Canadian singer songwriter Andy Shauf has become one of my favourite musicians over the past year. I’m a total latecomer but it’s better than never!
His latest records are instant classics. The Party from 2016 is his best realised work to date, following The Bearer of Bad News from 2012 that’s my personal favourite. ‘I’m Not Falling Asleep’ is an incredible track.
I went into a YouTube swing through his live performances recently and got inspired to share him with The Brag Dad audience.
There’s a lot to like. He started out playing music with his parents and drumming in a Christian pop-punk band called Captain. Religious themes and iconography still colour his work, which is cool. But he’s mainly singing about relationships and typical folk croon kinda vibes.
His instrumentation is seriously interesting, using instruments like clarinet and violin, rather than the typical synths. This gives his records an earthy organic kind of feel. A space where every pause and tremor from the drum kit makes a statement.
Hear Andy Shauf on Bandcamp, Spotify and iTunes
