THE RICHARD STRING FOUNDATION
Nashville songwriter, musician, and producer Gavin Shea is known for his flexible, hyper-creative approach to creating music. Whether releasing his own beguiling, cross-genre singles under the moniker “Richard String” or working with local singer-songwriters to translate their vision into reality at his all-inclusive production company Handmade, Shea approaches music as a way to learn, explore, and refine. His playful, forward-thinking style infuses his music with an intense freshness that makes each new song more distinct and more memorable than the last. Now he’s focused on sharing what he’s acquired, working with solo artists at Handmade to realize and refine tracks using top-of-the-line technology and an open, wildly creative mind. “Richard String was born from a desire to experiment and flex the muscle gained from production work for other artists. Now I’m learning skills through Richard String that I bring back to Handmade and use in new production projects. Working in all these different worlds, dipping into other people’s heads and exploring new genres – that’s what keeps me on my toes and makes my job as a producer fun.”
As a young kid in Florida, Shea pursued his dream, drumming and singing in a band with three childhood friends. When the group disbanded after ten years, Shea took a break from music and retreated to Montana to reset for a year. In August of 2012, he was presented with an opportunity to move to Nashville and rekindle his passion for making music. Shea recorded his debut solo EP, Alive and Well, with former collaborator and friend Chris Gill. Alive and Well garnered buzz in Nashville, (Shea was chosen by Lightning 100 as Artist of the Week and featured in local press), and its success solidified Shea’s working partnership with Gill while garnering a following and support from local artists. Shea and Gill became a sought-after production team, working together more and more to produce tracks for other artists. Ultimately the two formed Handmade Productions, a business geared toward extending the pair’s visionary expertise (in both the musical and technical aspects of record-making) to artists in need of production. “Normally we focus on solo artists, songwriters who come in with GarageBand demos or ideas in progress, and we basically become bands around them. We figure out their goals, the sound they want, the vision they have, and we work with them to create it.” Shea’s sharp ear, enthusiasm for innovation, and breadth of experience help artists feel inspired as well as comfortable working with him. “One of my goals with Richard String is to show our artists how easy it is to just do it! I want to facilitate artists bringing their dreams into reality, to show them it’s not always about being perfect, it’s about doing what you feel compelled to do.”
written by Elise Anderson // www.annaeliseanderson.com
PRESS:
Atwood Magazine - Premiere: Richard String’s Soaring, Feelgood Psych-Pop Single “Sad Boy Beck (In My Garden” - https://atwoodmagazine.com/rsbb-richard-string-in-my-garden-sad-boy-beck/
The Hype Magazine - Nashville Songwriter Richard String Releases Luminous New Single “Sad Boy Beck (In My Garden) - https://www.thehypemagazine.com/2020/04/nashville-songwriter-richard-string-releases-luminous-new-single-sad-boy-beck-in-my-garden/
