An Interview with and shane walts: I Love You Anyway
In the world of music, few projects capture the raw essence of personal storytelling like and shane walts. The solo endeavor of Andrew Shane Walters, this folk-rock act blends indie sensibilities with proto-punk influences, creating a sound that is both nostalgic and refreshingly memorable. From deeply reflective songs born of love, loss, and self-discovery to heartfelt performances that connect with audiences, and shane walts is as much a musical voyage as it is a reflection of life’s irregular rhythm. In this interview, Andrew conveys the inspiration behind his project, the creative processes that shape his work, and what lies ahead for this compelling artist.
TELL ME WHAT INSPIRED THE NAME AND SHANE WALTS.
"I think the way we all shuffle and move through life is unique and beautiful. A specific dance that we never meant to choreograph. To me, and shane walts is my own peculiar weird walk... I used to go by Andrew Shane but that felt drab and boring. I always wanted a unique pen name, a nom de plume, that stuck out, even if awkwardly. So I abbreviated my name in some odd fashion and discovered my own goofy gait."
HOW DID THIS PROJECT FORM?
"I’ve been playing in and out of groups since the age of twelve. I always wanted to write music independently. But I grew up playing alongside my older brother, who is a phenomenal singer and guitar player. So I always wrote with him and enjoyed that but I still yearned to blaze my own trail. When I first started writing songs myself I was quite disheartened. I felt like I’d show friends and they wouldn’t be as jazzed on the material as I was."
"I decided in 2017 that I waited too long for the right moment or the 'right' songs. I just wanted to be me. I decided to release a weird, angsty, and grotesque album, Through a Heart of Darkness. My goal? To write music and release it, for me - good, bad, ugly, whatever. As some years have gone by that sentiment still holds true, yet I want to write better and better material all the time. And better is a very subjective term. So, I feel very fortunate and blessed to live in a world and age where I can indulge in that. "
TELL ME A BIT ABOUT THE SONG COLOR OF LOVE, THAT IS YOUR TOP SONG ON SPOTIFY THAT WAS RELEASED IN 2023. TELL ME ABOUT HOW THIS SONG CAME TO BE.
"Color of Love came from the birth of my son. (The cover is a photo of me holding him.) My wife and I had a baby in early April 2023. I’ve never known love in this capacity. Holding him and caring for him, just fills my heart in a way that is affable. It seems odd now that I waited so long to experience fatherhood."
LISTEN TO COLOR OF LOVE ON SPOTIFY BY CLICKING BELOW
"I think love can be a messy and turbulent ordeal. Real love changes like the seasons. It weathers and endures. I think I wanted to write a love song that felt like it was truthful to my own experiences of love - with insecurities, and heartache, parallel to the joy and euphoria. Still begging to be loved in spite of all of our shortcomings."
WHAT WAS THE WRITING PROCESS BEHIND THIS SONG?
"It was pretty simple. I was on parental leave at the time. So I wasn’t sleeping much. My wife was breastfeeding so I would be busy trying to appease and predict what would be needed to best support her and him. But I would typically get some early morning alone time in. So I would post up in our backyard with a coffee and my acoustic guitar and sometimes I’d just record. One of those mornings I wrote the first half of Color of Love. From there, I basically wrote the lyrics out and rewrote them within the day. The song sort of felt like it spilled out of me.”
“Later when recording it, I laid down a single take of me singing and playing acoustic guitar. From there Mitch Fedie at Oceanside Music Studios played some drums over it. Then I added bass, electric guitar, piano, and some backing vocals. I typically play all the instruments on my songs. I think that’s an important aspect of calling it a solo project. It was special to have Mitch play though. I really trust him and find him to be an exceptional musician and producer. I’ve been working with him again on a little EP I’ll be releasing next year."
TELL ME A BIT ABOUT YOUR EP I LOVE YOU ANYWAY AND THE CREATION/MEANING BEHIND THE TWO SONGS ON IT.
"I lost my father in the early part of 2022. That has been really tough on me. More difficult than I could have ever imagined. I didn’t do a very good job of bereaving. I mean who does, right? Nevertheless, I had this song (Dad's Guitar) kind of show up. I felt like it was about me but then started to realize it was about my old man. Then I realized it was also about my grandpa. It felt very Sam Shepard to me. It reminded me of a song I wrote years ago about my sister, This Here Tree. My sister and my father were always close and shared a special bond, so by putting these two songs of my dad and my sister together felt like a way to celebrate and honor that bond. The cover of the EP is a photo of my father and my sister."
LISTEN TO THE I LOVE YOU ANYWAY EP ON SPOTIFY BY CLICKING BELOW
IS THERE A SONG YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF IN YOUR DISCOGRAPHY?
"I’m proud of them all for different reasons. I really enjoy Kismet because it literally just sort of fell out of me just a few days after meeting my wife. And I was able to coerce her to sing on the track with me. Mother, I Apologize for Me is one I’m oddly proud of. I was really scared to write that song. My mother was going through cancer treatment at the time and I felt like I abandoned her. I felt like I wasn’t a good son, or friend, or partner. I was feeling very uncertain as to who I was or what I was becoming. I remember when I showed my mom the song, I cried pretty intensely and told her how much I love her and how much she means to me. She was very sweet and told (me) that she knew."
IS THERE A CHANCE FOR LISTENERS TO SEE ANY OF THESE SONGS LIVE SOMETIME SOON?
"I play at New Village Arts up in Carlsbad on occasion for their Voices of Poetry nights. I’ve also been known to jam out at Coffee Cycle. I typically play more shows with my band Better Before but I am always down to play whenever I can. I’m planning on doing a West Coast tour in the winter of 2025 with my good friend Little High Little Low who’s located out of Madison, WI. We did an East Coast tour in 2023 which was super fun so I’m pretty pumped on that."
ANY OTHER FUTURE PLANS IN STORE FOR AND SHANE WALTS?
"Like I mentioned earlier, an EP to be out next year and then later in the year a west coast tour. I’ll definitely keep playing and writing. It’s something I’ve done for so long and just cannot help but do."
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?
"Thanks for your time and interest. I think I’m kinda weird. So I really appreciate your time and care. I think there’s a lot of amazing musicians and artist out there who deserve some recognition and support. So I encourage everyone to support them in anyway you can."
As and shane walts continues to evolve, Andrew Shane Walters remains true in his commitment to creating music that is deeply personal yet universally vibrant. Whether composing songs in the quiet moments of parenthood, honoring loved ones through earnest tributes, or preparing for future tours and releases, his passion for music radiates through. We’re grateful for the glimpse into his journey and encourage listeners to support his artistry, explore his discography, and stay tuned for what’s next.