Interview With Medd & Shaw: A Timeless Journey Through Music

Few musical acts can claim a journey as rich and enduring as Medd & Shaw. Originally formed as a folk duo in the South Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Dorian Medd and Robert Shaw have spent over five decades crafting a sound that blends folk, rock, and Americana influences. From humble beginnings playing in local venues to releasing multiple records that climbed radio charts, their evolution as artists has been nothing short of remarkable.

Influenced by legends like Crosby, Stills & Nash, Neil Young, and The Eagles, Medd & Shaw have developed a signature style that stands the test of time. After years of live performances across lounges, coffee houses, and even cruise ships, they continue to captivate audiences with heartfelt storytelling and expert musicianship. Now, with Medd in Chicago and Shaw in Millet, Alberta, their passion for music remains unwavering.

Their latest album, Another Day, released in 2025, takes listeners on an introspective journey with its Americana roots, compelling lyrics, and dynamic instrumentation. Following the success of their 2022 release, After All That We’ve Been Through, which earned 26 international award nominations, this new project reaffirms their place in the ever-evolving music landscape.

In this exclusive interview, Medd & Shaw open up about their musical journey, inspirations, and what’s next for them.

Below are his responses to our questions at Music Review World

Where are you from?

Dorian Medd was born in California, and Robert Shaw was born in Alberta, Canada. We met and grew up in the South Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, Canada. Most of our current line-up of musicians are from B.C. as well.

How long have you been making music?

We originally got together as a folk duo in 1973, and expanded to a full band in the latter part of the ’70s, so we’ve been making music for 52 years.

How many songs/albums have you released to date?

To date, we’ve released four 45 rpm vinyl singles in 1976, 1979, 1980, and 1981. And three albums in 1981, 2022, and 2025.

Can you tell us about your latest release and the background/inspirations behind it?

There was really no single inspirational element in the making of the current album, Another Day, but rather just several specific ideas we each came up with when approaching the writing of each of the songs on the album. These can just spring from something which happens to currently be on one’s mind, a particular movie or book watched or read, or just ideas that would make a good topic for a song.

How did you end up in the music industry?

As young teenagers, we were both impressed by the music of the ’60s, but primarily The Beatles. This led us to individually purchase guitars and learn to play. Then after a few more influences from the music world, we began to develop our style and sound.

What do you think of the music industry in 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic hit?

We were not performing publicly at the time, so it just seemed like the perfect opportunity to be engaged in writing more songs and planning a future album. That period also allowed us an opportunity to learn how to record music remotely with other members of the band.

Who do you think is the most influential artist?

Probably music giants like The Beatles as well as artists like Taylor Swift, since they are/were not only decent human beings, but their music has the ability to contribute to significant cultural change.

Who have you collaborated with so far in your career?

Mostly because of previous connections in the music industry, we have had the good fortune, ability, and opportunities to collaborate with some gifted and talented individuals. From engineers and producers to music arrangers and musicians. This is the chance to name-drop and flex somewhat I’m guessing.

From some of our first recordings, we worked with Steven Drake, a founding member of the Vancouver band the Odds and producer of one of The Tragically Hip albums. We also worked with Genie Award winner, Patric Caird, on every album so far. Also Campbell Ryga, Canadian Juno Award-winning saxophonist. Grammy award winner, Glen Duncan, played mandolin on the new album, Another Day.

How do you think you differ from other artists?

Our longevity in the music world has allowed us to progress from early folk, country, and rock music to adding Latin, roots, and adult contemporary stylings to our sound. We have somewhat of a unique sound, the latest term may be Yacht Rock, which blends many forms of music, instead of just relying on one particular sound.

Also, the fact that we utilize two lead vocalists for variation. On Another Day, we’ve also added a third lead vocalist for even more depth in the repertoire.

Who would you love to have a collaboration with?

No real preference on who we’d like to collaborate with in the future. Just other extraordinary musicians who dig what we do.

What was the first album you bought as an artist?

Dorian Medd – The first album I ever bought was A Hard Day’s Night by The Beatles. And the first album I bought as an artist was Life and Times by Jim Croce.

Robert Shaw – The first album I ever bought was Twist and Shout by The Beatles. And the first album I bought as an artist was One of These Nights by The Eagles.

What’s your favorite song at the moment?

Dorian Medd – From our new album, Another Day, “Love Is The Scenic Route of Life”, and “I Took The Long Way Home”.
Robert Shaw – From our new album, Another Day, “Love is The Scenic Route of Life”, and “You and Me”.

If you had to sell your music collection tomorrow, what album/track would you leave in your drawer?

We would probably leave behind a few of our earliest tracks from 45’s that today we find somewhat cringeworthy. However, we still have many tracks that have stood the test of time, and in fact, we resurrected and reworked one song from the 1981 album to put on the new album, Another Day.

What is your favorite quote/saying?

Dorian Medd – “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans” (John Lennon).
Robert Shaw – “Keep moving forward, and don’t look back”.

What other hobbies or interests do you have?

Dorian Medd – Cooking, collecting celebrity autographs, and fine wine appreciation.
Robert Shaw – Photography and purebred dog breeding, handling, and showing.

Tell us more about your upcoming project or this new project?

The current project is a 12-song CD called Another Day, which was released on all streaming sites and CD on January 15, 2025. There are also 12 videos being released on YouTube, Facebook, and the Medd and Shaw website, one for each song on the album, approximately every three weeks from January to October 2025. Dorian Medd and Robert Shaw each wrote six songs for the album, and we each provide the lead vocals and acoustic guitars, with two of the songs featuring a guest vocalist, Juan Pablo Palencia of Mexico.

Our music is classified as Americana, and we have incorporated the standard band instrumentation along with the addition of real strings, harp, banjo, mandolin, and theremin in the songs. Another Day is the follow-up to our 14-song album, After All That We’ve Been Through, released in 2022, which won and was nominated for a total of 26 international awards. We’re hoping to repeat that impressive feat with the current album.

What’s in the pipeline after this project?

We are waiting first to see how the current album, Another Day, does and that will help us determine where we go with future projects and our music. In the meantime, we continue to write music which could potentially be used for projects in the future.

Thanks for reading.

Follow Medd & Shaw on:
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