Americana Folk Rocker Uncle G Releases Thoughtful Single “See You Soon” From Debut Album Where I’m From
Like many people cooped up during the pandemic, Graeme Shaw, known under the moniker Uncle G, returned to some of his earlier loves, including music. Living at the time in Tobermory, Ontario, Shaw began playing guitar again, started covering a myriad of songs and crafting amusing birthday ditties he wrote for family and friends. Now with that passion for his artfully rekindled, nobody’s laughing at Uncle G’s latest comforting single “See You Soon” from his thoughtful, honest, genre-bending debut album Where I’m From released on Simcoe Sound Record Label.
Uncle G says,
“See You Soon,” with its soulful, old-school arrangement, was penned for his nephew Malcolm, who was born during the pandemic. As much as the singer kept tabs on Malcolm through phone and video calls, it didn’t resolve the physical distance. “I lived 300 kms away from him so I was pretty isolated from him,” Uncle G says. “I would talk to my brother on the phone pretty much every day, and I would always say, ‘hi and bye’ to him. Then I’d say, ‘See you soon.’ One of the first times I hung out with him, I played him the chord progression from the song while he laid in his crib.”
On hearing the song in person at a family gathering, Malcolm was elated. “Uncle G! Uncle G! This is you singing!'” Even better was hearing the lyric “Lay down sweet Malcolm,” which caused him to start “howling and jumping up and down with a smile.”
It’s not just Malcolm who will have a smile as listeners will discover a rich, soulful approach on “See You Soon” that could initially be mistaken for a ’50s doo wop song. Uncle G is accompanied by piano and horns as he tenderly delivers the heartfelt narrative that recalls the likes of Danny Michel and Royal Wood.
“See You Soon” is the latest single from Uncle G’s album Where I’m From. The singer says he “became deeply connected to my inner dialogue, leading me to write more serious songs.” After plying his craft and honing his skills, Uncle G visited Joe McLeod, a musician himself from Keswick, Ontario, in a Vancouver hotel. McLeod shared his songs with Uncle G. Uncle G, who performed around the Bruce Peninsula at small shows alongside a friend under the name Granola (Graeme and Nolan), mentioned his own material he was working on.
“He suggested the idea of recording an album, which had never crossed my mind before,” Uncle G says. “Intrigued by his offer and always open to new opportunities, I decided to take him up on it. Recording this album never felt like work, despite the sheer effort it demanded. I poured everything I had into it, aiming to create something I could be truly proud of. My primary hope is that, if nothing else, this album would convey to my friends and family how much they mean to me.”
That sentiment oozes throughout Where I’m From, produced by McLeod with additional engineering from David Matta. The eight-song effort begins with the deliberate, soul-meets-roots tune “12 Out Of 10” and sets off on an adventurous journey while simultaneously rooted in friends, family, and small-town life. Whether it’s the dreamy, piano-colored “Don’t You Love” which harkens to The Jayhawks, the Irish-soaked “Wrong Time,” or the up-tempo Americana “Left On Read” resembling the infectious folk of Mumford & Sons, Uncle G has created a record that always satisfies. Where I’m At, recorded at Simcoe Sound Studio, NikNak Studio, and Giant Studio, also features pianist Andrew Rasmussen, drummer Graham Shaw, bassist Riley Griffith, and electric guitarist Joseph Piilonin.
The album’s title track is another diamond with a pop-leaning hook that sounds quite effortless. Uncle G had the chorus for some time but felt compelled to complete the song to honor his mom and dad after Uncle G moved back to their hometown. “‘Where I’m From’ is an ode to my parents who have surrounded me with so much love and support,” the singer says. “Who’ve built a life for me and always provided me with so much good advice and picked me up when I needed help.”
Where I’m From is also highlighted by “12 Out Of 10,” a song inspired by a trip Uncle G took to Spain to meet an old friend. And like great old friends, there was no angst about the time and distance apart. “We chatted for hours and made jokes and told stories,” Uncle G says. “No awkward small talk, just right back to where we left off.”
Now with his new debut album Where I’m From and a tender, toddler-inspired single in “See You Soon,” Uncle G has made a fine first impression on the Americana/roots/folk music scene. To steal a song title from the record, both the album and the single will stick to you like old Velcro.
Hi, Graeme! Good to meet you! Care to introduce yourself to the readers?
