Shelby Earl
{{short description|American singer-songwriter}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Shelby Earl
| image = Shelby Earl at the Tacoma Pantages 01B.jpg
| caption = Shelby Earl performing at the Pantages Theatre (Tacoma, Washington)
| birth_name =
| alias =
| birth_place = Olympia, Washington, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| genre = Indie Rock, Songwriter
| occupation = Musician
| instrument = vocals, guitar
| years_active = 2005 -
| label = [http://www.ninemilerecords.com/ Nine Mile Records]
| associated_acts = The Hope
| website = {{URL|http://www.shelbyearl.com/}}
}}
Shelby Earl is an American singer-songwriter and musician based in Seattle, Washington. Earl's first solo album, Burn the Boats, was produced by John Roderick{{cite web|last=Kornelis|first=Chris|title=Reverb Exclusive: Stream Shelby Earl's New John Roderick-Produced Record, Burn the Boats (and a Little Gossip for Good Measure)|url=http://www.seattleweekly.com/home/915539-129/story.html|publisher=Seattle Weekly|accessdate=9 April 2014}} (featuring members of Telekinesis, The Long Winters, Fleet Foxes and more) and released on Local 638 Records (owned and operated by Visqueen's Rachel Flotard). In 2011 NPR's Ann Powers named Earl her "new favorite songwriter" and Amazon.com dubbed her album the "#1 Outstanding 2011 Album You Might Have Missed".{{citation|title=Soak up the sumptuous voice of Shelby Earl, free this Thursday at City Hall|url=http://artbeat.seattle.gov/2012/07/17/soak-up-the-sumptuous-voice-of-shelby-earl-free-this-thursday-at-city-hall/|publisher=City of Seattle Office of Arts and Culture|work=Art Beat blog|date=July 17, 2012}}
Career
Since the release of her debut album, Earl has opened for Benjamin Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie, Loudon Wainwright III, Rhett Miller of the Old 97s, Crooked Fingers, Lavender Diamond, The White Buffalo, Felice Brothers, Tom Brosseau, Aaron Lee Tasjan and more.
In April 2013, Rolling Stone suggested Earl's song "Everyone Belongs to Someone" be included on Zach Braff's Garden State follow-up film.{{citation|title=Soundtrack Suggestions for Zach Braff's Garden State Follow-Up|url= https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/soundtrack-suggestions-for-zach-braffs-garden-state-follow-up-20130426|publisher=Rolling Stone|author=Eric R. Danton|date=April 26, 2013}}
Earl released her second solo album, Swift Arrows, produced by Seattle indie folk artist Damien Jurado, in July 2013. The album was recorded live at Seattle's Columbia City Theater{{cite web|last=Sommerfeld|first=Seth|title=Album of the Month: Shelby Earl's 'Swift Arrows'|url=http://www.seattlemet.com/arts-and-entertainment/culture-fiend/articles/album-of-the-month-shelby-earls-swift-arrows-july-2013|publisher=Seattle Metropolitan Magazine|accessdate=9 April 2014}} and was well received by such outlets as NPR ("Music For Folks Who've Been Through a Few Things"),{{cite web|last=Martin|first=Rachel|title=Music For Folks Who've Been Through A Few Things|url=https://www.npr.org/2014/02/02/270419787/music-for-folks-whove-been-through-a-few-things?ft=1&f=1039|publisher=NPR|accessdate=9 April 2014}} Salon.com ("SXSW: Meet Shelby Earl, the singer you need to know"),{{cite web|last=Danton|first=Eric|title=South by Southwest: Meet Shelby Earl, the singer you need to know|date=12 March 2014 |url=http://www.salon.com/2014/03/12/south_by_southwest_meet_shelby_earl_the_singer_you_need_to_know/|publisher=Salon.con|accessdate=9 April 2014}} and Rolling Stone ("Shelby Earl Comes Out Firing in 'Swift Arrows").{{cite magazine|last=Gentile|first=John|title=Shelby Earl Comes Out Firing in 'Swift Arrows |magazine=Rolling Stone |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/shelby-earl-comes-out-firing-in-swift-arrows-premiere-20131113|accessdate=9 April 2014}}
Earl's version of Michael Jackson's "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" was featured on the “Everything I Try to Do, Nothing Seems to Turn Out Right” episode of Grey's Anatomy (season 10, episode 23), which aired on May 8, 2014.{{cite web|title=Music from the latest episode|url=http://abc.go.com/music-lounge/shows/greys-anatomy|work=ABC.com|accessdate=13 May 2014}} Jackson was very influential in Earl becoming an artist. The song was produced by Eric Howk.{{cite web|last=Ragogna|first=Mike|title=Shelby Earl On Grey's Anatomy With Michael Jackson's "P.Y.T."|url=http://www.mikeragogna.com/shelby-earl-greys-anatomy-michael-jacksons-p-y-t/|publisher=Traffic Beat|accessdate=13 May 2014}}
In May 2014, Earl performed at the Sasquatch! Music Festival and was highlighted in an article as one of "4 Puget Sound Bands to Watch at Sasquatch." In the article she stated: “I've never even submitted to (festival organizer) Adam Zacks before because I just knew that it wasn't time yet. So our conversation where he went ‘Yes, I was gonna ask you,’ was so incredibly exciting for me,” she said. “It definitely feels like a sort of rite of passage to that next level and just a huge honor.”{{cite web|last=Reiff|first=Corbin|title=4 Puget Sound bands to watch at Sasquatch |url=http://www.thenewstribune.com/2014/05/21/3205523/4-puget-sound-bands-to-watch-at.html?sp=%2F99%2F1683%2F|publisher=The News Tribune|accessdate=27 May 2014}}
After Earl's performance, BestNewBands.com listed her in their "6 Great New Bands We Saw At Sasquatch! Day 3" article. In it, they wrote "She’s a raw, refreshing blend of folk, rock, and country, and performs with a very talented backing band who keeps her away from typical singer-songwriter territory (which can get stale for live performances). Earl’s pure voice, capable guitar playing, and strong songwriting should push her to the forefront of Seattle’s folk-rock scene."{{cite web|last=Peterkin|first=Caitlin|title=6 Great New Bands We Saw At Sasquatch! Day 3|url=http://www.bestnewbands.com/live-reviews/item/3850-6-great-new-bands-we-saw-at-sasquatch-day-3|publisher=BestNewBands.com|accessdate=27 May 2014}}
Earl's third solo album, The Man Who Made Himself a Name, was released in 2017.
References
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Category:21st-century American women guitarists
Category:21st-century American guitarists
Category:American women singer-songwriters
Category:Singer-songwriters from Washington (state)
Category:21st-century American women singers