Andy Shauf is a Canadian singer-songwriter from Regina, Saskatchewan.[1] He plays several instruments, including guitar, drums, and clarinet.[2]
Early life
Shauf was born in Estevan, Saskatchewan, grew up in Bienfait, and later moved to Regina.[2] His parents ran an electronics and music store, giving him access to a variety of instruments.[2] He played Christian music with his parents[3] and was a drummer in the Christian pop punk band Captain until 2006.[2]
Career
Shauf performing in Belgium, 2018
After two self-released albums in 2006[4] and 2007[5] respectively, Shauf released two albums on Hopeless Records: Darker Days (2009)[6] and Waiting for the Sun to Leave (2010).[7] These were followed by the self-released EP Sam Jones Feeds His Demons (2012).[8]
He released the album The Bearer of Bad News independently in 2012.[9] The album was re-released in 2015 on Tender Loving Empire and Party Damage Records.[9] The song "Wendell Walker" from the album was shortlisted for the 2016 SOCAN Songwriting Prize.[10]
Through early 2016, he toured Europe as an opening act for the Lumineers,[14] and he moved from Saskatchewan to Toronto in April that year.[2]
Shauf's album The Party was released in May 2016.[6] After some experimental recordings with a group of musicians, Shauf ended up playing almost all of the instruments on the album himself,[15][16] with the exception of the string arrangements, which were written and performed by Colin Nealis.[17][18] The album was a shortlisted finalist for the 2016 Polaris Music Prize[19][20] and has since been noted by some as the first album to win Shauf widespread recognition.[21][22] Following the album's release, Shauf toured throughout 2017 with a five-piece band.[23]
On 23 October 2019, Shauf announced that a new album, The Neon Skyline, would be released 24 January 2020.[26] A single, "Things I Do", was released the same day.[26] After the release of The Neon Skyline, Barack Obama featured the title track on his 2020 summer playlist.[27] Commenting on this honor, Shauf stated, "It’s cool to think that Obama, or the Obamas together, have listened to my music. It’s a really nice feeling to think my music has gone that far."[28]
On 24 September 2021, Shauf released the album Wilds, a collection nine songs written and recorded at the same time as The Neon Skyline and described as a "companion piece" to it.[29][30]
On 10 February 2023, Shauf released Norm. The concept album follows a stalker and has been praised for its use of unreliable narrators and its sinister undertones.[31][32][33] The album was longlisted for the 2023 Polaris Music Prize.[34]
