Shane Q fans can find him performing all around the Sacramento area throughout the year. Photo courtesy of Shane Q

RIO LINDA, CA (MPG) - Every small town needs a star.

That’s precisely what Sacramento native and acclaimed musician Shane Q is to Rio Linda. Shane Q, whose birth name is Shane Quidachay, rose to fame on Season 17 of the hit NBC competition singing show “The Voice” in 2019. There, he wowed celebrity judges and viewers with his powerhouse vocals and down-to-earth personality, capturing the hearts of many.

Messenger Publishing Group interviewed Quidachay prior to his performance at the Rio Pub on Aug. 10 about his music career.

Born and raised just outside of Rio Linda, Quidachay still lives in Sacramento and frequently performs all around the broader area, with upcoming shows in West Sacramento, Elk Grove, Auburn, and more. “I do about 200 to 250 shows a year,” he said.

With his busy schedule, Quidachay can most often be found strumming his guitar at local venues, captivating audiences with his voice.

Quidachay discovered his gift of singing around five, but said shyness got the best of him for some years. “I became extremely shy and didn’t sing again until I was about 16,” he admitted.

Later, he began posting videos on YouTube of him covering songs, which garnered attention from industry professionals.

According to Quidachay, producers from both “American Idol” and “The Voice” reached out to him multiple times inviting him to audition until he finally decided to go for it at the age of 28.

On “The Voice,” celebrity judges sit facing away from the person auditioning, only paying attention to their voice, hence the title of the show. If they like what they hear, they will turn their chair to face the performer, offering a spot on their team. Quidachay’s voice impressed all four judges, and he was able to turn all their chairs, which is a rare feat. Quidachay then had to decide which superstar’s team he wanted to be on.

“I was torn between Blake Shelton and Kelly Clarkson,” he admitted. “But I went with Team Kelly.”

Quidachay made it to the Top 10 of “The Voice” before elimination and calls the experience the “time of my life.”

What was his favorite part about being on the show?

“It was so fun meeting a bunch of people and just singing together, dressing up and meeting celebrities,” he said. “The contestants all lived together in the hotel, so you build friendships and relationships with these people for months. They become your new family, your new best friends from all over the country.”

Since then, Quidachay has not stopped performing and sharing his voice. Additionally, he has released two co-written songs, titled “Bad Girl” and “Off My Mind” with the hopes of more to come.

“I am slowly working on new stuff,” he said.

As for where he gets his musical inspiration from, Quidachay cited Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Celine Dion, John Mayer and his father as musical influences.

“My dad is a musician and a singer,” he said. “I get it from him.”

Quidachay and his full band, which includes Grammy-winning drummer/producer Jesse Kassette Hanes, and a bass guitarist and an electric guitarist, will perform at 7 p.m. Aug. 10 at the Rio Pub, 6750 Front St., Rio Linda.

Why should the community come to his shows?

“We are bringing some good tunes to Rio Linda. I engage a lot with my audience and I’m from Rio Linda, so come on!” he laughed. “The pub has good drinks, good food, good staff, good people. We’re going to rock out and have a good time.”

Quidachay’s performances involve mostly covers from a wide range of genres, including country, classic rock, reggae and R&B.

“The best part about live music is the energy I get from the crowd,” Quidachay said. “I’ve played at places where there’s maybe five people in the audience, and even then, if you can get a reaction out of them, that’s pretty wild.”

Can’t make the show? Luckily, Shane Q performs across the Sacramento area very frequently and a list of his shows can be found on his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Theshaneqqq or his Instagram page @shaneqofficial. Another option is to visit https://www.shaneqofficial.com for more information.