Southern Hospitality with Shannon Shaw

Welcome to the 2SER new music review! This is where we connect you with some of the best new music from around the world. Read on, click through to our Spotify playlist and enjoy it all on 2SER.

Kadhja Bonet – Childqueen (Feature Album)
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Shannon Shaw – Shannon in Nashville
John Parish – Bird Dog Dante
Moon Rituals – Moon Rituals
Erin Rae – Putting on Airs
Kevin Krauter – Toss Up
Snail Mail – Lush
Video Age – Pop Therapy
Andy Jenkins – Sweet Bunch

You might know Shannon Shaw as the frontwoman and founder of garage-punk trio Shannon and the Clams. The band usually draw from doo-wop and rockabilly, but on her debut solo album Shannon in Nashville, Shaw looks to the soul and blues corners of the 60s. If you’re no stranger to her music and voice, you’ll know that she can really belt it out. Hear huge and intense vocals that are powerfully emotive. There’s a nostalgic and extremely polished sound throughout, which is no surprise when you learn she wrote and recorded the album with some old-school session musicians who have played on notable records by Elvis, Willie Nelson, Aretha Franklin, and Johnny Cash. Find Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys on production duties too.

Staying in Nashville, we’ll hear from singer songwriter Erin Rae and her second full length Putting in Airs. Catching the attention of John Paul White (The Civil Wars) and Ben Tanner (Alabama Shakes), they signed Rae and released her work on their own label, Single Lock Records. Dreamy and lush sounding indie-folk with a hint of Americana propelled by beautiful arrangements and incredible storytelling recounting her experience of coming out and watching her loved one’s go through the ropes of mental illness. Great light and shade across, with a healthy mix of delicate acoustic finger-picking melodies, and meatier electric guitar strummings.

John Parish has produced a handful of 2SER favourite albums from Perfume Genius, Sparklehorse, Laura Jean and more, not to mention his extensive musical partnership with PJ Harvey and being a songwriter in his own right. Bird Dog Dante is his new solo album and you’ll find a collection of stirring and cinematic songs that weave across varied textures and moods, from hooky lo-fi pop to droney string compositions to sparse piano instrumentals. PJ Harvey and Aldous Harding guests on vocals with the latter recording vocals backstage of Jools Holland using just 2 phones and a pair of earbuds.