Benjamin Shaw is an English-Canadian musician[1] and artist [2] based in Melbourne, Australia. He has recorded for a number of different labels but is a mainstay of Audio Antihero records.[3] He also uses the monickers of Guppy and Megadead.
Benjamin Shaw | |
---|---|
Genres | Indie, alternative, folk, experimental, lo-fi |
Occupation(s) | Musician, artist |
Labels | Audio Antihero |
Biography
Benjamin Shaw released his debut EP "I Got the Pox, the Pox is What I Got" in October 2009 on Audio Antihero which saw airplay from BBC 6 Music on the Tom Ravenscroft,[4] Gideon Coe,[5] Steve Lamacq,[6] Jon Holmes[7] and Tom Robinson[8] shows and positive reviews from publications such as The Skinny,[9] The 405,[10] The Music Fix, This Is Fake DIY,[11] Clash Music[12] and The Line of Best Fit who remarked "If you think you've heard the like of Benjamin Shaw before, think again. TLOBF recommended.".[13]
In October 2011 it was announced on sites like Drowned in Sound,[14] Bearded[15] and This Is Fake DIY[16] that he would be releasing first album, There's Always Hope, There's Always Cabernet. He began promoting the album with a series of sessions for the likes of The Fly, The 405,[17] This Is Fake DIY,[18] Triple R,[19] The Line Of Best Fit,[20] Dandelion Radio[21] and Resonance FM.[22]
The debut LP There's Always Hope, There's Always Cabernet was released on 21 November to positive reviews. Drowned in Sound called it "superb,"[23] Clash Music remarked that Shaw was "an outcast, a loner, a maverick and a freak. All of these are compliments,"[24] The Line of Best Fit claimed "you wouldn't want everyone (or anyone else) to sound to like Benjamin Shaw but I'm delighted someone does,"[25] Is This Music? awarded it 4/5 and called it "one of the better records of the year"[26] and MusicOMH gave it 4/5 and hailed it as a "truly special album." Album tracks "The Birds Chirp & The Sun Shines" and "Interview" were given multiple plays on the Tom Ravenscroft and Gideon Coe BBC 6 Music shows, as were the album's first single "Somewhere Over the M6" and its B-side "Pig".[27]
Shaw has played around the UK, Europe and Australia [28] with artists such as Darren Hayman,[29] Tom Paley (New Lost City Ramblers),[30] Jack Hayter (Ex-Hefner),[31] Neil Pennycook (Meursault),[32] Extradition Order, Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences, Runaround Kids, Little Red and The Owl Service.[33] Shaw has also seen endorsements from Nic Dalton of The Lemonheads.[34]
During a radio interview on 12 August 2012, Audio Antihero founder Jamie Halliday revealed that Benjamin Shaw was working on new material for a future release with the label.[35] The first piece of new material to surface was the "T'ra F'now" instrumental on the Audio Antihero produced "Hüsker Doo-wop" Charity EP to raise money to repair damages to independent music organisations in New York following Hurricane Sandy.[36][37][38][39] Shaw followed up his contribution to this charity EP with "This Christmas (I Just Want to be Left Alone)," a collaborative Christmas single with Fighting Kites to raise money for Shelter, Shaw also directed the music video.[40][41][42][43][44][45] The single benefited from critical praise from online press and radio and saw support from Tom Robinson, Bush Radio, Jon Solomon's WPRB show and Rolling Stone.[46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54]
