Meredith Shaw

Meredith Shaw (born December 30, 1983) is a Canadian singer, songwriter and radio personality based in Toronto, Ontario.[1]

Meredith Shaw
BornToronto, Ontario, Canada
GenresPop, folk rock, country
OccupationsSinger, songwriter, radio personality, entrepreneur, model
InstrumentsPiano, guitar, vocals, tambourine
Associated actsGordie Johnson, Big Sugar
Websitewww.meredithshaw.com

Background

Shaw was born and raised in Toronto. Her parents were both prominent lawyers, and her mother was the Dean of Osgoode Hall Law School.[2] As a child, she took piano, guitar, and voice lessons.[3] She attended Branksome Hall, an academically rigorous, International Baccalaureate high school in downtown Toronto. She went on to study opera and theatre arts at Queen's University in Kingston.[1]

Career

Meredith got her big break when Gordie Johnson of the band Big Sugar heard her singing and took her under his wing. Soon, it was agreed that Johnson would produce Shaw's debut album. He took her down to Willie Nelson's Pedernales studio in Spicewood, Texas to record.[1][4]

In 2011, Shaw was hired by Boom 97.3, a radio station in Toronto. During her time at Boom as a weekend host, she interviewed artists, ranging from Serena Ryder and The Spoons to Gordie Johnson and JD Fortune (INXS). She has introduced concerts by The Beach Boys, Platinum Blonde, and Anjulie.[5] In November 2014, Meredith moved up the dial from Boom 97.3 to her new radio home, CHUM-FM. She can be heard weekdays from 4 pm to 7 pm, and on Sundays 10AM-Noon for The Back in the Day Brunch.

Meredith also hosted a weekly video series with CHUM-FM's afternoon host Ashley Greco titled This Is So My Jam on CHUM-FM's website. Every Wednesday, the two picked their favourite jams and battled it out with viewers of the show deciding who took top jam supremacy. After 3 seasons and 10 episodes, This Is So My Jam was cancelled with the final episode released on Wednesday, June 15, 2016.

Recordings

Albums

Her debut album, Place Called Happy, was released in 2011. Gordie Johnson took Shaw on tour with his band Big Sugar that same year.[6] Every night of the tour, Johnson brought Shaw on stage for a mash-up of her single "Acted Badly" and Big Sugar's "Turn The Lights On."[7]

The last song on Place Called Happy is called " Girls Who Believe," and it is a song that has taken on a life of its own subsequent to the album's release. It was featured in an episode of the TV show Degrassi: The Next Generation and has spawned a community-based initiative called Girls Who Believe, spearheaded by Shaw, which began in 2012 as a series of workshops for girls aged 11 to 17 that ranged in topics from music and creativity to self-esteem. Shaw, along with sponsor Slaight Music, has created the now annual "Girls Who Believe Fest" featuring an all-female lineup (the 2013 fest included Meredith Shaw, Molly Thomas, and Ladies of the Canyon), female media personalities, and female-run businesses showcased in an onsite marketplace. The funds raised from the fest go towards the non-profit organization Girls Inc.[3][2][8]

EPs

Trouble was released in May 2013. It is the first of a planned series of three three-song EPs, which Shaw has deemed "tringles." The EPs will each feature guest artists and producers. Trouble was produced by Joel Plaskett; John-Angus MacDonald, of The Trews is lined up for the second one. Shaw has decided it makes more sense for her musically right now to aim for a series of shorter, more regular releases rather than having to wait a longer time to put together a full album.[9] Many of her newer songs, she has said, were inspired by experiences she's had since recording her first album, including all the touring she did with Big Sugar.[10]

The second EP is called Hardest Goodbye and will be released on March 4, 2014.

Non-musical activities

In 2007, Shaw founded the Toronto-based company Muffymade, which sells greeting cards, notepads, chocolates, mugs, and apparel.[1][11]

In 2012, she was signed to the Ben Barry Agency in Toronto.[12] She has modeled in campaigns including Spanner and Walmart and has participated in Toronto Fashion Week.

She is also frequently seen on Canadian television, appearing regularly on CBC's Steven and Chris, CTV's The Marilyn Denis Show, and CityTV's Cityline.

