On stage Shawn Doom is somewhat of an enigma. The 19 year old singer/songwriter is able to follow even the hardest rock bands, exuding a quiet confidence. Accompanied only by guitar and sometimes harmonica, Doom gracefully goes from song to song, saying very little in between, letting the music flow and dictate the mood of the room. The same room that had just been full of blazing guitars, throbbing drums, surging vocals, and screaming fans, is now silent. Simply put, when you hear Shawn Doom, you listen.
With his near four-octave voice and virtuoso guitar playing, Doom uses simple words to examine the complexities of life, death, love, purpose, and God. Accepted by fans of all genres, he draws on inspirations such as The Beatles, Harry Nilsson, Tim and Jeff Buckley, Bob Dylan, Keith Green, and The Zombies, to create haunting, almost cinematic songs that must be listened to multiple times to realize the layers of meaning throughout.
Latest News
3/1/07- uploaded my first songs today, website under construction... check back soon for updates...
4/17/07- www.shawndoom.com is online...
5/10/07- i will be showcased at this weekends cornerstone festival in florida... i'm anxious to meet alot of great bands and artists...
5/14/07- cornerstone was amazing... it went as good as it could have... i'm excited for all of the oppurtunities it has opened for me...
bio
On stage Shawn Doom is somewhat of an enigma. The 19 year old singer/songwriter is able to follow even the hardest rock bands, exuding a quiet confidence. Accompanied only by guitar and sometimes harmonica, Doom gracefully goes from song to song, saying very little in between, letting the music flow and dictate the mood of the room. The same room that had just been full of blazing guitars, throbbing drums, surging vocals, and screaming fans, is now silent. Simply put, when you hear Shawn Doom, you listen.
With his near four-octave voice and virtuoso guitar playing, Doom uses simple words to examine the complexities of life, death, love, purpose, and God. He draws on inspirations such as The Beatles, Led Zepplin, Harry Nilsson, Tim and Jeff Buckley, Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens, Johnny Cash, Del Shannon, Keith Green, and The Zombies, to create haunting, almost cinematic songs that must be listened to multiple times to realize the layers of meaning throughout. Irony, symbolism, and repetition are some of the traits that are common throughout his songs. One can’t help but listen to a Shawn Doom song and feel what his “characters” feel.
Shawn started teaching himself guitar at age 14, though his father had bought him one when he was 7 (his hands were too small at the time). An unknown illness that caused him to miss a lot of high school and eventually withdraw all together (he later earned his GED) gave him time to develop as a vocalist and songwriter. While friends where in class, Doom was learning about the history of music and it’s progression, listening to countless albums and researching the lives of some of the most prolific and obscure artists. During this time he was also able keep a closer eye on the world and what was going on it, and more specifically, what wasn’t, which he writes about frequently in his songs.
A self-confessed “people watcher,” Doom uses an understated charisma to learn about people, their lives, and problems first hand. A minute or so within meeting him, and you can look into his piercing blue eyes and see someone you feel you know already. He credits his uncanny ability to read people to the accessibility he believes his last name gives him.
“People find out my last name is Doom, and I’ll make some sort of joke or maybe they will, and then they just open up. I think one of the reasons I have such a wide variety of fans is the fact that my last name is Doom,” says Shawn with a grin.
Whether it’s his last name or not, one thing is certain, his ability to take universally complex emotions and break them down so personally while keeping the words simple is what makes Shawn Doom unique. To be able to listen the same song again and again, and still get something new from it each time. Simply put, when you hear Shawn Doom, you listen.