On 14 January, it was announced that Benjamin Shaw would releasing a new instrumental record entitled Summer in the Box Room on the Glass Reservoir label in February 2013.[55][56] Two tracks from the record were premiered by Robert Rotifer on 4FM[57] and GoldFlakePaint praised it as a "special kind of dour musical genius."[58] Tom Ravenscroft also aired tracks from the release on his BBC Radio 6 Music show.[59]
Benjamin Shaw sometimes performs live with Neil Debnam (Fighting Kites/Broken Shoulder) and Kay Ishikawa (Comet Gain) as Benjamin Shaw Band.[60]
Discography
Albums, EPs and compilations
- I Got the Pox, the Pox is What I Got EP (Audio Antihero, 2009)
- Rumfucker (Self-Release, 2010 / Rumfucker Recordings, 2016)
- There's Always Hope, There's Always Cabernet (Audio Antihero, 2011)
- Summer in the Box Room (Glass Reservoir, 2013)
- Goodbye, Cagoule World (Audio Antihero, 2014)
- Guppy (Kirigirisu Recordings, 2015)
- One Day We'll Laugh About All This (Self-Released, 2016) as Guppy
- Megadead (Audio Antihero / Kirigirsu Recordings, 2018)
- Exciting Opportunities: A Collection of Sadness and Singles (Audio Antihero / Old Money Records, 2019)
- Should've Stayed at Home: A Collection of Oddities and Outtakes (Audio Antihero / Old Money Records, 2019)
- Live at donaufestival (Audio Antihero, 2019)
- I Got the Pox, the Pox is What I Got (Remastered & Expanded) (Audio Antihero / Old Money Records, 2020)
- There's Always Hope, There's Always Cabernet (Remastered & Expanded) (Audio Antihero / Old Money Records, 2020)
- Screams, Banging, etc (Self-Released, 2020) as Megadead
- Audio Visual Metro Computers (Self-Released, 2020) as Megadead
- 31 Songs About Murder (Self-Released, 2021) as Megadead
- Authentic Country Music (Self-Released, 2021) as Megadead
- Tragedy, Doom & So On (Hand Drawn Hand, 2022) as Megadead
- Passive Listening / Doom Scrolling (Self-Released, 2023) as Megadead
Sessions
- I Got the Pox, the Pox is What I Got – EP (Audio Antihero, 2009)
- WVUM Sessions – Split with Broken Shoulder (BarelyOut Recordings, 2011)
- Dandelion Session (BarelyOut Recordings, 2011)
- The Shuttleworth Sessions (Self-Release, 2012)
- The Waiting Room Session (BarelyOut Recordings, 2014)
- Dandelion Sessions (BarelyOut Recordings, 2014)
Singles
- "When I Fell Over in the City" / "The Carpeteer" (Audio Antihero, 2011)
- "Somewhere Over the M6" (Audio Antihero, 2011)
- "This Christmas (I Just Want to be Left Alone)" with Fighting Kites (Fika Recordings, 2011 / Audio Antihero, 2012)
- "The Birds Chirp & The Sun Shines" (Audio Antihero, 2012)
- "Goodbye, Kagoul World" (Audio Antihero, 2014)
- "You & Me – EP" split with Jack Hayter, Cloud and Broken Shoulder (Audio Antihero, 2014)
- "Terrible Feelings!" (Audio Antihero / Kirigirsu Recordings, 2018)
- "A Brand New Day (Live at Donaufestival)" (Audio Antihero, 2019)
- "Sad Dog Waiting for Pizza" (Self-Released, 2021) as Megadead
- "It Goes / It Gone"(Self-Released, 2021) as Megadead
- "Country" (Self-Released, 2021) as Megadead
Compilation appearances
- Cigarettes & Eggnog (HI54LOFI, 2009) – contributes "It's Christmas Time (For God's Sake)" (Nosferatu D2 cover) and hidden track
- Show Me A Word That Rhymes With Pavement (Filthy Little Angels, 2010) – contributes "Starlings of the Slipstream" (Pavement cover)
- Bob Hope would – for Japan (Audio Antihero, 2011) – contributes "Kick The Dog" (Demo) / "When I Fell Over in the City" (Alt. Mix) and "Pig" + Artwork
- Some.Alternate.Universe – for FSID (Audio Antihero, 2012) – contributes "Long Ago & Oh So Far Away" + Artwork
