On his new studio album Norm, Andy Shauf’s songwriting veers decidedly more oblique, hinting at sinister happenings and dark motivations. The result is an intoxicating collection of mellifluous melodies and beguiling lyrics.
Hailed as "a gifted storyteller" (NPR Music) for 2016's The Party and 2020's The Neon Skyline, Andy Shauf writes albums that unfold like short fiction, full of colorful characters, fine details and a rich emotional depth. With Norm, however, Shauf has slyly deconstructed and reshaped the style for which he's been celebrated, elevating his songwriting with intricate layers and perspectives, challenging himself to find a new direction.
Under the guise of an intoxicating collection of jazz-inflected romantic ballads, his storytelling has become decidedly more oblique, hinting at ominous situations and dark motivations. Levitating, synth-laden atmospherics drive Shauf’s storytelling on the album which was mixed by Neal Pogue (Tyler, the Creator).
In 2016, The Party catapulted Andy Shauf to indie notoriety, followed by 2020’s The Neon Skyline which landed Shauf performances on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and CBS This Morning: Saturday, a Polaris Prize nomination, and mentions on several best-of lists — among them, a track on Barack Obama’s playlist and praise from Pitchfork, The Atlantic, Esquire, Stereogum, and more.