Acclaimed singer-songwriter, producer and Revivalists front man David Shaw recently unveiled the first two singles from his forthcoming debut solo album: “Shaken” and “Promised Land.” The new music, both deeply relevant and poetically poignant, showcases a deeper side of the enigmatic Shaw’s talent as artist and storyteller.

The first track, “Shaken,” is a groove-ridden song about confronting fears and insecurities and trusting the path that makes you who you are. The second single, “Promised Land,” is a powerful statement about systemic injustice and the gap between the haves and have-nots. Both will be included on Shaw’s debut solo album tentatively scheduled for release early next spring.

I recently spoke with David Shaw about his new music and more in this exclusive new interview.

What prompted you to do a solo record at this point in your career?

David Shaw: I always knew I would do it at some point, I just didn’t know when. The band has been a well-oiled machine moving on its own and I thought now was a good time. I was also noticing that I needed to grow in ways a band culture doesn’t necessarily foster. The process of doing everything myself was such a learning experience. The main thing surrounding the project was me wanting to see how much joy it could bring to my life. That’s what I wanted a lot of the songs to focus on. I realized early on just how much my own psyche can be affected by the music that I listen to and the music that I make and wanted that to permeate through the recording process.

What’s your writing process like?

DS: It can start with anything but most of the meat of my writing comes from a clever lyric that will come to my head and then I’ll explore it. Other times I might just sit down with my guitar and play chords and start scatting melodies. Sometimes words will come along with those melodies. If there aren’t words in my “fishing expedition” I’ll go through my notebooks and skim through my random meanderings and put words to the melodies. That’s always been my process.

Let’s discuss the new tracks, beginning with “Promised Land.”

DS: That was a song that was written before George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and all of the latest civil unrest. It’s a song about the haves and have nots. There’s a lot going on in this country with people walking around every day with a target on their back. For me, as a white, privileged male, I need to be vocal about how we can change. I hope the song can be a facilitator for good.

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With David Shaw by Clicking Here.