Before the release of his debut album High Dive via Photo Finish on May 14th, Shaed answered 20 questions for Billboard.
Shaed's first album, High Dive, was released on May 14 through Photo Finish, and it has been a long time.
The trio (Chelsea Lee, Max and Spencer Ernst) was formally formed as The Walking Sticks in 2011 and was renamed Shaed in 2016. Then they released their first EP, and in 2018, their breakthrough single "Trampoline" took them to new heights.
The MacBook Air advertising display brought unprecedented exposure to Shaed, and he continued to tour the world as headlines and music festivals. In the end, Zayn jumped into the remix of the song, and "Trampoline" reached number 13 on the Billboard Top 100 Singles chart in November 2019.
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However, by the beginning of 2020, Shaed is feeling exhausted and at the same time under the pressure of more than one song. The pandemic provided an opportunity for the band to recalibrate. "We finally have time to catch our breath," Lee of the alternative pop band told Billboard when he returned to his home in Silver Spring, Maryland, after five consecutive years of touring.
The band finally had time to decompress—and write. "This album reflects the ups and downs of the past year," she added.
Before Shaed's album was released, Lee answered 20 questions for Billboard. "Dive" below.
1. What was the first piece of music you bought for yourself, and what was the medium?
This is a *NYSNC CD, I bought it from Tower Records with my pocket money.
2. What was the first concert you saw?
Dave Matthews-I saw a drunk old man pee on the purse of the woman in front of me. I was in 4th or 5th grade and was totally scared.
3. What did your parents do for a living when you were young?
They were and still are the settlement agents of a real estate company.
4. Who or what made you realize that you can become a full-time artist?
Frank Sinatra and the karaoke machine.
5. What is the top of your career wish list?
6. How does your hometown/city shape you?
The DMV [DC, Maryland, Virginia] region has entrusted us in their hands for many years. When we first started playing, the community welcomed us with open arms. When we were a crappy trio who played several hours of covers in the bar, they liked and supported us, [and as] a real band played original for a sold-out 9:30 club. This place will always be our home, and I don't think we will leave anytime soon.
7. What is the song you listened to recently?
Tayc's "Haine Colorée" features Christine and Queens as the protagonists.
8. If you could see any artist’s concert, whether it was life or death, who would you be?
Julie London or Frank Sinatra.
9. In your group of people, what is the craziest thing you have ever seen?
I didn't see anything too crazy, except for one show in which a kid in the front row held his mobile phone at my entire set, with a picture of a terrible butt clown on it. I remember it was so weird that I avoided that part of the stage all night.
10. What is one of the favorite moments or opportunities brought by the "trampoline" cyclone?
Go to Japan to participate in the Summer Sonic Music Festival. Japan is an absolute dream. One of the favorite places I have been to.
11. When the epidemic hit, why did you discard the new music of the entire album?
We finally had time to catch our breath and really looked at this work and realized that it is no longer true to us. So we made the difficult decision to abandon it and start again, which is both scary and free. We have a chance to start again, and now we have an album that tells our story.
12. What do you want fans to get from High Dive?
High Dive is really a manifestation of our mental health in the past year. We want fans to know that they are not the only ones feeling anxious and/or depressed. This album reflects the ups and downs of the past year.
13. Both Feet and Zayn starred in High Dive songs, and you have worked with producers such as Ariel Rechtshaid and Josh Fountain. What are you looking for among collaborators?
We really try to work with good people who can really inspire us. To be honest, we have had a great time working with every collaborator on this album.
14. Who do you want to work with next?
The list is endless! Yebba, her, Christine and the Queens, and Tame Impala, to name a few.
15. What are the challenges of releasing albums during the epidemic?
Unable to play the album release program for fans personally.
16. What are the benefits/benefits of releasing albums during a pandemic?
We have been able to pour all the anxiety, depression and confusion we have felt in the past year into composing songs.
17. Apart from composing music, in the past year, what else did you keep inspiring?
I really like cooking, and during the pandemic, I have been trying to make new things. We obviously can't go out too much, so I had to be really creative-making bread, pancakes, homemade pasta...obviously, all the carbohydrates.
18. Is there your favorite track on the album?
I don't have a favorite one, but I really like "Visible Woman"-it's about falling in love with myself again and finding the confidence that I have lost in some way over the years.
19. What do you miss the most about performing in front of a live audience?
I miss the energy you feel when you perform on stage and communicate with the audience. You just can't get the same atmosphere through the computer screen.
20. Do you have any plans for 2021?
Because now our most anxious thing is to get back on the road...it's been too long!
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