Setting the tone with luscious acoustic guitar chords, Shawn Chasten opens his latest release, When You’re Gone with the emotive lyrics “And don’t you know it’s been a while since I have talked that long, and do you know that I like the things you do yeah…and don’t you know that I’m scared based on this moment we shared, because I think I may have fallen in love with you yeah…”
The song expands to tell the story of a girl that our protagonist knew briefly in Costa Rica. Speaking on the encounter, Shawn says, “Maybe I didn’t feel all of the emotions for her specifically, but my experience going on a date with her churned up a tonne of suppressed emotions that I had been feeling for years about other relationships, and simply feeling lonely.”
“The song is about the temporary joy felt from this girl, and the loneliness and sadness that follows”, continues the rising artist from San Luis Obispo, California.
We love the vulnerability that Shawn conveys with his message and the realisations that he has as he sings “and don’t you know you made me rethink my ways…”, along with his intricate guitar skills and textured harmonies.
Shawn says, “When You’re Gone is the most honest song I’ve written to date, and I think people will be able to feel that in listening to it.”
Expanding on his connection with life force energy, Shawn confesses “This was also the first song where I had really experienced the song writing itself, hitting a flow state where some deep subconscious took over and made this piece of art.”
Shawn cites Mac Miller, Lizzy McAlpine and Tom Petty as influences, but we also notice elements of Jason Mraz and Damien Rice, however it is also clear that Shawn is creating a dimension of his own.
We have added When You’re Gone to our New Music Spotify playlist and have been exploring Shawn Chasten’s wider discography including Brighter Over There and Mainland.