Discography

Albums
  • Place Called Happy (2011)

EPs
  • Trouble (2013) (eOne Music Canada)
  • Hardest Goodbye (2014) (eOne Music Canada)

Singles
  • "Acted Badly Remix featuring DJ Friendlyness (2012) – Written by Meredith Shaw, Patrick Ballantyne, DJ Friendlyness. Produced by Gordie Johnson.
  • "Trouble (Soul Proprietor Reheat) (2013) – Written by Meredith Shaw and Joel Plaskett. Produced by Eon Sinclair (Soul Proprietor, Bedouin Soundclash).

Songwriting and collaborations
  • Co-writer, "Little Bit A Alright" (Big Sugar) (RPM, 2012)
  • Co-writer, "Come A Little Closer" (Big Sugar) (RPM, 2012)
  • Co-writer, "There's No Tellin" (Big Sugar) (RPM, 2012)
  • Album artwork designer, I Was Just Trying to Help (Sit Down Servant) (2012)
  • Backing vocals, RPM (Big Sugar) (2012 Bread & Butter Productions)
  • Co-writer, "Take it All Away" (Andy Brown) (Tin Man, 2013)

Video releases
  • "Little Fishy" (Place Called Happy) directed by Michael Lenic (2011)
  • "Stars" (Place Called Happy) directed by Philip J Connell (2012)
  • "Girls Who Believe" (Place Called Happy) directed by Ryan Nolan (muchfact) (2012)
  • Big Sugar: Eliminate Ya Live!(eOne Entertainment) (2012)
  • "Trouble" (Trouble) directed by Gavin Michael Booth (Mimetic Entertainment) (Factor) (2013)
  • "Call It A Night" (Trouble) directed by Gavin Michael Booth (Mimetic Entertainment) (Factor) (2013)
  • "Have You Met My Heart" (Trouble) directed by Gavin Michael Booth (Mimetic Entertainment) (Factor) (2013)

Awards and nominations
  • Top Choice Awards, Nominee for 2014 and 2015: Best Female Personality.
  • 2014 NOW Magazine Reader's Choice Nominee "Best Female Vocalist of the Year"[13]
  • 2012 Toronto Independent Music Awards, Nominee: Best Female Adult Contemporary Album (Place Called Happy)

Film and TV placements

"Girls Who Believe" in Degrassi: The Next Generation

gollark: For 2, it's provided by the NCEMC or whatever the acronym is.
gollark: (If they wanted to be a C user and thus wrong)
gollark: But Kite can't easily type {, so they could do that.
gollark: In C, yes.
gollark: Among other things.

References
  1. Azorbo, Gesilayefa (May 24, 2012). "Meredith Shaw Finds Happy Place With New Album, New Tour, and Business Success". cadencemag.com. Toronto, Ontario: Cadence Canada. Archived from the original on November 11, 2013. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  2. Clarke, Christine (October 5, 2012). "Singer Meredith Shaw Inspires Girls To Reach Their Goals". samaritanmag.com. Toronto, Ontario: Samaritanmag.com.
  3. Hodge, Jarrah (July 12, 2012). "Meredith Shaw Inspiring Girls Who Believe". GenderFocus. Vancouver, BC.
  4. Ashton, Alyssa (November 11, 2011). "Meredith Shaw brings her debut album to Kingston". The Queen's Journal. Kingston, Ontario: Queen's University.
  5. "boomhosts Meredith Shaw". boom973.com. Toronto, Ontario. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  6. "Meredith Shaw, in a Place Called Happy". DNM Magazine. Toronto, Ontario. June 18, 2012. Archived from the original on November 11, 2013.
  7. Ruppenstein, Ann (August 21, 2012). "Unlikely Pair". mytowncrier.ca. Toronto, Ontario: Streeter Publications. Archived from the original on November 11, 2013.
  8. "Meredith Shaw". cestwhat.ca. Toronto, Ontario: C'est What. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  9. McGuirk, Will (June 9, 2013). "Meredith Shaw in Oshawa June 8". durhamregion.com. MSN. Archived from the original on November 11, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  10. Barber, Jim (April 25, 2012). "Shaw is living her musical dreams". kingstonthisweek.com. Kingston, Ontario.
  11. "Muffymade – All About Us". muffymade.com. Toronto, Ontario: Muffymade. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved October 10, 2013.
  12. "About Meredith". Ben Barry Modeling agency. 2012. Archived from the original on November 11, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  13. "Female Vocalist of the Year Nominees". Now Magazine. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
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