This time on The NAS 10 Questions, we get to know Scott Shaw, a composer and multi-instrumentalist based in Kansas City, US. Scott has become a staple in the NAS community with his epic violin collaborations with a wide variety of artists across all genres, as well as his beautiful instrumental tracks.
The track “Head of the Pride” is featured on NAS Playlists.
Link To New Artist Spotlight Playlists:
https://www.newartistspotlight.org/playlists
“You donโt need to be the next version of another popular musician. You need to be the first you.”
1. Tell us a little about where you are from and what you are currently doing.
I grew up in the United States in Texas, and moved to Kansas City 17 years ago. Although I work a boring corporate office job to pay the bills, I spend most of my free time either with my family or creating music. This year I have put much of my creative energy towards composing and recording epic orchestral pieces. I have also added violin and piano to multiple collaborations with other artists. However I do still have a lot of passion around hip hop violin. Additionally, I teach my daughter piano lessons, and lead a band at my local church every week.
2. What inspired you to start playing and making music?
My mother is a music teacher, so there was music going on in our house all the time growing up. I started violin at age 5 and piano shortly there after. As I grew older, I became inspired by other artists i enjoyed. This was especially true of film score composers, hip hop artists, and the grunge rock musicians of the 90s.
๐ฏ. Who are your biggest musical influences? How would you describe your style or genre?
It has been said that my musical style is โadd a violinโ, since I am constantly looking for innovative ways to use my instrument. In the violin I draw great inspiration from Lindsey Stirling, who is a pioneer in branching out into different genres with the instrument. Boyd Tinsley, violinist for the Dave Matthewโs Band, was also a huge inspiration in helping me see what is possible with the instrument.
4. What are your goals in the music industry or as an artist?
My biggest goal is to make music that will stir up emotions in people, inspire them, or help get them through hard times. I also love to collaborate with so it is a small goal to make as much good music with as many good people as possible. I would also love to get into sync in the future.
5. Tell us about your creative process when you make new music.
I typically start by establishing either a beat or a melodic idea. Once I have both of those, I will build out the song from there using themes and variations on that melody. When Iโm composing for orchestra, I try to make sure each section has a moment to shine.
6. What is your all-time favorite song by another artist and why?
My favorite rock song of all time is The Sound of Madness by Shinedown. All of the elements of this song are just about perfect to me. You have a killer guitar riff to start the song off hot. Brent Smiths vocals are pure energy from the top and then he amps up the intensity quickly. This song always gets me fired up. I love to play it. I love to sing it.
7. What is the best advice you have either given or received in terms of music?
You donโt need to be the next version of another popular musician. You need to be the first you. The world needs what you have to offer. There is something uniquely amazing within each musician. So know who you are as a musician, and lean into that.
8. Proudest accomplishment?
Iโm proud that I have become the artist I am today. For a long time, I let depression dominate my life. In that time I was not pursuing being an artist hardly at all. But about three years ago, I started learning to mix, started building a home studio, started writing music for the first time in ages, started building connections with other musicians. If I had not taken those steps, I would never have reached the point I am at now. Although I have a long way to go, now Iโm in the game instead of sitting on the sidelines
9. Just for fun! What’s been your most embarrassing moment so far?
I once played a gig where my A string broke on the second song of the gig. I did not have any back up strings or a back up instrument on me at the time. Almost all my parts heโd me using that string quite a bit. So this meant I had to improvise all new parts for every song in the set. It wasnโt the end of the world, but certainly made everything I did sound a bit weird all night long.
๐ญ0. Tell us about your lowest and highest points in music so far.
My lowest point musically was probably in my mid twenties when I quit playing violin for a bit.
The amount of collaboration I currently have really makes me feel like Iโm at my highest right this minute. I just love working with other musicians so much.
Stream “Head of the Pride” now
https://open.spotify.com/track/1ktF7hxmnAotipJHLd0PXB?si=zM40aHdKR2a07s8VaikqdA
and follow their socials
https://www.tiktok.com/@scottshawmusic?_t=8qgRrNQHjtj&_r=1
https://www.instagram.com/scottshawmusic/
Please share this post and let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Leave a Reply to DVous Music Cancel reply