Shawn’s got talent
He has recently released a new EP showcasing his talent for making melodies and telling stories.
Shawn first picked up a guitar at the age of 12, having started his musical journey by learning the piano.
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Hide AdHe was inspired to learn the ways of the six-string by his pals Conor O’Hara and John Moore.
Shawn comes from musical stock with his grandmother making a name for herself as a singer in America and his uncle Gareth making waves on the metal scene with Sinocence.
Shawn started out in a band called Illusion in his early teens.
“It was the worst name for a band, but our songs were good,” said the 18-year-old.
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Hide Ad“We played together for about four years. We did gigs in the Ceili House and Fa’ Joe’s.”
After parting ways with Illusion Shawn teamed up with local girl Courtney to do some acoustic sets. It was around this time he also started working with Ryan McIlmurray, who co-wrote ‘Cold’ - a track from Shawn’s new EP.
Another stand out track on the three-track disc is ‘Your Mother Is Excellent’.
Shawn explained that his lyrics aren’t always to be taken literally.
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Hide Ad“I’ve been asked by loads of people about that song (Your Mother Is Excellent), including my mum. It was just a funny thought I had. It’s not from experience.
“I like to base my songs on things that have happened or could happen, but that doesn’t mean they’ve happened to me directly.”
Shawn said until recently he’d taken the singing side of things for granted.
“I used to just belt out the songs without really focusing on the finer points of singing,” he said.
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Hide Ad“A couple of years ago I was told I should go for singing lessons which is when I learnt about the technical side of singing. I’ve improved a lot since then and realise that I definitely needed the lessons.”
Shawn’s debut EP ‘Found Something’ was recorded at the legendary Frankie McClay’s Einstein Studios.
“I had two days there,” he said.
“I was lucky to get three songs done. I’d have liked to have done four, but I hadn’t realised how long it took to get each song done properly.
“I’m very happy with the end result.”
Shawn recorded the songs with Christopher Mills on drums and Timothy Napier on bass. Although the album is available to buy now from Fa’ Joe’s and on iTunes, he’s hoping to do an official launch in September.
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Hide AdAs well as his solo work, Shawn has also linked up with James McNiece to form a band called Sha-mez.
The former St Michael’s student is awaiting his A-level results and hopes to go to Queen’s to study Computer Science.
At the minute Shawn is drawing inspiration from Two Door Cinema Club, Andy McKee, The Strokes, Jack Jones and John Mayer.
This Friday (August 12) he’ll play a gig in the Railway Bar before two gigs further afield in Kilkenny and Paris.