Tom Shaner
Tom Shaner is a critically acclaimed songwriter based in New York City.
His sound varies, but it is his own. There are electric and acoustic elements to his music; ballads, waltzes, rockers, and narrative songs blending into sonic forays. Might be described as some space in between Elvis Presley and Leonard Cohen, with a nod to Blues, 70′s new wave, punk, and a dash of urban soul with a hip hop awareness. He is a New Yorker after all. He often plays in downtown Manhattan, East Village, and the Lower East Side as well as around the U.S.A. and Ireland. He calls his music “Ghost Songs, Waltzes, and Rock & Roll.” That is also the title of his debut full-length solo release, out October of 2012. The album is a 15 track track journey produced by Shaner and Charles Newman of Mother West (Magnetic Fields, Soko, Stephin Merritt, Gospel Music). Tom also directs many of his own videos as well. This follows his 2011 acclaimed EP, “Get Real Or Get Gone EP“.
Before striking out on his own, Tom was the lead singer songwriter for New York City based band Industrial Tepee. They made 3 records, toured across United States extensively. His music has been featured in TV, Films and theater. Early friendships with late friend Jeff Buckley, Tom Clark, Daniel Harnett, and long time close friend and collaborator Danielle Howle have been influential.
Shaner has also worked with musicians and friends: singing partner Whit Smith of Hot Club of Cowtown, Claude Coleman, Jr., of Ween, singing partner the great Emmy Bean, bassist Dan Green, Pete Fand, Paul Wegmann, Josh Margolis, Phil Cohen, Bob Sharkey, Brad Gunyon, Scott Grusin, Sean Faye-Cullen, Brendan O’ Hallorhan, Brian Percival, Chris Harfenist of Sound of Urchin, Merrill Garbus of Tune-Yards. Also the Directors of photography Cat Deakins,Sam Henriques. and the producer/director Chip Hourihan. In Ireland he has appeared with songwriters Gavin Moore, and Hank Wedel. It was playing with Hank in Cork, Ireland, 2007, where he met his wife, Eve. Tom was raised in Connecticut. He attended both Bard College and NYU where he studied with William H. Macey and David Mamet. He has also worked with Eric Bass of Sandglass in Putney, VT and Finn Campman and The Compmany of Strangers composing and performing songs for plays and multi-media performances.
“…his dusty Americana has a fresh and modern sound. Like his namesake Mr. Waits, Tom’s songs often have an undercurrent of humor running through them; even the more somber numbers have an eccentricity to them that few artists can muster. Tom Shaner’s music has an infectious swagger and underlying positivity that seems effortless.” – Galway Independent