Shayhan

Growing up on classic rock and fusion jazz from the ‘60s and ‘70s, Shayhan and his co-producer Jared have developed their own unique style of sampling, adding depth with modern percussion and texture with rich woodwinds, cascading basslines, and shimmery piano and guitar chords. Years of experimenting with arrangements and approaching sampling with an instrumentalist’s perspective, or as Shayhan jokes “overanalyzing,” has yielded an immersive first body of work. His warm, yet subtly off-kilter singing voice—which feels like a direct descendent from great neo-soul crooners like D’Angelo and Bilal—is exceptionally malleable. Shayhan learned how to sing on the fly, thanks to what he calls a “knack for impressions,” and his voice has the elasticity and emotionality of a master mimicker. As a lyricist, Shayhan draws on naturalistic imagery partially inspired by time spent in the woods of Washington state, zooming all the way out to take a cosmic view on topics like heartbreak, existential anxiety, and the search for personal peace. He writes impressionistically with an eye towards universality.