Lately when Shad's picked up the mic, it's been to host CBC Radio's Q. Just today (July 15), though, he's returned with some original music.
A new 10-song offering dubbed Adult Contempt hears him ditching the name Shad and taking up the musical alter-ego of Your Boy Tony Braxton. A far cry from the fun-loving, retro-tinged hip-hop vibes we're used to from the rapper-turned-radio host, the new record finds the Canadian musician crooning his way through breezy R&B-esque pop tunes.
Shad explained the new project in a statement, which reads:
Musically, the inspirations for this album mainly come from the first things I ever heard on the radio. Vague memories of Michael Penn, Terence Trent D'arby, the Cure, Bryan Adams, Janet Jackson, and others that evoke a smile and a nostalgic sense in me. Lyrically, I have some fun here and there but a lot of the lyrics are just honest, simply-put musings–grappling with insecurity, love, and trying to become a better person.
The name — Your Boy Tony Braxton — obviously speaks to the era I'm evoking, but also to the lyrical content and overall tone: The idea of a dude named Tony Braxton who likes to sing (but obviously isnt as good as the famous Toni Braxton) is a surprisingly accurate embodiment of how this music feels to me: Vulnerable, funny, and ultimately, hopefully a worthwhile offering.
Your Boy Tony Braxton's debut is a totally unexpected and ridiculously fun album, and you can give it a spin right now in the player below via Arts & Crafts.
A new 10-song offering dubbed Adult Contempt hears him ditching the name Shad and taking up the musical alter-ego of Your Boy Tony Braxton. A far cry from the fun-loving, retro-tinged hip-hop vibes we're used to from the rapper-turned-radio host, the new record finds the Canadian musician crooning his way through breezy R&B-esque pop tunes.
Shad explained the new project in a statement, which reads:
Musically, the inspirations for this album mainly come from the first things I ever heard on the radio. Vague memories of Michael Penn, Terence Trent D'arby, the Cure, Bryan Adams, Janet Jackson, and others that evoke a smile and a nostalgic sense in me. Lyrically, I have some fun here and there but a lot of the lyrics are just honest, simply-put musings–grappling with insecurity, love, and trying to become a better person.
The name — Your Boy Tony Braxton — obviously speaks to the era I'm evoking, but also to the lyrical content and overall tone: The idea of a dude named Tony Braxton who likes to sing (but obviously isnt as good as the famous Toni Braxton) is a surprisingly accurate embodiment of how this music feels to me: Vulnerable, funny, and ultimately, hopefully a worthwhile offering.
Your Boy Tony Braxton's debut is a totally unexpected and ridiculously fun album, and you can give it a spin right now in the player below via Arts & Crafts.