- Audio Antihero's Commercial Suicide Sampler (Audio Antihero, 2012) – contributes "How To Test The Depth of a Well" + Artwork
- The Hüsker Doo-wop EP for New York (Audio Antihero/Hear It For NY, 2012) – contributes "T'ra F'now"
- Into The Light: Volume Two for Pussy Riot (Unwashed Territories, 2012) – contributes "This Christmas (I Just Want to be Left Alone)" with Fighting Kites
- I Love You & Stuff (HI54LOFI, 2013) – contributes "Internet Girlfriend"
- Audio Antihero Presents: "REGAL VS STEAMBOAT" for Rape Crisis (Audio Antihero, 2013) – contributes "Goodbye, Cagoule World (Live)" + Artwork
- Five Long Years - (Audio Antihero, 2014) - contributes "Goodbye, Kagoul World" / "Hello Sunshine" (Hidden) + Artwork
- New Emperors - (My Little Empire Records, 2015) - contributes "You & Me"
- an electrical storm - (Aetheric Records, 2015) - contributes "Le Pleasure Beach"
- BERN YR IDOLS (Bernie Sanders benefit compilation (Audio Antihero, 2016) - contributes "How to Test the Depth of a Well (Triple R Session)" + Artwork + Mastering
- Audio Antihero Presents: "Unpresidented Jams" for SPLC & NILC - (Audio Antihero, 2017) - contributes "Hole" + Additional Mastering + Additional Design
- The Desperation Club - A Cloud Tribute Compilation - (Audio Antihero, 2018) - contributes "Trees All Right" + Mastering (Tracks 2-35)
- Fall 2018 - (Z Tapes, 2018) - contributes "Kick the Dog"
- Elder Statesman: Nine Long Years of Audio Antihero Records (Audio Antihero, 2019) - contributes "You & Me" + Artwork
- Fighting Kites - Mustard After Dinner - An Anthology of Fighting Kites (Audio Antihero / Old Money Records, 2019) - contributes "This Christmas" (I Just Want to Be Left Alone) + Mastering
- Vessels IX (Future Astronauts, 2021) - contributes "Tragedy, Doom & So On"
- From the River to the Sea: The Horrible Truth About Palestine - a Fundraiser for the United Palestinian Appeal (Audio Antihero, 2021) - contributes "Chief of the Dead" / "Dead Kennedys" (with Broken Broken Bastard) + Artwork + Mastering
Other credits
- Jack Hayter – Sucky Tart (Audio Antihero, 2011) – Artwork + Mastering
- Broken Shoulder – Broken Shoulderrr (Audio Antihero, 2011) – Mastering
- Wartgore Hellsnicker – Moderate Rock (Audio Antihero, 2011) – Artwork + Mastering
- Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences – The Wrong Life (Audio Antihero, 2011) – Artwork
- Fighting Kites & Broken Shoulder – Split (Audio Antihero, 2011) – Mastering (Tracks 5-7)
- Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences – You Can't Make Somebody Love You / Of Course I Stole The Train (Audio Antihero, 2011) – Artwork
- Broken Shoulder – Stiller Nite (Audio Antihero / Fika Recordings Calendar, 2011) – Artwork + Mastering
- Nosferatu D2 – It's Christmas Time (For God's Sake) (Audio Antihero / Fika Recordings Calendar, 2011) – Artwork
- Broken Shoulder – The Tape of Disquiet (Tape Your Mouth, 2012) – Mastering
- Jack Hayter – The Shackleton (Audio Antihero, 2012) – Artwork + Mastering
- Broken Shoulder – Holloway Exit Music / Fun Juice (Deathbomb Arc, 2012) – Mastering
- Nosferatu D2 – Live at the Spitz (Audio Antihero/BarelyOut Recordings, 2012) – Remastering
- Broken Shoulder – Crow Versus Crow session (BarelyOut Recordings, 2012) – Mastering
- D.E.A.D. – S.T.I.L.L. D.E.A.D. (GM Sounds, 2012) – Artwork
- a Singer of Songs – There is a Home for You (HI54LOFI, 2013) – Artwork
- Jack Hayter – Quotes (Audio Antihero, 2013) – Artwork
