Born in Manchester, shaped by years in Paris, and now based in Brussels, musician and producer David Shaw has never stood still. From his early days as part of Blackstrobe with Arnaud Rebotini and Ivan Smagghe to his work as David Shaw and The Beat, Shaw’s sonic path has always favored independence and experimentation.
Photo credit: Pierre Veillet
Whether diving into punk electricity, cinematic electronics, or club hedonism, his work maintains a core urgency and personal resonance.
With past collaborations alongside Jennifer Cardini, Vitalic, and Dombrance (as part of DBFC), Shaw has long forged a singular route through the electronic landscape. His double album ‘Love Songs With A Kick Vol. 2 & 3’, released in late 2024, continues this exploration, marked by raw emotion and stylistic range.
In this conversation, David Shaw opens up about new projects, remix collaborations, artistic evolution, and finding creative freedom in unpredictable times.
EG: Hi, David! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been? Where are you right now?
David Shaw: Ah cheers thank you! Feelin great, been non stop really, since I released my two albums ‘Love Songs With A Kick Vol 2 & 3’, last October/November 2024. Worked on the live, and now back on tour which is nice, great feedbacks from the people, the songs are out there and alive, we’ve opened for cool psyche/fuzz band, The Limiñanas, on 6 of their dates, and more this fall, so yeah we’re happy.
EG: First of all, congratulations on the release of Ivan Smagghe & Johnny Aux’s remix of your ‘The Mechanic Of Your Power’! You must be happy to have this one out. What has the initial reception been like so far?
David Shaw: Thanks! Yes very happy indeed, and the response has been fantastic, obviously when Ivan is involved, he rarely disappoints.
EG: So, what can your fans expect to find on this take of ‘The Mechanic Of Your Power’?
David Shaw: One sweaty mess!
EG: And why did you decide to hand over remix duties to Ivan Smagghe & Johnny Aux? How did that connection come about?
David Shaw: Well I’ve known Ivan for a long time, I used to play (guitars, bass and keys) in his band Blackstrobe, and when I eventually considered having remixes, he was the first to pop in my mind! And Ivan told me he also worked with Johnny Aux (half of Paranoid London) so what else could I ask for.
“The biggest challenge today is not to go mad”
EG: By the way, ‘The Mechanic Of Your Power’ stems from your ‘Love Songs With a Kick Vol. 2 & 3’ double album, which saw you venturing into new territory, blending new wave and punk with cinematic atmospheres and heady vibes. Will we be hearing more of this? What was that process like for you on a creative level?
David Shaw: Well I wouldn’t say new territory really, it’s always been there, I’d say certain tones and production evolve. For those who know me well, it’s always a massive blend of the music I grew up with, whether it’s shoegaze, industrial, punk, techno, coldwave, at the end of the day, I don’t think that’s important, “is it a good song?” that’s what matters. And I never really make the same record, because I find it boring, I’ve never applied a formula. As for the process, it depends, on the mood really, it can start from the beat, a vocal gimmick, me mucking around on my guitar with my pedals… dunno it comes from everywhere, just try and channel it. Doesn’t come just from music, but life in general.
EG: In which ways have you grown since ‘Love Songs with A Kick Vol. One’ when compared to its follow-up?
David Shaw: When Covid hit us all, I just went the opposite way, everyone was so desperate to exist on social media, I found it so depressing, that I just took care of myself and basically took some time off which was for the soul.
EG: What sort of things inspire you these days? Where do you go to for inspiration?
David Shaw: Again life in general, films, books, sounds a little cliché, but yeah any form of art basically, any form of expression, will trigger something in me, from a line in a book, or in a film, a photo, just endless… my imagination is my only limit.
EG: Discussing a broader picture… what do you see as the biggest challenge for artists in the near future?
David Shaw: Well I know I’ll sound like an old git, but yeah social media has pretty much killed the essence of it all. So many great artists who make outstanding art, but don’t know how to sell themselves, when the new world order today is how many followers and how many likes you have. So dunno really, I personally just try my best with the tools and not let them suck out my soul. The biggest challenge today is not to go mad, but it’s a slippery slope.
“I’ve never applied a formula”
EG: Looking forward, what can we expect from David Shaw? Where can your fans catch you next? What are your next scheduled shows?
David Shaw: Well brand new song to be released end of June! And most probably in October. Playing a super festival in Brittany, La Route du Rock this August, other gigs are lining up till the end of the year. Hopefully more abroad in 2026.
EG: Thank you so much for your time, David! We wish you all the best in the future. Take care!
David Shaw: Thank you very much and thanks for the support! You all be safe! Bless.
David Shaw and The Beat ‘The Mechanic Of Your Power (Remix)’ is out now on Virgin Music. Stream and download here.
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