Like many people cooped up during the pandemic, Graeme Shaw, known under the moniker Uncle G, returned to some of his earlier loves, including music. Living at the time in Tobermory, Ontario, Shaw began playing guitar again, started covering a myriad of songs, and crafting amusing birthday ditties he wrote for family and friends. Now with that passion for his art fully rekindled, nobody’s laughing at Uncle G’s latest comforting single “See You Soon” from his thoughtful, honest, genre-bending debut album Where I’m From released on Simcoe Sound Record Label.
Uncle G says, “See You Soon,” with its soulful, old-school arrangement, was penned for his nephew Malcolm, who was born during the pandemic. As much as the singer kept tabs on Malcolm through phone and video calls, it didn’t resolve the physical distance. “I lived 300 kms away from him so I was pretty isolated from him,” Uncle G says. “I would talk to my brother on the phone pretty much every day, and I would always say, ‘hi and bye’ to him. Then I’d say, ‘See you soon.’ One of the first times I hung out with him, I played him the chord progression from the song while he laid in his crib.”
On hearing the song in person at a family gathering, Malcolm was elated. “Uncle G! Uncle G! This is you singing!'” Even better was hearing the lyric “Lay down sweet Malcolm,” which caused him to start “howling and jumping up and down with a smile.”
It’s not just Malcolm who will have a smile as listeners will discover a rich, soulful approach on “See You Soon” that could initially be mistaken for a ’50s doo wop song. Uncle G is accompanied by piano and horns as he tenderly delivers the heartfelt narrative that recalls the likes of Danny Michel and Royal Wood.
“See You Soon” is the latest single from Uncle G’s album Where I’m From. The singer says he “became deeply connected to my inner dialogue, leading me to write more serious songs.” After plying his craft and honing his skills, Uncle G visited Joe McLeod, a musician himself from Keswick, Ontario, in a Vancouver hotel. McLeod shared his songs with Uncle G. Uncle G, who performed around the Bruce Peninsula at small shows alongside a friend under the name Granola (Graeme and Nolan), mentioned his own material he was working on.
“He suggested the idea of recording an album, which had never crossed my mind before,” Uncle G says. “Intrigued by his offer and always open to new opportunities, I decided to take him up on it. Recording this album never felt like work, despite the sheer effort it demanded. I poured everything I had into it, aiming to create something I could be truly proud of. My primary hope is that, if nothing else, this album would convey to my friends and family how much they mean to me.”
That sentiment oozes throughout Where I’m From, produced by McLeod with additional engineering from David Matta. The eight-song effort begins with the deliberate, soul-meets-roots tune “12 Out Of 10” and sets off on an adventurous journey while simultaneously rooted in friends, family, and small-town life. Whether it’s the dreamy, piano-colored “Don’t You Love” which harkens to The Jayhawks, the Irish-soaked “Wrong Time,” or the up-tempo Americana “Left On Read” resembling the infectious folk of Mumford & Sons, Uncle G has created a record that always satisfies. Where I’m At, recorded at Simcoe Sound Studio, NikNak Studio and Giant Studio, also features pianist Andrew Rasmussen, drummer Graham Shaw, bassist Riley Griffith and electric guitarist Joseph Piilonin.
The album’s title track is another diamond with a pop-leaning hook that sounds quite effortless. Uncle G had the chorus for some time but felt compelled to complete the song to honor his mom and dad after Uncle G moved back to their hometown. “‘Where I’m From’ is an ode to my parents who have surrounded me with so much love and support,” the singer says. “Who’ve built a life for me and always provided me with so much good advice and picked me up when I needed help.”
Where I’m From is also highlighted by “12 Out Of 10,” a song inspired by a trip Uncle G took to Spain to meet an old friend. And like great old friends, there was no angst about the time and distance apart. “We chatted for hours and made jokes and told stories,” Uncle G says. “No awkward small talk, just right back to where we left off.”
Now with his new debut album Where I’m From and a tender, toddler-inspired single in “See You Soon,” Uncle G has made a fine first impression on the Americana/roots/folk music scene. To steal a song title from the record, both the album and the single will stick to you like old Velcro.
