Shawn Brown Releases New Single And Lyric Video For "The Sad Ones"
Portland area singer-songwriter Shawn Brown has released his new single and lyric video for his track “The Sad Ones.” Now available on Spotify, Apple Music and Youtube, the song was released via Brown’s digital label, Bootney Lee Records. Brown headlined a single release show on Feb 22nd in PDX at Show Bar (Revolution Hall) with friends Bre Gregg and Ben Landsverk to celebrate the release.
Shawn Brown on Spotify | Apple Music | Instagram
Photos by Danelle Painter
Shawn Brown is known as an artist who seamlessly blends his folk, R&B, and roots inspirations, and “The Sad Ones” continues to showcase his emotionally powerful, balanced tone while also being Brown’s most personal work to date. Brown continues to evolve as a songwriter; with his unforgettable falsetto voice, he carefully crafts songs that tell stories of his life, struggles, and personal growth. “The Sad Ones” touches on vulnerability, and the lyrics serve as a safe space and perhaps a gentle reminder that our emotions and feelings are perfectly normal. Brown hopes that the song can be bookmarked as a go-to song for listeners stuck in hard places and needing installation of hope, that nudge to move forward even when things feel unimaginably tricky.
Shawn Brown rallied a team of incredible friends to handle the behind-the-scenes process. All music and lyrics were penned by Shawn, with production and arrangement by Grecco Buratto (Shakira, Gwen Stefani, Mandy Moore, Sergio Mendes, BTS, and Enrique Iglesias). Additional studio work includes piano by Daniel Clarke (Ryan Adams, Jason Mraz), drums/percussion by Brendan Buckley (Morrissey, Shakira, Lauren Hill), engineering by Alberto Lopez (Travis Scott), mixing by Tiago Becker (The Calling), and mastering by Juan Garcia Petri.
“The Sad Ones” comes on the heels of Brown’s 2023 single “Road of Bones”, which received widespread critical praise from the media, and an abundance of prominent playlist additions and has been well-received during his live performances around the Pacific Northwest. Brown also recently released his first book, ‘We Almost Are,’ via Embers Arts Press is available through most online retailers, including Barnes and Noble. Brown’s newly acclaimed collection of narrative poems targets love, loss, and regret in a harrowing exploration of hope through the darkness. Whether through music or writing, Shawn Brown constantly searches for those connecting fibers that bind us together.
Brown speaks further on “The Sad Ones”:
“To me, it just seems like we’ve gotten increasingly uncomfortable sitting in our feelings. Vulnerability is hard. Technology makes it harder. It’s way too easy to momentarily pull out our phones and soothe the hard things away. The rough part happens when we then pathologize those same hard things. We make ourselves “bad and wrong” somehow. We’ll judge each other or ourselves for simply feeling whatever we’re feeling. What if we just let ourselves feel our stuff? No resisting. The truth is - feelings are just feelings. For most of us, it’s how we’re impacted as a result of being unable to tolerate them that leads to challenges. The song is meant to make space for just feeling sad. It doesn't aim to solve or soothe the sad because there’s nothing inherently wrong with just feeling our shit. Whatever we’re feeling, it’s OK. We all need that permission just to feel it, and soon after, we’ll be feeling something else, and so on. There’s nothing wrong with being sad, just like there’s nothing wrong with being happy. Feelings - they’re just that. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Press Quotes:
“Brown’s scrumptious, reedy voice, (is) one of those voices that is so distinctive they burrow into your ears and your soul.” - The Young Folks
“Brown has clearly found the musical open road and he swings loose and free, his voice as dexterous and assured as ever.” - Stereo Embers Magazine
“He's got a great way of being able to tell stories with his songwriting and his approach is so natural that it almost hints towards a nostalgic feeling as well.” - Buzzslayers Blog
“Brown’s wicked, inimitable vocals imbue the lyrics with urgent energy.” - Celebmix
About Shawn Brown:
Shawn Brown's music has always buoyed itself between genres. While heavily influenced by soul singers, R&B, and guitar-based pop — he has always leaned equally heavily towards his deep love of the Roots rock. And after an extended break from music, Shawn Brown re-emerged in recent years with heavily praised singles such as “Angel Of Oakland”, “Testify”, and “Road of Bones” and continues to blur the lines between the genres that move him most. His latest release, “The Sad Ones”’, will be released on Feb 23rd, 2024.
