Tyler Shaw – Remember

By: Jamie Steinberg

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) My sound is rooted in singer/songwriter, but I am a sonic hybrid of my influences. Somewhere between the sound of the Jonas Brothers, James Arthur, Coldplay trifecta lies Tyler Shaw. I’m a blend of velvety and gritty vocals, vulnerable lyricism and emotive production, whether it be an acoustic driven song or larger than life, anthemic ballad.

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) I grew up listening to a lot of Justin Timberlake, Michael Bublé, Nelly Furtado, The Backstreet Boys, John Mayer, Bryan Adams, Sum 41 and tons more… All those different sounds and genres have influenced my own work in some way. I also respected how charming and effortless Michael Bublé is and was captivated by the larger than life personalities of Justin Timberlake and The Backstreet Boys. Artists like John Mayer in particular reflect a time in my life where I fell in love with music.

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Remember.”

A) “Remember” was written by myself, Frank Walker and Nick Henriques. Frank and I were connected last year after he produced a remix to my song, “With You.” A few days before our session, I had thought of the guitar riff you hear in the intro of the song. When I brought that into the session with him and Nick, everyone immediately vibed with it. The lyrics came pretty naturally. The concept of the song is about celebrating the present moment because the grass isn’t already greener on the other side. If you don’t appreciate what you have, you may lose it all. There is a contrast in the grey of the lyrics with the bright, uplifting production. I think the song especially resonates in the current COVID climate, remembering what it felt to be free of restriction or inhibitions.

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

A) I think people are connecting to the familiarity of it. The song emotes good feelings and for me it feels like Summer. It has a positive feel right off the top. Whether it’s the lyrics, melody or beat, there’s something for every fan to connect to and I couldn’t be happier with how the fans are responding. This is a different type of song than my fans are used to from me.

Q) What makes it such a perfect Summer song?

A) This is the first time I’ve actually released a dance song for my own project. The EDM / Dance genre is synonymous with the feeling of Summer, escaping the routine life and vacationing. I think that’s what people crave at the moment and I want this song to evoke those feelings. Plus, it’s super easy to sing along to!

Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?

A) We were trying to reflect the light and grit of the song, visually in the official music video. I worked with the creative team, The Young Astronauts (Ariana Grande, Cody Simpson), on securing this really expansive warehouse space that was dark and run down. We brought in incredible lighting to make it feel like this vibrant nightclub feel and they just let me dance and perform the song until the early hours of the morning. Our main goal was just to make it fun and use colors that reflected the vibe of the song. I’m really happy with how it turned out, as we shot it with all the COVID restrictions, and just one week before it premiered.

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

A) My song process varies; sometimes I start with the music and other times I have lyrics or a concept in mind. I like to really focus on the lyrics and melody at first and then build the music around the song. It all depends on what the mood is that day or in any given session. There is a lot of trial and error with melodies, but I was gravitating towards what feels best to me. I tend to trust my intuition and let the music guide me.

Q) Will there be an album coming in the near future?

A) I am currently in the middle of writing my third studio album which I can assure you is some of my best work. We’re aiming to release the new project in spring of 2021, but between now and then we have lots of music releases lined up.

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

A) I absolutely love performing in general, but a few cities stand out for me. 1. Montréal, Canada has supported me even before I knew that music was my career. They’re the closest thing I’ve experienced to a European audience and they just love music and tend to know all the songs off my albums, not just the hits. 2. Hamburg, Germany was such a pivotal moment in my career understanding how far music can travel. I got to perform there back in 2017 and have such great memories. 3. Vancouver, Canada is my hometown and the home crowd always shows up with INCREDIBLE energy. There’s a lot of adrenaline there and it’s comforting to have familiar faces in the audience.

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

A) I’m very interested in collaborating with some Canadian talent. I’ve always been a fan of Lennon Stella. Her cadence is beautiful and I think we would absolutely crush a power ballad together. I also respect the songwriting, voice and poetry of Alessia Cara. We’ve been meaning to get together and write.

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?

A) Since Harry Styles went solo, I’ve admired his “risks” and creative direction. His music is compelling and is appropriate for any time of day or mood. It’s fascinating watching him navigate from boy band to credible solo artist and he’s very versatile, which I appreciate. I’m also a fan of Gavin James, JC Stewart, John K, Sam Fischer and Blake Rose.

Q) We’re grateful for your work on the AritstsCAN rendition of “Lean on Me.” What inspired you to bring artists together to create a COVID-19 relief single?

A) At the beginning of the pandemic I felt a bit lost. I was actually supposed to be in LA for a period of time, writing and recording my new album. Everything was abruptly on hold. I was also worried that I wasn’t contributing to society without any new music out. I was speaking with my manager in the morning that the news of Bill Withers passing was announced. We were talking about doing a cover of one of his songs and in listening to his catalog we felt “Lean On Me” was a perfect lyrical message and what people needed to hear during such uncertain times. Within just three short weeks we had secured Justin Bieber, Avril Lavigne, Bryan Adams, Sarah McLachlan and so many more incredible Canadian artists who were willing to contribute their voices to our project. It was our way of giving back and helping our country. It was important to me to reflect the diversity of Canada and also give emerging talent a platform to share with the legends. We included artists like Bad Child, Command Sisters and Olivia Lunny in the mix. It really brought the music community together, and our country together, and I am eternally grateful and proud of that project.

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

A) Fans are the reason any artist exists and is able to sustain their career. I think we are extremely lucky these days to be able to DM an artist in the hopes they’ll msg back. For me, keeping in touch with fans is very important. It inspires me and motivates me in my own creative process. I love putting on an incredible live show that people spend their hard-earned money on. Keeping in touch via social media allows us to form a relationship and bond. We’ve become an extended family.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) Thank you, a million times over. I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in today without them. I hope to see all of my wonderful fans and new faces in the new year when we can safely tour again. I hope my fans can find comfort in some of my new music coming this fall and we have some light at the end of the tunnel with a new album in Spring 2021.