Today we’d like to introduce you to The Shades.
We’d love to hear more of the story.
Location is, without question, the reason The Shades exist. With roots stretching from the suburbs of Chicago to the New Jersey coast, we each gained valuable musical experiences on stages and in dorm rooms across South Florida after meeting at the University of Miami in 2008. Andrew took his first teaching job in Chicago after graduating in 2012, while Phil and Mark returned that same year to be closer to family and explore the music scene.
Phil: I had a regular bar gig in Chicago’s northwest suburbs which was casual enough to invite Mark out to jam. The gig eventually turned into duo performance between the two of us several Fridays per month. At the same time, Andrew was teaching at a high school on Chicago’s West Side. Mark and I, in the midst of building a pretty extensive repertoire for ourselves, decided to invite Andrew along to sing. It quickly became apparent that there was something special living in our three-part harmonies. While promoting my second solo EP, I landed performances at some of Chicago’s more renowned venues like the House of Blues and Evanston SPACE, and Mark and Andrew joined me as background vocalists in my band. Backstage in the green room at Evanston SPACE waiting to go on stage, the three of us wrote the hook to “Take You Home,” and The Shades as we know them took shape soon after.
Mark: Performing on stages, writing and playing music with my brother is something I’ve done for most of my life. But aside from the occasional local youth talent show (we were once a magic, comedy and yo-yo act!) or Labor Day festival performance in our hometown of Buffalo Grove, IL, our collaborations were mostly limited to the garage and basement of our parents’ house. It’s a unique connection where at times while performing and writing it feels like we can read each other’s minds. And it’s a connection that Phil and I both immediately found in Andrew, though not biologically our brother he has such a similar ear and approach to music that it’s familiar. The brotherly bond that exists between the three of us is what allows us to collaborate and blend our voices so well together, and is ultimately what led to the creation of The Shades.
Please tell us about your music.
We pride ourselves on making music that spans across genre and taste. Even our name is a tribute to the many ‘shades’ of musical influences we credit for inspiration – from The Beatles and Stevie Wonder to Hanson and Lake Street Dive. Three-part harmony is the focal point of each of our songs, and our first EP, Miles Made of Inches, is a living testament to the emphasis we place on vocal arrangements and exciting melodies.
The Shades are uniquely democratic songwriters, almost out of necessity. Because vocal harmonies are the hallmark of our original compositions, everyone has to be present and involved in order to write a song that is truly our own. Most of the songs on Miles Made of Inches started with a simple chord progression idea and ended with three or four lyric overhauls, with hours of collaborative background vocal and harmonic arrangement in between. We enjoy writing about reality: love & loss, finding strength and direction in tough situations, the weather, and nature, seizing fleeting moments, exploring an uncertain path, and the value of taking risks. These topics tend to shift depending on the music we’re listening to, and the people we surround ourselves with.
While there’s plenty of stuff in the world that inspires us, no source is greater than the middle- and high-school aged students we mentor in Chicago through Guitars Over Guns. We have the unique privilege of providing them with a platform to share their stories in a way that matters to them. Their optimism, wit, and unapologetic realness help to keep our lyrics smart, relatable, and even humorous. In addition, we take inspiration from our families and friends who teach us about love, loss, and everything in-between.
Our goal will always be to play original music for people until there are no ears left wanting to hear it. We’ve been blessed with opportunities and moments of validation that have helped us continue refining our crafts in an industry that isn’t always looking out for the little guy. As educators, sharing those David & Goliath stories has worked wonders in motivating young musicians who inspire us to keep going, as well.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing artists today?
It sounds silly, but as the playing field for independent artists continues to level, we find ourselves taking on additional work, spending extra energy, and navigating a host of unique challenges that live within this incredibly dynamic industry. Without the changes we’ve seen over the past 5 years, it’s safe to say we would not have been able to independently release our music. Streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music, along with music being made digitally available for purchase on iTunes and Amazon, allows us to reach a wider audience than ever before. Along with that power, independent artists indirectly sign on as their own booking agents, social media managers, music distributors, and other roles that would typically be delegated amongst a team. It’s safe to say that the age of artists being able to focus solely as ‘performers,’ ‘instrumentalists’ or ‘songwriters’ is over, but having platforms where we can literally record music in our living room and release it for the world to hear is pretty amazing.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
While our original music can be found on music streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, Soundcloud) and many of our covers can be found on our YouTube channel, we always recommend that folks hear us play live. We love performing together, in no small part because every show we play is different. We have the flexibility to perform as an acoustic trio, and also as a full band fit for larger stages. In Chicago, you’re likely to find us in large listening rooms like City Winery, letting loose one of the city’s many summer festival stages, or playing stripped down sets through SoFar Sounds.
Regardless of setup, we love to mix in creative covers and mashups into our repertoire of original music. We’ve mashed artists across genres from John Mayer and Michael Jackson to Mariah Carey, Ed Sheeran, and Beyonce. On stage, we love to keep things lively and fun, but we also love performing to listening rooms and in intimate settings where we can speak more about how our songs were made. In both scenarios, we love to make our audiences laugh. We like to say that when you buy a ticket to see The Shades, you’ll get music and comedy ‘for the price of music.’
By day, The Shades are proud, active members of the greater Chicago community, particularly toward its public school students in need of music instruction and guidance. The boys find time to educate the next generation through working extensively with a music and mentoring non-profit organization called Guitars Over Guns, giving several hours weekly to Chicago’s underserved youth and teaching the importance of positive, healthy decision-making through the transformative power of music. You can learn more about our work as musicians with a purpose by visiting www.guitarsoverguns.org.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wetheshades.com
- Email: wetheshades3@gmail.com
- Instagram: @WeTheShades
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/wetheshades
- Twitter: @WeTheShades
Image Credit:
Missi Jacobson, Missi Jacobson, Logo, Bigfoot Media, Paul Natkin, Paul Natkin, Bigfoot Media (Album Artwork), Missi Jacobson, Paul Natkin
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