Citing an unhappy home life with a mentally ill mother, Shortridge ventured out on her own at the age of seventeen and began to support herself through a series of office jobs, cooking jobs, and a stint as a plumber, all the while also performing in bands as a lead singer.
Shortridge, citing a difficult family environment with a mentally ill mother, departed from home at age seventeen to find employment in offices, kitchens, and as a plumber. Simultaneously, she pursued musical performances as the lead vocalist of various bands.