Meredith Shaw

Background

Shaw was born and raised in Toronto. Her parents were both prominent lawyers, and her mother was the Dean of Osgoode Hall Law School. As a child, she took piano, guitar, and voice lessons. She attended Branksome Hall, an academically rigorous, International Baccalaureate high school in downtown Toronto. She went on to study opera and theatre arts at Queen's University in Kingston.

Career

Meredith got her big break when Gordie Johnson of the band Big Sugar heard her singing and took her under his wing. Soon, it was agreed that Johnson would produce Shaw's debut album. He took her down to Willie Nelson's Pedernales studio in Spicewood, Texas to record.

In 2011, Shaw was hired by Boom 97.3, a radio station in Toronto. During her time at Boom as a weekend host, she interviewed artists, ranging from Serena Ryder and The Spoons to Gordie Johnson and JD Fortune (INXS). She has introduced concerts by The Beach Boys, Platinum Blonde, and Anjulie. In November 2014, Meredith moved up the dial from Boom 97.3 to her new radio home, 104.5 CHUM FM. She can be heard weeknights from 7pm to Midnight.

Meredith also hosted a weekly video series with CHUM-FM's afternoon drive host Ashley Greco titled This Is So My Jam on CHUM-FM's website. Every Wednesday, the two picked their favourite jams and battled it out with viewers of the show deciding who took top jam supremacy. After 3 seasons and 10 episodes, This Is So My Jam was cancelled with the final episode released on Wednesday, June 15, 2016.

Albums

Her debut album, Place Called Happy, was released in 2011. Gordie Johnson took Shaw on tour with his band Big Sugar that same year. Every night of the tour, Johnson brought Shaw on stage for a mash-up of her single "Acted Badly" and Big Sugar's "Turn The Lights On."

The last song on Place Called Happy is called " Girls Who Believe," and it is a song that has taken on a life of its own subsequent to the album's release. It was featured in an episode of the TV show Degrassi: The Next Generation and has spawned a community-based initiative called Girls Who Believe, spearheaded by Shaw, which began in 2012 as a series of workshops for girls aged 11 to 17 that ranged in topics from music and creativity to self-esteem. Shaw, along with sponsor Slaight Music, has created the now annual "Girls Who Believe Fest" featuring an all-female lineup (the 2013 fest included Meredith Shaw, Molly Thomas, and Ladies of the Canyon), female media personalities, and female-run businesses showcased in an onsite marketplace. The funds raised from the fest go towards the non-profit organization Girls Inc.

EPs

Trouble was released in May 2013. It is the first of a planned series of three three-song EPs, which Shaw has deemed "tringles." The EPs will each feature guest artists and producers. Trouble was produced by Joel Plaskett; John-Angus MacDonald, of The Trews is lined up for the second one. Shaw has decided it makes more sense for her musically right now to aim for a series of shorter, more regular releases rather than having to wait a longer time to put together a full album. Many of her newer songs, she has said, were inspired by experiences she's had since recording her first album, including all the touring she did with Big Sugar.

The second EP is called Hardest Goodbye and will be released on March 4, 2014.

Non-musical activities

In 2007, Shaw founded the Toronto-based company Muffymade, which sells greeting cards, notepads, chocolates, mugs, and apparel.

In 2012, she was signed to the Ben Barry Agency in Toronto. She has modeled in campaigns including Spanner and Walmart and has participated in Toronto Fashion Week.

She is also frequently seen on Canadian television, appearing regularly on CBC's Steven and Chris, CTV's The Marilyn Denis Show, and CityTV's Cityline.

Albums

EPs

Singles

Songwriting and collaborations

Video releases

Awards and nominations

Film and TV placements

“Girls Who Believe” in Degrassi: The Next Generation