Maybe you previously knew Shanee Pink as the lady half of the pop duo Pink & Noseworthy. Or maybe you know Pink because you follow the north Los Angeles music scene where she hosts a popular monthly engagement called the Laurel Canyon Music Revival, where the rich tradition of psychedelic-tinged folk rock of decades past is being rekindled and sparked with a modern consciousness.

The Los Angeles-by-way-of-Tel Aviv songwriter has since gone solo and is ready to release her debut EP, Twin Flame, later this month. Fueled by a whirlwind romance, the album conveys love and longing and a touch of heartbreak played in the style of Jenny Lewis and Feist, and mixed up with Pink’s ‘80s heroes David Bowie and Debbie Harry.

We caught up with Pink to talk about her upcoming release and the exciting direction of the LA songwriting scene.        

Hometown: I grew up both in Tel Aviv and in Los Angeles with family in both places, but I would say Tel Aviv because that's where I feel most at home.

Homebase: Venice Beach, California.

Is Shanee Pink your real name?

It's my real name. My dad changed his last name to Pink from Pinkas when he moved to the states in the ‘70s. By the time my brothers and I were born, my family was known as the Pinks. My first name is Hebrew for the color crimson. So in a way my name is a combination of two colors in different languages. People ask how to pronounce my name and the easiest way to get them to say it right is by telling them it's like Shaniqua without the Qua ; ) it works every time. And Shaniqua is my nickname now.  

Were the Pinks a musical family?

My older brothers always had different variations of bands that I was a groupie of. I used to hang out in the corner of the room when they jammed. I'd take notes of lyrics I heard them improvise and then serve it to them written down in song form at the end of their jam. My parents were big music fans and all they wanted was for us to play music in the house we grew up in. I grew up in my older brothers recording studio and learned everything about music from watching him. I loved the lifestyle of making art with other people and playing with sound and wanted to be a part of that world.

Do you remember the first song you ever wrote? What was it about?

I only had the courage to try and write my own song when I was 16 and I presented it to my older brother who indulged me in recording it. It was called “Mystery.” And the chorus was a bit of a cliche. Something like people asking "Where am I going? That's a mystery, it's what happens on the way." Probably inspired by a John Lennon lyric.

Was John Lennon a big inspiration musically? Who else do you count as an inspiration now?

David Bowie was and still is my hero. Same with John Lennon. I just loved their songwriting. I felt they were so sincere and spoke a universal language I could connect to. When I was a kid I listened to John Lennon and it comforted me that someone else in the world understood the way I was feeling. It made me realize things are gonna be ok because we're all sharing this challenging human experience.

Today I am so in love with St. Vincent and Ramona Lisa. I love what these women are transmitting out into the world. I connect to it on a deep subconscious level.

[Songwriting-wise] I really feel Blondie's attitude as a female lead singer is one of my biggest influences, although I don't feel it translates to my songwriting, but more to the vibe of a strong female voice who's comfortable with who she is.

What made you decide to go strike out on your own after being in Pink & Noseworthy?  

It wasn't a decision but more like the way things unfolded. We recorded two albums, we played a ton of shows and then both of us were called to play with other people and try different things. Mark is now a part of Edward Sharpe and I'm very happy for him. I was happy to write and play with other musicians too and find my own voice through it all.

Why did you call your solo debut Twin Flame?

Twin Flame means there are people out there who meet each other to ignite a flame in one another. We may not share our journey together for long but we cross paths to make each other come alive in some way. And then sadly and beautifully we part ways again and remember who we are on our own. This album is the result of a whirlwind with one of my twin flames.

You started hosting the Laurel Canyon Music Revival—a night of musical performances—in your own home. Why?

The Laurel Canyon Music Revival started when I lived in the canyon and felt like I wanted to bring back a music scene that once thrived there. I wanted my house to be a place where artists hang out, create and inspire each other. And so just being around other artists encouraged me to write more. To stretch my limits.

The best thing that came out of the LCMR is the community of musicians who all know each other from the nights they jammed together at my house. One time Moby showed up at our house and asked if he could go up and play some tunes. He grabbed a guitar and sang in my living room. It was a legendary moment.

You worked on the food documentary Consumed. Are you a producer and actor aside from being a songwriter?

When you're an independent artists/performer/musician you learn to produce your own things — i.e., music videos, photo shoots, performances, promoting shows. ... So over the years I got this skill set of a producer and I started producing music nights, shoots for other artists, etc. until one day I was asked to help on a film which turned into the role of an associate producer. I wanted to work on this film because of the subject of GMOs and food in America. My experience living in another country really gave me perspective on the food here in the States and it's a sad reality that people are not aware of the stuff they are putting in their bodies. Consumed felt like a worthy project for me to put my energy into. So I did. It was a short departure from music but it was the best experience.

What's the craziest thing a fan has ever done for you?

It's not so crazy but once a fan invited us to play on his fire escape on a busy street in Manhattan and set up a stage for us to do a live show for the people passing in the street below. It was one of my first times in New York and I'll never forget that night.