RTA Media Production alum’s journey from musician to trailblazing radio production

When RTA Media Production alum Amanda Shekarchi isn’t busy producing her own music, you’ll most likely find her busy thinking up her next big project blending audio storytelling with her passion for the media production industry. Most recently, she celebrated the release of her CBC radio documentary that she produced and hosted, Playing By Ear (external link)  – the first of its kind radio special spotlighting the unique stories of contemporary low-vision and blind musicians as a blind singer/songwriter herself.

Shekarchi's foray into the music industry began before she could walk and hasn’t let up since. At the age of five, she was already getting acquainted with the keys of a piano, and at the age of 13, she released her debut song Without No Doubt. Her penchant for sound waves - though she didn’t know it at the time - would inevitably lead her to pursue the RTA Media Production program to further develop her skills and get an inside scoop into the business side of the music industry.

Although Shekarchi was born blind, she knew from a young age that she possessed a unique hearing trait that most people would never have: perfect pitch. Otherwise known as having the unique ability to hear any song and be able to play it back in the correct key on an instrument like a piano.

“I knew from a very young age that I could hear things differently than others,” said Shekarchi. “It was something I always knew, and it inspired me to initially become passionate about music.”

Gaining real-world experience at CBC

In her fourth year of the RTA Media Production program, Shekarchi took an internship course to gain real-world experience before her graduation earlier last year. As it would turn out, she’d find herself in the coveted role of a producer on the acclaimed CBC podcast Day 6. It was here that she honed her skills and discovered her innate talent for crafting compelling narratives and storytelling in the sonic medium. And for Shekarchi, her time at CBC would prove to be instrumental in her career moving forward.

“There was an overwhelming feeling that everyone at CBC was like a family,” stated Shakarchi. “Everyone wanted everyone else to succeed and it was because of this inviting, collaborative environment that I would later get the opportunity to pitch my podcast idea to my team at CBC.”

After graduating, Shekarchi worked at Accessible Media Inc. as an entertainment reporter, further solidifying her passion for the media production industry. There, she was a contributor on the NOW with Dave Brown show and held segments reviewing popular concerts and recaps of notable events such as the MTV Music Awards. She was also a content developer. Currently, she is volunteering at Met Radio (external link) , on the show Met 30, where she discusses and has conversations on what songs are currently on the music Top 30 charts. 

But it wasn’t until she heard of the Open Air Talent Development program that Shekarchi would find herself working back at CBC. This time, however, she’d be producing and hosting her own pitched podcast about an authentic topic she’s intimately familiar with.

Playing By Ear: a first-of-its-kind radio special

Playing By Ear serves as a platform for the untold stories of contemporary low-vision and blind musicians, shedding light on their unique experiences and challenges within the music industry. As the host and producer of the radio special, Shekarchi dives headfirst into a transformative journey, delving deep into the lives and careers of fellow vision-impaired artists.

Through intimate interviews and thought-provoking discussions, Shekarchi explores the facets of the music industry, including the barriers that many of her interviewees had to overcome. From the struggles of navigating a sight-centric world to the triumphs of artistic expression, Playing By Ear offers a poignant glimpse into the lives of vision-impaired musicians in an authentic and captivating light. 

“I wanted to tell this story in the most authentic way possible while also making sure it would resonate with everyone who listened,” shared Shekarchi. “I knew this was the story I wanted to tell when I was thinking of pitching podcast ideas because it was my story that I was telling.”

But for Shekarchi, Playing By Ear is more than just a documentary—it is an avenue of self-expression and discovery. As a blind singer-songwriter herself, she brings a unique perspective to the forefront, bridging the gap between perception and reality with unwavering grace and authenticity.

Redefining what’s possible 

In a world often defined by limitations, Shekarchi and her documentary offer a glimpse into an industry full of possibility. From improving screen reading capabilities in digital audio workstations (DAWs) to making live touring more accessible, Shekarchi is hopeful to see the progress the industry is making but notes we’re not there yet.

“We’re taking steps in the right direction, but there’s still a lot more that needs to be done,” stated Shekarchi. “Accessibility software has greatly improved in recent years, but they don’t always work with some plugins, and of course there are other barriers that low-vision and blind musicians face while touring that need to be addressed.”

With a budding career in the media production and music industries taking off, Shekarchi is eager to find out what’s next. In her eyes, however, one thing is for sure: music will always be an integral part of her.

“I see music as an extension of myself,” states Shekarchi. “And unlike the written word, music is universal.”

Interested in learning more? Listen to Shekarchi’s radio documentary Playing By Ear (external link) .

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