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David Shaw took the Tito’s Handmade Vodka Stage at Austin City Limits Music Festival on Sunday of Weekend Two. Shaw sang songs from his new album “Take a Look Inside” and slowed down the time with his alternative set, perfectly balanced between energetic and slow. 

Between playing his second-first solo set at the music festival–a hectic weekend after his album release–Shaw sat down with Cooglife to answer a few questions. 

Cooglife: To start off can you talk little about your music?

Shaw: My name is David Shaw. I just put out an album, “Take a look inside.” I’ve got one other album. I also sing and play guitar in my other band, the revivalists.

I just had a baby 10 months ago, so I’m deep in fatherhood right now. And it has become a huge part of my life, a huge part of like, you know, my identity at this point who I am. It’s definitely affected my songwriting. It’s affected every bit of my being.

I’m an artist. I’m an entertainer. I’m a lover. I’m a fighter and I’m a fierce foodie.

Cooglife: Can you tell us how you feel about playing at  ACL?

Shaw: Well, the first, it’s interesting, I was talking about it with our drummer earlier. The first set, it’s kind of just like there’s just crazy, good energy. You’re just ready to go because it’s two sets and then the next set it’s like, ok, well, how did we top last week?

So, there’s a little more like I don’t want to call it pressure, but I’d be a fool if I didn’t acknowledge it, you know what I’m saying?… So we’re gonna try to go a little deeper, try to dig a little deeper, try to get into the emotion of the song and kind of really dig [to] bring that emotionality out of it.

Cooglife:  You just put out an album a week ago, super new. Tell me about it. 

Shaw: Oh boy! It’s a very large piece of my heart. It’s got a lot of different vibes on it.

And I really think that this album is, it’s just, I’m really figuring out how to play myself if that makes any sense.

You know, I’ve been doing music and writing songs and playing guitar for a long time now and, you know, I’m just really kind of starting to get to the truth of what the hell, why I’m doing this and why I feel like I’m here. And how I want to continue to connect with people and this is just another arm of connection on my path, wherever it may lead.

Cooglife: So you are a part of a band, how does that affect your creative process for the solo record?

Shaw: For the solo record in general it affects a little bit. I just write so much. So I gotta get these songs out some way.  So there were  too many of them just kind of sitting on a lonely, lonely hard drive in the corner of my bedroom. I figured, you know, why not, why not get these things out into the world? And it feels really good.

Cooglife: How does it feel like to play ACL as a solo artist?

Shaw: It feels amazing. I mean in a lot of ways it’s similar, because it’s just like, I feel like as an artist I am who I am. It’s hard for me to do anything different on stage. I’m just like, I’m out there, I’m trying to be as vulnerable as I can and just bearing it all. 

A lot of my songs are like, basically an open diary. So, it feels the same in a lot of ways. It feels different because the material is different, it kind of leans on a little more of like an acoustic side of my songwriting and just art in general.

Cooglife: Can you tell me about your favorite song you’ve done as a solo artist?

Shaw: Aw dang, that’s hard. I’m going to have to say a few…I can’t just call out one child.

I’m really in love with “Arms of the River,” “Guru,” “Heavy Soul” and “Shaken.” 

So many, I mean, “Take a look inside” has a big piece of my heart because it was kind of like the song that kind of gave birth to the second solo album… They’re like my children, so I love them all and [they] are unique in different ways. 

Cooglife: Speaking of Children, you just mentioned that you recently became a father. Congratulations! Can you tell us a little about how fatherhood influences you as an artist?

Shaw: I think that it’s at the forefront of every decision, my daughter’s face at this point. When I smile, I see her smile, in my mind’s eye. So it affects every single decision. 

So, I don’t really know exactly how it is affecting it, but I know that it is. It also just kind of forces you to really get your shit together…I had to shed some lower versions of myself and say, hey there’s another human being that relies on you. So, if there’s anything out there that you need to kind of shed, maybe just do that.

Cooglife: Is there anything you would like to talk about, whether it is your creative process or advice for the readers?

Shaw: I just want to say you know, if you’re an artist out there and, and you’re doing your thing, just don’t stop. Success is not linear. There’s going to be setbacks, people are going to tell you no, it doesn’t mean anything that just makes your skin stronger and you just keep on going. 

You just keep doing your thing that you love because every little thread that you follow of interest will take you to some place that is good for you. That is the path that’s meant for you. It’s your interest that matters.

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