MEDD & SHAW Interview
Q: Can you talk about your background and how both of you got involved with music?
A: We first got involved in music in our early teens by being inspired by various artists at the time, like the Beatles. We both independently took up guitar as the instrument of choice, and began singing as well. At first this involved simply learning the music we listened to on records, but eventually led to songwriting and creating our own style of music. We first got together in middle & high school in the ‘70’s. Each in separate rock bands at that time. Both finding that unsatisfying and not a viable outlet for what we wanted to do musically. Music had been changing and so were we. What began as a simple folk duo eventually led to adding additional musicians and developing the sound close to what you hear today. It’s going on 50 years since the early days, but the previous 2022 album, After All That We’ve Been Through, paved the way for the new album, Another Day, and it’s the closest yet to how we’ve envisioned our sound to be heard, and we’re very proud of this album.
Q: What are some of the themes and concepts you wanted to explore with the album Another Day?
A: For Me (Robert), my contributions involve the themes of positive relationships, holding onto relationships, having hope, and letting go. Similar for me (Dorian), everyday situations like work, money, love & loss, relationships, dreams, and time or lack thereof.
Q: What is your creative process like? How does the duo of Dorian Medd and Robert Shaw work together?
A: Since COVID, and because we live a long distance from one another, we independently come up with our own song ideas with both lyrics and guitar parts. Then we make an individual demo of the song, send it off to the other musical partner to work with and add vocals, additional guitar parts, and perhaps some light percussion or strings. If we like how the song is taking shape and sounding, we then send it to the other musicians that we’re using in the studio for the finished version, to work with and create their parts.
Q: Can you talk about your background and how both of you got involved with music?
A: We first got involved in music in our early teens by being inspired by various artists at the time, like the Beatles. We both independently took up guitar as the instrument of choice, and began singing as well. At first this involved simply learning the music we listened to on records, but eventually led to songwriting and creating our own style of music. We first got together in middle & high school in the ‘70’s. Each in separate rock bands at that time. Both finding that unsatisfying and not a viable outlet for what we wanted to do musically. Music had been changing and so were we. What began as a simple folk duo eventually led to adding additional musicians and developing the sound close to what you hear today. It’s going on 50 years since the early days, but the previous 2022 album, After All That We’ve Been Through, paved the way for the new album, Another Day, and it’s the closest yet to how we’ve envisioned our sound to be heard, and we’re very proud of this album.
Q: What are some of the themes and concepts you wanted to explore with the album Another Day?
A: For Me (Robert), my contributions involve the themes of positive relationships, holding onto relationships, having hope, and letting go. Similar for me (Dorian), everyday situations like work, money, love & loss, relationships, dreams, and time or lack thereof.
Q: What is your creative process like? How does the duo of Dorian Medd and Robert Shaw work together?
A: Since COVID, and because we live a long distance from one another, we independently come up with our own song ideas with both lyrics and guitar parts. Then we make an individual demo of the song, send it off to the other musical partner to work with and add vocals, additional guitar parts, and perhaps some light percussion or strings. If we like how the song is taking shape and sounding, we then send it to the other musicians that we’re using in the studio for the finished version, to work with and create their parts.
Q: How do you hope people connect with Another Day?
A: I think our music labeled as Americana initially attracts potential listeners who like that particular genre of music. Americana encompasses several different styles of music, so the listener can then pick and choose the songs that appeal to them from among those included on the album. Overall, the album Another Day is a fairly easy listening style type of album, and it will attract listeners who are interested in that type of sound.
Q: Do you currently play the album live?
A: Unfortunately no. Due to the fact that we currently live so far apart. Over 1600 miles (or 2600 km) away from each other. So that pretty much prohibits rehearsing. And our go-to fellow musicians are scattered throughout Canada, US, and Mexico. At this point in our careers, we’re primarily songwriters and recording artists.
Q: What else should we know about Medd & Shaw?
A: We just hope that people enjoy listening to our music as much as we enjoy creating it, as simple as that.
A: I think our music labeled as Americana initially attracts potential listeners who like that particular genre of music. Americana encompasses several different styles of music, so the listener can then pick and choose the songs that appeal to them from among those included on the album. Overall, the album Another Day is a fairly easy listening style type of album, and it will attract listeners who are interested in that type of sound.
Q: Do you currently play the album live?
A: Unfortunately no. Due to the fact that we currently live so far apart. Over 1600 miles (or 2600 km) away from each other. So that pretty much prohibits rehearsing. And our go-to fellow musicians are scattered throughout Canada, US, and Mexico. At this point in our careers, we’re primarily songwriters and recording artists.
Q: What else should we know about Medd & Shaw?
A: We just hope that people enjoy listening to our music as much as we enjoy creating it, as simple as that.