- Me and the Horse I Rode In On - Driving Home for Christmas (Self-Release, 2014) - Artwork
- Broken Shoulder - 300 Bicycle Seats (Kirigirisu Recordings, 2014) - Mastering
- Frog – Judy Garland (Audio Antihero, 2015) – Artwork
- Me and the Horse I Rode In On - When You're Down (EardrumsPop, 2015) - Artwork
- Frog – Kind of Blah (Audio Antihero, 2015) – Artwork
- Frog – Photograph (Audio Antihero, 2015) – Design + Mastering (Track 2)
- Nosferatu D2 – Older, Wiser, Sadder EP (Audio Antihero, 2015) – Design + Remastering
- Frog – Catchyalater (Audio Antihero, 2016) – Remixer (Track 4) + Mastering (Tracks 3 & 4)
- Charles Griffin Gibson – People (Self-Release, 2016) - Remastering
- Charles Griffin Gibson – Pictures (Self-Release, 2016) - Remastering
- CHUCK - My Band Is a Computer (Audio Antihero / Old Money Records) - Mastering
- Broken Shoulder - Hashiridase (Kirigirisu Recordings, 2016) - Mastering
- Magana - Inches Apart (Audio Antihero, 2017) - Remixer (Track 3) + Mastering (Tracks 2 & 3)
- CHUCK - New Yorker (Audio Antihero, 2017) - Mastering
- CHUCK - Cherry Tree (Audio Antihero, 2017) - Mastering
- CHUCK - Frankenstein Songs for the Grocery Store (Audio Antihero, 2017) - Mastering
- Max García Conover - Motorhome (Son Canciones, 2017) - Mastering
- Magana - Oceans (Audio Antihero, 2017) - Mastering
- CHUCK - Happy Birthday (Audio Antihero, 2017) - Remixer (Track 3) + Mastering
- Cloud - Wildfire (Audio Antihero, 2018) - Mastering (Track 2)
- Cloud - Two Hands Bound (Audio Antihero, 2018) - Mastering (Track 2)
- Cloud - Me, Her & Lavender (Audio Antihero, 2018) - Mastering (Track 2)
- Frog - Something to Hide (Audio Antihero, 2018) - Artwork
- Frog - American (Audio Antihero, 2018) - Artwork
- Frog - Bones (Audio Antihero, 2018) - Artwork
- Frog - Whatever We Probably Already Had It (Audio Antihero, 2018) - Artwork
- Nipped in the Bud - Fed Up With It (Kirigirisu Recordings, 2018) - Mastering
- Atlanta Dream Season - Party in the Hospital / Great (The Popside, 2018) - Artwork
- Frog - God Once Loved a Woman (Audio Antihero, 2019) - Artwork
- Tempertwig - Comfort Blanket / Everything Can Be Derailed (Audio Antihero / Randy Sadage Records, 2019) - Artwork + Mastering
- Tempertwig - This Means Everything / Randy Sadage Records, This Means Don't a Thing (Audio Antihero, 2019) - Artwork + Mastering
- Tempertwig - Apricot (Audio Antihero / Randy Sadage Records, 2019) - Artwork + Mastering
- Tempertwig - FAKE NOSTALGIA: An Anthology of Broken Stuff (Audio Antihero / Randy Sadage Records, 2019) - Artwork + Mastering
- Tempertwig - Films Without Plotlines EP (Audio Antihero / Randy Sadage Records, 2019) - Artwork + Mastering
- Frog - Black Friday (Audio Antihero / Tape Wormies, 2019) - Artwork
- Frog - It's Something I Do (Audio Antihero / Tape Wormies, 2019) - Artwork
- Frog - Count Bateman (Audio Antihero / Tape Wormies, 2019) - Artwork
- Broken Shoulder - Shark Islands: A Broken Shoulder Archipelago (Audio Antihero / Old Money Records, 2019) - Artwork + Mastering
- Atlanta Dream Season - Green Means Stop (The Popside, 2020) - Remixer (Track 1)
- CHUCK – Nothing Matters to Me Now (Audio Antihero / Old Money Records, 2024)
- My Best Unbeaten Brother – Time on Our Hands, Spider-Man – Single (Audio Antihero, 2024)
- My Best Unbeaten Brother – Extraordinary Times – Single (Audio Antihero, 2024)
- My Best Unbeaten Brother – Blues Fatigue – Single (Audio Antihero, 2024)
- My Best Unbeaten Brother – Pessimistic Pizza (Audio Antihero, 2024)