Meredith Shaw

Meredith Shaw
Born Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres Pop, folk rock, country
Occupations Singer, songwriter, radio personality, entrepreneur, model
Instruments Piano, guitar, vocals, tambourine
Associated acts Gordie Johnson, Big Sugar
Website www.meredithshaw.com

Meredith Shaw is a Canadian singer, songwriter and radio personality based in Toronto, Ontario.[1]

Background

Shaw was born and raised in Toronto. As a child, she took piano, guitar, and voice lessons.[2] 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][3]

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.[4] In November 2014, Meredith moved up the dial from Boom 97.3 to her new radio home, 104.5 CHUM FM. She can be heard weeknights from 7pm to Midnight.

Meredith also co-hosts a weekly video series with Ashley Greco titled This Is So My Jam. Every Wednesday, the two pick their favourite jams and battle it out with viewers of the show deciding who takes top jam supremacy. The video series can be found on CHUM FM's website chumfm.com under shows.

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.[5] 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."[6]

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.[2][7][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

EPs

Singles

Songwriting and collaborations

Video releases

Awards and Nominations

Film and TV placements

“Girls Who Believe” in Degrassi: The Next Generation

References

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

External links

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