My name is Graeme Shaw aka. Uncle G. I went with the name Uncle G as a stage name because there are already two Graham (I’m Graeme) Shaws that are in the Canadian music scene. I wanted to differentiate myself and I thought it would work well with the theme for the album. My nephew Malcolm calls me Uncle G so it just kind of made sense. I’m from a small town called Kintore, Ontario. It’s pretty easy to miss, as it’s just an intersection (and a whole lot more!). My rural upbringing let me appreciate nature growing up and connecting with my surroundings. Living in the country, you have to make your own fun with friends and family. That’s why you see so many people raised in rural areas who are musically inclined. Music was always something I could do with my friends. Playing guitar around a fire, playing saxophone in a jazz band, or singing in the church choir as a kid, music was the main thing that connected me to my friends and family. I started working with Parks Canada when I was 18, and that’s when I moved to Tobermory. Tobermory has a piece of my heart. I have so many fond memories and deep emotions routed to my time living in the Northern Bruce Peninsula. My parents have a cottage in the area I’ve been going to since I was a kid, so the natural landscape is something I’ve found a lot of inspiration from. I love the outdoors and being unplugged away from the modern world. I have an older brother, Mark who I’ve always looked up to. He’s the more musically talented brother, being formally trained on several instruments and studying popular music at the University of Western Ontario. He’s somebody I can always bounce blue sky thoughts about music and he’ll have some invaluable insight. My mom plays tenor saxophone in a jazz band with her friends who’ve been playing together around rural Ontario for over 20 years. My dad always gets asked what instrument he plays, because the rest of his family is so into music, and his response is always, “I listen.”
Can you tell us more about how your time in Tobermory during the pandemic reignited your love for music and inspired the creation of your debut album?
The pandemic really took away a lot of outside noise. Distractions, other things going on. Music allowed me to escape to the familiar world. I was separated from a lot of my friends and family (as was everyone) but it created a hole in my life- where music became the closest thing to being able to fill it. I would send videos to my friends of funny songs I would write which naturally evolved into writing things more serious. I spent a lot of time alone, probably way too much. It did however allow me to access my inner monologue in ways I hadn’t ever before. This inner monologue is where I found a lot of inspiration for creating my album. Talking to myself, and recounting memories and feelings I’d had during past experiences and relationships was inspiration I drew from. I found a lot of the songs ended up expressing how much I love and care about the people close to me. This was what I wanted my album to encapsulate. When we were selecting songs I wanted to record on this album, I didn’t know if this would be the only recording I’d ever do. I wanted to ensure at the very least, I wanted to try to portray those near and dear mean to me.
The song “12 Out Of 10” was inspired by a trip to Spain to meet an old friend. Can you tell us more about the story behind the song and how that reunion shaped its message?
I find as I get older, it’s easier to drift away from friends for whatever reason. Geography usually being the main driver. I had a friend who moved out west when we were younger, he’d got married and grown into a man. A mutual friend of ours had moved to Germany (who I also hadn’t seen in a long time) and there was a group assembled of people who were interested in traveling overseas to see him. I believe it had been 8 years since I had seen my friend and we picked up like nothing had changed. We chatted the first night until the early hours of the morning telling stories and jokes. The experience reminded me of how effortless it is to pick up where we left off with my inner circle of friends. Drastic life changes can happen, years can pass and we can still seamlessly connect. I had a different set of friends visit me once for the weekend and I introduced them to my coworker, and my coworker said, “Your friends are 12/10 people.” That phrase kind of stuck with me and felt like a really good way to describe my closest friends.
Joe McLeod suggested you record an album, a concept that hadn’t crossed your mind before. What made you decide to take him up on the offer, and how did the recording process unfold for you?
The respect I have for Joe is unparalleled both as a musician and a person. Music to me was always something I had just done for myself. To pass the time, have some fun, jam with friends, etc. I had been working hard on trying to improve as much as I can, but mostly so I could play little open mics or something like that. When somebody like Joe, who I respect so much, puts out the idea that people might want to listen to my music, it was something I took very seriously. He’s had so much success making unbelievable music and being an all-around pro. I knew right away how good of an offer it was. I know how experienced he is, how well connected, how hard he works, and how much attention to detail he will follow. I’ve always thought that if someone you have respect for and is so qualified in a field you are interested in, there’s nobody better to listen to and take advice from. During the recording process, I was a sponge. We worked in some tremendous studios with some incredible producers/sound engineers/musicians, I just tried to absorb everything I could. There were no egos, if someone had an idea, I would listen and generally go with it. I can’t give everyone who worked on the album enough credit. I knew I was the least experienced in every recording studio we went in, so I tried to explain what I was thinking with the songs I had written and listened to what everyone had to say. The recording process was a ton of work but it didn’t feel like it. I had so much fun I would do it every day. I love making music trying different things and experimenting with instrumentation, the whole process was just a blast.
Now that Where I’m From has been released, what do you hope listeners take away from your debut album, especially in terms of its focus on family, friends, and small-town life?
As I said earlier, I wasn’t sure if this was going to be the only album or music I ever released. I’m a new musician and wasn’t sure how it would be received. I wanted to put everything I had into this album to make it as good as possible. I think the people and relationships in one’s life really define and explain the person they are. Every person you meet or love has some sort of impact on your personality. I wanted my friends and family to know how much they mean to me in this album. Because of this, I think the album is also, in essence about me. The people close to me mean so much and have shaped the man I’ve become. I want people to have a glimpse into my world and to see how special my inner circle is. As I mentioned earlier I think small-town life has had a profound impact on who I am. You have to be creative when there isn’t as much to do to fight off boredom. I find I immediately have a connection with someone I meet from a different small town because we are so alike in our upbringing. With “Where I’m From,” I wanted to describe to the listener who I am. Both the people who made me into who I am, combined with the places I came from have shaped my personality, emotions, and experiences.