school’s speech night prize giving ceremony and his school’s Christmas concert, but nothing outside of that realm. He mentioned that he wouldn’t mind playing for local events.

“I don’t think I’ll ever stop playing music. It’s become more than just a hobby, [it’s] more of a lifestyle,” he said as explained that he intends on pursuing studies in the field of Computer Science and will be attending the University of South Florida from September of this year.

While many would opt to develop this talent and develop it professionally, Shane hearteningly affirmed, “I honestly don’t see myself studying it, because I want it to remain as something I want to do and not something I have to do.”

Nevertheless, he also said, “I plan on keeping music very close to me, wherever I go, and see where it takes me.”

Before ending his chat with the Guyana Chronicle, Shane advanced that for any young musicians out there, “Keep practicing, keep playing and surround yourself with people that push you and allow you to do what you love.”