SHAED - How To Self Produce Chart Topping Hits

Based in Washington, D.C., electro-pop trio SHAED balance effervescence and atmosphere. Consisting of the soulful, crystalline vocals of onetime solo artist Chelsea Lee and the environments of producers Max and Spencer Ernst, the group's second single, "Thunder," landed on the viral streaming charts in 2016. Behind the Hot 100 Top 20 single "Trampoline," their second EP, Melt, marked their debut on the Billboard 200 in 2019.

Chelsea Lee and the Ernst twins first met in high school and began writing music together a few years later. In the meantime, as students at the University of Maryland, Max and Spencer formed rootsy duo the Walking Sticks, releasing the EP World So Bright in 2012. Lee joined the group soon after, and the resulting follow-up EP, Send the Night, adopted an atmospheric, electronic sound.

Rebranding as SHAED to reflect the change in style, the trio released their debut single, "Just Wanna See," in March 2016. A few months later, they went viral with the anthemic synth tune "Thunder." Both songs were included on their first EP, Just Wanna See, released that September on Photo Finish Records. It was followed by tours in support of Marian Hill and Bishop Briggs. SHAED offered up the stand-alone single "Too Much" in mid-2017, shortly before the group moved in together and worked on recording much of their second EP at home.

In May 2018, they re-emerged on tour with X Ambassadors, and Photo Finish issued "Trampoline," the lead single from that September's Melt. The song was picked up for a high-profile tech commercial, and the following September, SHAED performed "Trampoline" on TV's Jimmy Kimmel Live! and English pop star ZAYN released a remix of the song. The original single climbed into the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100, with Melt cracking the Billboard 200 in October 2019. Three months later, with a big assist from the ZAYN remix of "Trampoline," the album's deluxe edition entered the chart at number 152. A pair of additional singles, "No Other Way" and "Once Upon a Time," arrived in 2020.

The band is now working on their new album, High Dive, is set to release in May 14th, 2021.

❤️My Favorite Plugins:

❤️GEAR:

Join the community here:

Facebook Group

Facebook Page:

Instagram

Twitter

❤️❤️Free 3 Part Mixing Course:

#ProduceLikeAPro
#HomeRecording
#SHAED

Produce Like A Pro is a website which features great tips to help the beginning recordist make incredible sounding home recordings on a budget.

[Producelikeapro]

What other artists would you like to see us interview? Let me know by commenting below!

[HitTheRoadMusicStudio]

Wow this is just awesome thx Warren and SHAED! ✌

[imsuddenlyhome]

Thanks for sharing this "secret sauce". I'm an Ableton user too, and had just discovered the Looping of Takes as you are doing. You're affirming my process. At this time, Ableton 11's Comp'ing feature is beginning to emerge into my processes now. You guy's are "real" so I appreciate this!!!

[paulb]

Great to make a hit song in your living room. Gives me hope.

[EarthworksAudio]

Excellent talk! We're such big fans of SHAED :)

[originalvonster]

So inspiring to see twin producers and their creative process.

[paulb]

Love Trampoline! I cant wait to finish this video.

[CHIBIXULTRA]

Great video! Watching this makes me even more thankful for Ableton 11's new comping features.

[acommon]

Super cool to see their production process!

[nigelbentonakauapoap]

Didn't know it or them but looked em up... YES, love it... and quit with the "younger" thing, music is music and this sits well within my eclectic list of genres!! 🧐👍

[yens]

What a nice pair of lads... As a cubase user it is so weird to see the track information to the right of the screen. Great insight into their creative workflow - Thanks!

[nobodys.shapeshifter]

This is so helpful! I love the mixing tips that you often have on this channel but the deep production tips really help me up my game.

[gaganbakana]

very valid and important questions you put up Warren ! great

[bobbykanemusictube]

So seriously cool. Again... I took notes. I'll be checking back in with this as a refresher from time to time.

[crissabater]

Nice to see how others work at home. Pretty similar to my way of working. Great to see how the audio community and Bands are adapting to a new way of working. Cheers.

[FriendGaugeShotgun]

LOVE Ableton!! its been our weapon of choice since 2007. Its flexibility is epic for being creative. I loved seeing this workflow

[Simbabhebhe]

Wow that was super cool to see. Inspired to take a proper look at Ableton now :)

[goodsound]

This was extremely informative and inspiring...

[williamtell]

Awesome, love the topic. I find recording and playing instruments to be the easy part, turning ideas into songs is somehow much harder. Thanks to SHEAD, thank you for your time and sharing your experience! And of course ty Warren! Cheers from Seattle!

[fedbysound]

One of my favorite “new” bands! Great interview!