Interview: David Shaw’s Thoughts on Therapy, Hardship, and His Sophomore Solo Record, ‘Take A Look Inside’

Afterglow had the chance to speak with David Shaw, lead singer of The Revivalists and somewhat newly formed solo act. The rock-influenced music aficionado discussed his struggles, familial relationships, and life’s unabashed joy while taking an introspective look at his second album, Take A Look Inside.

Written by Rachel Joy Thomas

Photo courtesy of David Shaw 

David Shaw first wrote The Revivalists’ breakout song, “Soulfight,” when he was just 22 years old. The simple acoustic track from the alt-rock octet’s eponymous EP quickly became a sensation. Sonically, the track’s mellow piano and occasional glimpses of each band member’s skillsets introduced a dramatic shift from the more instrumental-heavy tracks from the band’s debut. “Soulfight” evokes a sense of rawness, as Shaw speaks to his audience and the people around him about loneliness, isolation, and conflict. This candid energy eventually made its way into the vocalist’s solo act. Debuting in 2021 with a self-titled effort, Shaw grows to new meditative heights with his 2024 follow-up project, Take a Look Inside. Afterglow asked the singer-songwriter about his sophomore album and his first Austin City Limits Music Festival performance without his seven bandmates by his side.

Afterglow: How has your Austin City Limits experience been for you so far? 

David Shaw: Today has been good. If I'm being completely honest, it's like our first set was so fire. I left the stage just thinking, “That was magic.” I'm feeling a little bit of the pressure to usurp that. That's just the way I am. There's not a lot of pressure, meaning it is [there], and [then it isn’t], [but] I'm feeling pretty good.

I know you've been to Austin City Limits a couple of times with The Revivalists, but now you're coming here as a solo act. What has that experience been like for you, transitioning from a large, eight-person group to just you stripped back on your own?

It's been exactly that. [I’ve] just been showing a different side of the artistry, a different side of my voice. The whole project's about growing in a different way. I got a lot of people I can lean on. I feel like I'm in a big role here. I'm being guided by my voice, and I'm just staying open to the universe and those little things that you're tuned to.

That brings us to your second solo studio album, Take a Look Inside, which you released after your debut self-titled album. It carries an almost transcendental, meditative instrumentation with some lightness and brevity. What inspired that soft sound?

[There were] a lot of bangers. A lot of rippers for sure on [David Shaw]. I think [my influence] comes from [lots of] things, [such as] the stuff I’m listening to as well. Every morning, I’m flooding my ears with Erroll Garner and Ray [Charles]. I just love piano music, soul music, [and] jazz. That's not this music that I'm making, but I feel like that is making [my] music [sound] a certain kind of way for sure. I listen to so much music. The next album could be the exact opposite of this. I feel like this will be with me, just because of the way the songwriting is. I’m just gonna follow that path, whatever that is.

When you're listening to the album over and over again, it feels like full-circle moment. You're finding your way to a peace of mind. What has that process been like for you?

Whoa. That's been a weary road. I got sober in 2009. For years I was completely sober — [then] for a number of years I was not — but I never really went back to alcohol or cocaine or anything like that. I don't remember any of the other things I was doing. But needless to say, I wasn't sober. I think that was really wearing on me. I'd be sober again for a year or two, then not. I just got curious about some pain that I was holding onto, some anxiety that was just inside. I heard about this type of therapy — IFS [Internal Family Systems] — I could talk about it all day. Basically, you find where the pain is in your body, and you just [talk to that] pain. You talk to it as if [the pain] has its own heart and soul. Because at one point, that [pain] was a protector. Protecting something back in the day. As we get older I think these [emotions make us] stay vigilant, [and] maybe we don't need to be as vigilant as [we] once were. [Our pain] is in there, still trying to do [its] job, [so you say], “Thank you for doing your job.” That's what you say when you come to therapy. You say [to your emotions], “Okay, for helping me through that really hard period of my life. It's okay for me to let go now.” I was doing that in these little meditations back in my studio. That mantra of “Take a look inside,” [is] where the song came from. It's a really special song.

I definitely noticed that. You also have “When You Love Somebody,” which details a little bit of heartbreak. I imagined you had to take a look inside to figure out that relationship turbulence as well? 

Yeah, you got to tend to things. If you don't tend to yourself, or your relationship, or your friendships, they just fall apart. Don't be scared to shine a light on trouble. [You may think,] “Oh fuck, I don’t want to go there,” because chances are that it’s tough and rough at that time. “When You Love Somebody” reflects a certain time and place: Me and my wife were doing some couple’s therapy, and we put everything out there. It got worse before it got better. That song came out of that. A lot of [the] time, we think [the people we love] are always going to be there — in a lot of cases that’s true — they love you and you love them, but you can't forget about them. You’ve still got to water those emotions. You can't just say, “Oh they're always going to be there, so I don't need to [help] them.” That's what that song is about.

I noticed that “Guru” and “When You Love Somebody” juxtaposed each other — it seemed like they represented different times and places.

Yeah. That “Guru” song was a good choice for me. [My wife and I] are both the same. She's a teacher [for me]. It got hard [in our relationship]. It got really bad, …[so] that song is like a soulmate song. Honestly, my daughter is [also] my soulmate. I learned so much from her mom [and] from her already. And to see her [grab] a feather in the sky falling from a bird … She's just like “free for all.” It’s amazing.

I spoke with another group with a similar perspective that watching somebody else explore the world teaches you a lot about yourself because you're watching it through new eyes.

Yes, you’re seeing it. It's to see the look on their face when [my child has any] experience for the first time. You and I might think it's just totally banal or whatever, just boring or everyday or whatever. But to her, putting a spoon in her hand, … I can see her just making those pathways to [thinking,] “Okay, soon we're going to be putting it in that bowl” or whatever. It's like thinking, ”Oh shit, we've got to learn how to do this.” I don't know, there's so many things that just feel so commonplace.

Yeah, and I noticed that theme of family, especially with “Arms of the River.” You're dedicating it to the people that you love in your life. I [would love] to know more about that. 

[For me], music has a really special ability to take people away [for] a while and provide peace. That’s what music is about, for sure. I like to write fun songs that might not be the deepest thing in the water, but [sometimes] you [have] to bury the soul and get into that. That’s really what it’s all about. That’s the reason that I enjoy it, to provide some connection to you and whoever wants to lend a hand.

To wrap things up: What are some things you were looking forward to most when going out on stage today and sharing those moments with an audience? 

Man, I’m looking for that magical moment. I’m not thinking about anything else. Time has slipped into that other place where you don’t feel time at all. [Onstage], I’m not thinking about the next song. I’m not thinking about anything — I have no idea what I’m thinking. That’s just the way my brain works. It’s a blessing and a curse, honestly. I’m [just] completely in the moment; I get there, and every person is [with me]. If I go away from a show thinking, “I got it. David, get in [and get that thing],” [then] I’m okay. [A magical moment] doesn’t happen every day. I’ve just played a lot of shows, so sometimes it doesn’t happen, but we strive for it every time.

This interview has been minimally edited for clarity and length.

You can follow David Shaw on Instagram and stream his music on Apple Music and Spotify.