Ian Shaw Talks New Album, Songwriting And More

Your latest album ‘Greek Street Friday’ is out now. How did you want to approach the making of this album?

I had the beginnings of about 15 songs, with no particular style in mind as to how they should sound, apart from ‘To Be Held’, which Jamie Safir and I had already written. We were both listening to old Steely Dan, Elton, Billy Joel, and loved the production and the chorus or tag-led pop song structures. I’d come up with a melody and Saf would sit at my piano and, a couple of weeks later, we had ten songs.

What was the inspiration/story behind the album title?

The title track, ‘Greek Street Friday’ was a direct result of my sitting in Louche, a bar I’d known since I was a student (it was The Green Carnation for years). I was waiting for a friend and overheard a story of disappointment (he was seeing someone else at the weekend and she was out getting drunk with friends). It got me thinking of the endless possibilities that a night in Soho fetches up. I then moved the action to Gerry’s club at the end of Dean Street. The video for this song is shot there.

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?

Fflint. S***hole. But lovely folk.

Where did you record the album and who produced it?

We recorded the band at Livingstone Studios in North London, and my vocals and a few overdubs were at Cowshed Studio. It was produced by Jamie Safir, who also plays piano, organ, keyboards and co-wrote it with me.

How do you look after your voice?

Rest, lots of water. Either that or just go to Gerry’s til 4 am and not look after it at all.

Do you have any plans to support the album with any live shows?

We are doing two shows in January 2024. At Dean Street Pizza Express jazz club. We then tour the bigger venues and festivals, returning to London to play four shows at Ronnie Scott’s.

The first single from the album was ‘To Be Held’. What was the inspiration/story behind that track?

It’s a quote from Truman Capote, whose dark soul occasionally submitted wholly to an honest admittance of what is important to us all. Is it far off how I felt when losing a young friend to cancer? Maybe not, but it’s close enough.

In addition, as a bonus track on the CD only, you have a track called ‘Years’. Could you tell us about this song and was it a difficult album to write?

‘Years’ I wrote with the beautiful voice of the New York-born singer/songwriter, Matt Kent in mind. It’s a dialogue between two people, generations apart. It questions, teases and laughs at some of life’s curveballs. The common bond is that we can always sit at a table together and laugh at it all.

Who performed with you in the band on the album?

Jamie Safir played piano and all keyboards; Conor Chaplin, bass. George Michael’s drummer, Ian Thomas plays drums. We have safe forces in the shape of one of my favourite guitarists, David Preston. Guesting on slide is Alex Haines. The brilliant singer, Polly Gibbons, guests on Jackie’s Blues. And Matt Kent on ‘Years’ of course.

Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the recording sessions?

I realised that I loathe singing in a recording studio, but love the miracle of a good producer. Saf is one of the best…and I have worked with everyone!

What makes Ian Shaw happy and what makes you unhappy?

Unhappy is easy…inequality, racism, the othering of people who were welcomed after the Second World War. Abuse of power. I could go on.

Happy? Everything that isn’t the above and add beautiful, challenging, disturbing, camp, quirky architecture. Oh and salt n vinegar crisps.

Photo Credit: James Christos

Ian Shaw’s latest album ‘Greek Street Friday’ is out now on Silent Wish Records.

For more information visit his official website: https://www.ianshaw.biz/