"Roll the Dice" a 70s Rock Inspired Single from Willie Shaw, Out Today
WILLIE SHAW
NASHVILLE-BASED SINGER/SONGWRITER
RELEASES 70s ROCK INSPIRED SINGLE
“ROLL THE DICE”
FORTHCOMING EP
ROOTS
SET FOR RELEASE MARCH 31
Above: “Roll the Dice” single artwork
NASHVILLE, TN (January 18, 2022) — Nashville-based singer/songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Willie Shaw releases “Roll the Dice” — the third offering from his forthcoming EP, Roots which is slated for release on Friday, March 31.
Reminiscent of 70s rock, the vivacious “Roll the Dice” follows the influx of support for the EP’s lead single “Moonlight Memories,” which exclusively premiered on Taste of Country and garnered spots on Spotify’s official playlists “New Music Friday Country,” “Fresh Finds,” and “Fresh Finds Country,” “Roll the Dice” is the track Willie notes as the “thesis song” to the entire project.
Listen to “Roll the Dice” here.
“‘Roll the Dice’ is a song about direction, and frankly, not knowing which direction is correct, if any,” explains Willie. “I didn't realize it at the time when I wrote it but it's a story of choices… you can either spin in circles about a decision, or you can let it roll and go forward. This was actually the thesis song for the entire project. While I was recording the harmonies I felt like I was leaning into a Laurel Canyon sound. At that point I felt a vision for the rest of the project coming on strong. It sounded like muted earth tones, engaging with the natural world, and finding my place in it. It reminded me of where I grew, what I grew up on, and how that has shaped me. It reminded me of my roots.”
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: Willie Shaw; credit: Ford Fairchild
“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 70s. 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.”
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.”
Above: ‘Roots’ EP artwork