Dreamy indie pop outfit, Shy Beast was born an adult in 2017. Originally formed as MCG in 2013, the group collectively realized that it was time for an evolution and change in both sound and name a few years later and Shy Beast was the outcome – something that suited them perfectly. Flash forward a few months, and the band just celebrated the release of their debut EP under the new name in November. The self-titled EP is a perfect little snapshot of the band, featuring three unique tracks that are the product of a collaborative effort and desire to create magic.
With their EP out now, Shy Beast are showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon and already have plans to release even more new music soon. Although the band isn’t currently out on the road, you can catch them in their hometown of Austin, TX and expect more new music after the new year.
Interview by Dom Vigil
Can you tell us a little bit about Shy Beast for any readers who might not be familiar?
We’re a rag-tag group of so-and-so’s, hell bent on a life of music and cats. We are also a quirky conglomerate of five friends who have been making music together for a while.
You initially formed in 2013 under a different name, but this year made the change to Shy Beast. What inspired the name change? How did you know that it was time to move on to bigger and better things?
I don’t want to sound too mystical or that we believe in fate, but sometimes you just start to get a feeling, and then that feeling is backed up by unique experiences. We were feeling like we had reached a peak, and it wasn’t nearly a high enough peak to satisfy us. We needed a rejuvenation and some people gave us some ideas on how to do that. We blended those ideas we liked with a few of our own and it all turned into what you are seeing now: Shy Beast.
Along with this new identity, you released your debut self-titled EP this year as well. What goals did you have in mind for this new collection of music?
Maturity, polish, professionalism, charisma, fun…some magic.
How do you feel you’ve grown or evolved since first starting this project a few years ago to now?
The change is significant for those of us in the band and for anyone paying attention from the start. We’ve found a group of people and a producer that heighten our talents and make us better at every turn. We’ve pushed each other creatively and we’ve learned about each other as people which has helped up find better ways to work together. To put it simply, we are making better music and we’ve put it in a better package.
Looking back on the EP and the writing and recording process, what about it are you the most proud of?
It was the most collaborative we’ve ever been, while also allowing myself and our producer Danny Reisch a lot of room to guide the project with the vision we had in mind. Each song on the EP was written by a different band member, and I think it makes for a concise record with a good amount of range.
Were there any challenges you faced when working on the EP?
Timing. It took a while to figure out exactly what we were doing and the new process of working in a new way. But now that we have found our way through it, we are already recording more songs for the follow up. It’s super exciting for me.
What would you like listeners to take away from the EP?
Enjoyment, above all. If you don’t want to read into it, it should just be a lot of fun to sing and dance along to. If you do want to read into it, we hope you find something relevant to your own experiences.
With this EP out now, what is coming up in the future for Shy Beast? What can listeners expect next?
We’ve got more songs ready to go. One of them is already finished and there are a few more coming down the line and we are as excited, or even more so, than we are about this debut. We’ll make new videos, we’ll play more shows, and we’ll see what you all think of them! We’ve got higher and higher peaks to reach!
Thank you for taking the time to talk with us! Is there anything else you’d like to add?
We aren’t touring at the moment, but when we do, or when you are in Austin, come see us! Before we started making great recordings, we started with energetic and fun live shows. We’d love to see you and meet you! Thanks for taking the time to listen to us talk about ourselves and listening to our music. Much love. Next time let’s talk about ring-tailed cats.
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