Willie Shaw Recalls "Moonlight Memories"
WILLIE SHAW
— NASHVILLE-BASED SINGER/SONGWRITER —
RELEASES CHARISMATIC NEW SINGLE
“MOONLIGHT MEMORIES”
ANNOUNCES FORTHCOMING EP
ROOTS
SET FOR RELEASE IN EARLY 2023
Above: Willie Shaw; credit: Ford Fairchild
NASHVILLE, TN (September 23, 2022) — Today, Nashville-based singer/songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Willie Shaw delivers a charismatic new single, “Moonlight Memories.”
Yesterday, Taste of Country raved about the song, saying: “Willie Shaw brings old-school soul to ‘Moonlight Memories.’ Shaw's rangey chops include a vibrant falsetto in this song, but he seems to understand when to deploy it. ‘Moonlight Memories’ isn't the kind of vocal showcase that will knock a wall down or break glass — but it is the kind that will stick with you for a few days.”
“Moonlight Memories” marks the lead single from Willie’s forthcoming EP, Roots (set for release in early 2023; exact details TBA). The delightfully rhythmic love song is characterized by feel good lyrics and effortless sweeping vocals with nods to Van Morrison and Chris Stapleton.
Stream “Moonlight Memories” here
Flaunting expansive vocal range, potent songcraft, and endless charisma, Willie composes relatable anthems from real stories. He wraps emotion in rhythm with slick grooves, makes an empathetic connection amplified by swaggering falsetto, solidified by pops of colorful production. With Roots, Willie showcases his musical versatility and introduces a captivating new sound — urban cowboy finesse.
Above: “Moonlight Memories” single artwork
No stranger to pop songwriting, Willie decided it was time to branch out and immerse himself in country-style songwriting. “My decision to go this direction was actually spurred on by some A-list country friends that I play basketball with,” Willie explains about the inception of Roots. “One of my friends came up and asked me ‘why aren't you doing country music?’ I gave a number of reasons as to why I thought I wasn't deserving of that and he stopped me mid-sentence: ‘you're more homegrown than half the people on country radio man, stop kidding yourself.’ That was the first time I felt I was allowed to truly pursue it. I love making and writing music, but the great thing about country music is the songcraft. There is something almost sacred about it in Nashville and I truly cherish that.”
“I reevaluated a lot of things and found myself desiring the music that I grew up listening to,” Willie shares about the inspiration behind Roots. “My parents were always playing great music around the house — at any given time you could hear the Eagles, Steve Miller Band, or The Spinners. I listened to all types of music but what I remember most are the hits of the 70's. There truly was something special about that era of music, so I decided I would chase that sound in a modern way to see what would happen.”
Above: ‘Roots’ EP artwork
Originally from Orange County, CA, Willie first identified the potential of pursuing music at home. Possessing an impressive voice of her own, his mother sang backup vocals during sessions at the famed Capitol Records studio in Los Angeles. While in high school, Willie finally found his voice. Having been focused on baseball, football, and basketball at the time, he decided to enroll in a concert choir class. In order to salvage his grade from a “B” to an “A,” he took the stage and sang Stevie Wonder’s “You Are The Sunshine of My Life.” Not only did he secure the grade, but his teacher invited him to join the Honors Choir. For the remainder of his high school career, he split his time between the baseball field and choir practice. “You rarely picture the athlete guy singing,” he shares. “It felt like High School Musical!”
Upon graduating from The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA, with a Masters in Accounting, he picked up and moved to Nashville. By day, he held down an accounting gig for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). At night, he devoted countless hours to songwriting. Drawing inspiration from Maroon 5, Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, Willie worked towards fashioning a signature sound. As he cut his teeth, a successful 2018 audition for The Voice opened a series of doors and a publishing deal with Warehouse West Entertainment followed. Additionally, Willie has opened for notable musicians including Train, Old Dominion, Brantley Gilbert, REO Speedwagon, Rick Springfield and Sammy Hagar.
Willie undoubtedly brings authentic talent to the table, and that is what he’s ultimately wanting to convey with Roots. “Truthfully, I have played the game of trying to guess what people might like musically and it never seems to work as well as you plan it,” Willie confides. “These songs are just about talent, unadulterated.”
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