UAE-based Shaun Warner releases his second album

One of our favourite producers, UAE-based Irish artist Shaun Warner has just released his second album, Stay. As you know his work spans multiple genres of electronic music within the realms of pop and he's worked with some really amazing up-and-coming talent from across the region. In fact, Stay has already surpassed the success of his debut Shaun Warner & Friends album with multiple tracks trending in the Middle East and across the globe. The album's singles have already received global support over the past few months; the first three tracks have been streamed over 650,000 times (and counting!) and have received worldwide radio play. So, what is Stay all about and what was Shaun's journey like creating it?
We managed to catch the artiste a few days after Stay was released to ask him all about it.

Tell us about your latest album Stay. What is it about and how would you describe your sound?
For me, the music I write reflects where I am in life, mentally and physically. My last album was written over five years and there can be a lot of changes over that period and that's reflected across the album. This album was written over one year, a really good year and as a result the album is happy, uplifting and widely reflective of me enjoying life in the UAE. It's a summer album and I'd love for people to have a listen while driving or at the beach. A lot of the songs from the last album were made to be heard in a club, whereas this album is for your headphones, radio or car speakers. I guess that's reflective of me moving away from the club scene personally and taking myself a bit less seriously.

How long did it take for you to complete the album? What was the process like?
This album came together quickly (by comparison to the previous one). Everything was written and recorded within 12 months. The album is also a lot more collaborative with the majority of songs being written by the vocalist and myself in the same room, so that speeds things up. In the past, I was almost afraid to write in front of someone. I'd finish my piece and send it to them. It wasn't until the album went to No 1 that I started to believe in myself a bit more and I had the confidence to open up my process. For example, writing with Hadi (one of the singers on the album) was an absolute blast. He's one of the nicest and most talented humans I know. We went into the studio with some drums and some chord progressions down and then we jammed out the rest of the song and workshopped the lyrics then and there. I left that night feeling completely buzzed. From then on, that's how I tried to write all the tracks. Sometimes it's not possible when the artiste lives in another country but even then, I had met them and built that relationship before we started writing.

Do you have a favourite track from the album?
That's like picking your favourite child. You only do it in private (laughs). I loved the recording process with Sara Tarabulsi and Stephanie Farah but Dissipate was the first track from the album I finished. This was the first time I knew I had another album in me. It kind of proved to me that the first one wasn't a fluke. For that reason it's a favourite. Also because the bassline is funkier than a three-day-old fish. It sounds and brings back memories of early Daft Punk or Alan Braxe.

How does it feel to become the Middle East's first artist with simultaneous entries in the US Billboard charts trending globally?
That is still something I'm getting my head around. Since Chasing entered the charts in mid Jan, I've always had a song or a remix in there. If you had told me last year I'd be spending five months on the US Billboard Dance Charts, I'd have laughed at you. Its surreal. Obviously a lot of hard work has gone into getting into that position, but it's great when hard work pays off.

Where can we download Stay from and where can we see you performing live next?
You can download/stream from Anghami and all good streaming sites like iTunes if you still buy music (like me) or you could just sit beside your friend, who is ahead of the musical curve, and tape it from them using your dad's old tape deck. Or you can hear it live. I'm working towards doing my live show at some festivals in Ireland. In terms of the UAE, DM my Instagram for an invite to the launch party on June 29, at Zabeel House Al Seef, Al Seef Street, Dubai Creek . The party is by invitation only and I have 10 passes for the first 10 people to hit me on Instagram (Shaunwarnerofficial). You can also bring your dad's old tape deck!
maan@khaleejtimes.com