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Arts & Entertainment

Matthew McGinn + Struan Shields + Patrick Picard (of My Favorite Highway)

http://matthewmcginn.net/

18 year old singer/song writer Struan Shields hails from Arlington County, Virginia where he's starting to create quite the stir, sharing stage bills with other upcoming talent in the form of pop-rockers Sing Me Insomnia, fellow singer/songwriter Chase Coy, power-poppers The Hint and Shields' good friends; Indie-rock outfit The Downtown Fiction. Struan prides himself on his DIY ethic, choosing to write and record his songs at home and he also keeps a close relationship with his ever-increasing fan base, regularly communicating with them via various social networking sites and even offering a personal phone call for anyone who pre-orders the EP.

‘Say It Soft, Say It Sweet' showcases Shield's acoustic pop-rock sound perfectly and acts as a great example of the fantastic things to come from the young, aesthetically-pleasing rising star. The already popular ‘Without You' (recently the number one download on PureVolume.com) opens the EP with its soaring sugary pop hooks that beg its listeners to sing along. The anthemic, lyrical love-triangle ‘Tell Me Where To Run' and EP closer ‘Crazy' follows suit, the latter comprising a melodious, life-affirming breakdown and lighters-in-the-air chorus. The tentative crooning of emotionally charged slow ditty ‘A Little Bit Longer' and the Indie-charged rock ballad ‘Losing Sleep' evoke the impression that Shields' has already been both the provoker and recipient of a broken heart; his music a clear outlet to ease the associated pains. The stomping ‘Something Real' meanwhile, with its closing "woah-oh-oh-oh-os!" is reminiscent of ‘Bleed American' era Jimmy Eat World and is the perfect accompaniment to any Summer road trip.

‘Say It Soft, Say It Sweet' is an accomplished, heart-string-tugging but nevertheless uplifting collection from a young gentleman with the talent and drive to become an international regular on both mainstream radio and many a home stereo. Shields' debut is exceptionally well polished for one recorded outside the confines of a professional studio and it seems that success for Struan is imminent; as is the occurrence of his face on the walls of many teenage girls (and their mother's!) bedrooms.

FOR FANS OF: JASON MRAZ, MATT NATHANSON, PARACHUTE, JUSTIN BIEBER
http://struanshields.com/

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