Lochlan Shaw

Who is Lochlan Shaw?

My name is Lochlan Shaw, and I am a singer-songwriter and composer originally from North Yorkshire. I graduated from BIMM London last summer, and I have been planning my first official EP release since. I am looking forward to working with Hot Vox and the Cargo Rooms to record my official debut release.

Describe your act in a few sentences 

As a songwriter, my style could best be described as acoustic/indie with a touch of folk. As a composer, I am heavily influenced by Ludovico Einaudi. I will be performing an acoustic singer-songwriter set with Hot Vox.

Song from the first album you ever bought/listened to:

Dream Catch Me- Newton Faulkner (Hand Built by Robots- 2007)

The first album I ever bought was Hand Built By Robots by Newton Faulkner in 2007. I was about 10 years old. I remember playing Dream Catch Me over and over, and I was so obsessed with it that I played it on my CD player, got an air guitar, and brought members of my family up to my room for an air guitar performance of the song, as I wished that I had written it, even though I didn’t actually play guitar at that point!

A song you wish you had written:

If you had asked the 10-year-old me that question, then you would have been told Dream Catch Me by Newton Faulkner as I just talked about previously. However, my music taste has changed a bit since then, so now I would give a different answer.

There are plenty of songs that I wish I had written. In fact, every time I listen to a song and really love it, I wish that I had written it.

To give a definitive answer though, I’d probably say Me by The 1975. This is one of my favourite songs. I love the lyrics, the synths, and how the song progresses. It’s very dreamy, emotive, and always gets me in the zone.

A song that inspires you?

A song that inspires me is Midnight by Coldplay. I find it very energising and thought provoking. It always takes my imagination some place else, and makes me forget about the real world for a while.

Last song you purchased?

I honestly don’t really remember the last song I purchased! I have been listening to Spotify for so many years now, that this is how I tend to consume music these days. If I had to take a guess, it was probably a Queen album, as I was a big fan of them growing up.

A song that makes you feel nostalgic?

There are a few of these, but Champagne Supernova by Oasis stands out. I remember going to a festival a few years back with all my friends, and this song was being played all weekend. I had a really good time, so this song reminds me of that, and always makes me smile.

Your favourite sing along song in the shower?

Again, I have a few of these! A song that I quite like singing is a song called Light Home by Matt Corby. It’s quite fun vocally, so I’d have to nominate that for my shower-singing song.

A song that confirmed your love for music?

The first song that I ever learnt on guitar was Free Falling by Tom Petty. I learnt it in my first guitar lesson when I was about 15, and I rushed home and played it until my fingers bled. I learnt the version performed by John Mayer, and Mayer is someone that has greatly influenced my songwriting style, so this is the song that really confirmed my love for music.

A song you put on when getting ready for a big night out?

Robbers by The 1975. I find a lot of The 1975’s earlier stuff to be quite youthful and energising. Robbers is a great song with a great riff, so this is one of the songs I put on when getting ready to go out.

A song you put on repeat when you’ve had your heart broken:

Again, there are a few of these. I’d go for something sad in the first instance, like Jealous by Labrinth. This is such a great song both lyrically and musically, and I think a lot of people listen to it for heartbreak reasons!

Your worst guilty pleasure song:

I don’t know, I’m quite open about all the music that I listen to. If I had to think of one, maybe it would be New York by Taylor Swift. Taylor has some cool stuff, though I may be somewhat reluctant to admit it to people!