Welcome to Industry Feature Friday, putting the spotlight on the people behind the music! From producers, radio DJ's and radio trackers, to photographers, managers and everything in between. These are the music business professionals who work hard to help put your favourite artists (emerging, independent and hit makers) on the charts, DSP's, radio and on the map through their work behind the scenes!
His name has come up in dozens of conversations I've had with artists! Shawn Moore definitely plays an integral role in the Canadian country music scene!
He's an abundance of talent, creativity and knowledge when it comes to producing, mixing, songwriting, and session drumming, from Waterloo, Ontario!
"Graduate and Platinum Award Winner of The Blackbird Academy (Nashville, TN), Shawn currently resides in the Greater Toronto Area. Throughout the years, he has had the opportunity to perform/record with a wide variety of artists and producers." - shawnmooremusic.com.
"Shawn, a 2017 graduate and Platinum Award Winner (valedictorian), has achieved industry recognition from CMAOntario! Shawn has been nominated through the 2021 CMAOntario Awards as Record Producer of the Year. Shawn is nominated for his work with Canadian artists including Ben Hudson, Matt Teed, Emily Clair, Evan Farrell, and Emily Kate. Since 2018, he has worked as Chief Technical Engineer at Glacier Bay Entertainment in the greater Toronto area and also works as a session drummer." - theblackbirdacademy.com.
"After his time in Nashville, Shawn moved back to the Waterloo area and opened his personal production studio, known as 'Moore Music'. His goal has been to bring a high-quality, Nashville-style recording process to artists in Canada. He can also record remote tracks in his studio for any project around the world! Artists Shawn has worked with can be heard consistently on Country Radio, featured playlists at Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Spotify, as well as on Netflix." - C To C Canadian Country Music Insider.
If you're in the Ontario country music scene - you have heard of Shawn, but he has also earned him widespread respect across Canada. How could I write a blog about incredible music business professionals in Canada without mentioning Shawn Moore?! His experience and loyalty to his artists is exemplary and he's been called "the best!"
Shawn, THANK YOU for being a part of Studio B!
Get to know Shawn Moore better here:
Sarah Scott (SS): It has been said, "you may never find someone with as much passion, drive, and commitment to making music as Shawn has." With that said, tell us about yourself and what got you into music? Tell us a bit about your musical journey up until this point!
Shawn Moore (SM): Music has been a major part of my life for as long as I can remember! I grew up watching my Dad play drums in bands, and I got right into it attending my first ever drum lesson at the ripe old age of 6! After graduating high school I immediately started working full time as a session drummer, and was fortunate to spend many years on the road with some incredible artists! In the background I was very interested in the recording process, and had been recording myself playing drums in my home studio for years. This developed into recording demos with artists I was touring with (collecting lots of recording gear along the way!). Eventually I knew that producing records was what I wanted to do, and I was fortunate enough to be accepted into The Blackbird Academy, run out of Blackbird Studios in Nashville, TN! My time spent at Blackbird changed my life, and I’m extremely lucky to say I’ve been producing, engineering, and mixing records ever since!
SS: You are always working on various projects in all of the different facets of your musical life, and you want to continue to make your mark on the music industry. I think you're on the right path for sure! Your name has come up in numerous conversations I've had with artists at all levels. How would you like to make your mark on the music industry? What do you want to be known for?
SM: Growing up I had the same aspirations that I think most of us did who played music; play shows at big festivals, arenas, tour around, play in studios. I’m fortunate to be able to say that I’ve lived out most of my childhood dreams in one way or another playing drums! But when I started producing I had only one goal: Make great music with great people! I’m extremely fortunate to say that I’m living out that dream each and every day. My mentor, John McBride, says that “attitude is 99% of the gig”, and I strive for excellence everyday in the production work I do. I think that with a great attitude, a room full of great musicians, and a great song that the music will speak for itself!
SS: You do a few things! Producer, mix engineer, songwriter, and session drummer, How do you balance that all and how do you find being a multifaceted creative has benefited your career in the Canadian music scene?
SM: Things can get busy for sure! I find that the music industry can be very “seasonal”. Everyone tours all summer playing the festival circuits, so I spend a lot of my summers on the road playing drums. Then the fall is typically a lot of writing, winding down from the summer travel (and writing about all the fun times had!), then after Christmas recording is usually in full swing until the first long weekend when everyone heads back out on the road! Of course this isn’t everyone’s schedule, and I was lucky to work on multiple records this summer while still doing lots of road work! My favourite things about working in multiple areas of music is that no two days are the same! For instance: I spent most of last week in my studio in Kitchener-Waterloo mixing projects, then went to Quebec for a show on drums over the weekend, then hopped on a plane to Calgary where I am currently recording at an awesome studio out here, spending next week at the CCMA Awards, and then when I head back home I have 4 full days of writing sessions lined up! Each day is different and I love how it keeps me fresh creatively!
SS: You have worked with Jason Blaine, Shawn Austin, Geneveive Fisher, Ryan Laird, Ty Baynton, Matt Teed, Dan Brodbeck, Jason Maxwell, Elyse Saunders, Griffin Brothers, Jessica Sole, Ben Hudson, and many others! Who would be your dream artist to:
Produce and mix a song for?
I would have loved to work in the studio with Johnny Cash. His producer Sam Phillips is one of my hero’s, and I would have loved to be a part of those sessions. Play drums for? Again, Johnny Cash. I love that era of classic country, and train beats are a favourite of mine! Write a song with/or for?
I think it would be amazing to hear a timeless voice sing something you wrote, a voice like Adele comes to mind SS: When an artist wants to work with you, what can they expect? How can they prepare to have a great session (whether it's writing or a production or mixing day with you)? SM: I want them to know that I will give them my all! We will work creatively, but also efficiently. I will show up each prepared each day, already setup when you get there and ready to roll! I ask that each artist does the same; Know your lyrics, practice your performance, do some research on other productions so you’re inspired when you come in, and build out your timeline in advance so we’re working together to achieve your goals! Of course plans change and we can work around that, but a car with no destination isn’t going to go anywhere! Lastly, relax! Recording is a blast, we should be having fun! After all, we’re making great music with great people!
Stay up to date w/ Shawn Moore:
Instagram:@shawnmooremusic
Website: https://www.shawnmooremusic.com
If you're interested in working with Shawn:
Email: bookings@shawnmooremusic.com
