Shawn Brown Turns Young Love Into a Defiant Rock Anthem on New Single "What a Way to Go"

Portland singer-songwriter Shawn Brown is ready to crank the volume with his latest single, "What a Way to Go," arriving July 24 via Bootney Lee Records. Produced by Grecco Buratto, whose résumé includes work with Shakira, Tegan and Sara, and Lionel Richie, the track finds Brown embracing his most ambitious and electrifying sound to date without sacrificing the emotional storytelling that has defined his recent resurgence.

Built on driving guitars, pounding rhythms, and an arena-ready chorus, "What a Way to Go" captures the exhilarating tension between hope and uncertainty. At its core, the song follows two young lovers determined to hold on to one another as everything around them threatens to fall apart. Rather than dwelling in despair, Brown transforms that emotional conflict into an uplifting, fist-in-the-air rock anthem that feels equally suited for packed clubs, open highways, and late-night singalongs.

The production mirrors the song's emotional scope. Brown's trusted band provides a powerful foundation while Buratto layers electric and acoustic guitars, mandolin, and expansive harmonies that give the record its cinematic lift. The result is a track that recalls the heartland energy of Sam Fender and The Gaslight Anthem while remaining unmistakably Shawn Brown.

Since returning to music in 2021 after nearly a decade away, Brown has steadily built a catalog rooted in vulnerability, resilience, and fearless songwriting. Releases like Into the Furious Light demonstrated his ability to move effortlessly between soul, roots rock, R&B, and Americana. "What a Way to Go" feels like the natural evolution of that journey, delivering his biggest and most confident statement yet.

With hometown release shows, a limited-edition vinyl pressing, and undeniable momentum behind him, Shawn Brown continues proving that some of the most compelling rock music is still built on honest stories told at full volume.

“What a Way to Go" balances vulnerability with an undeniable sense of optimism. What inspired you to tell this story through such a big, anthemic rock sound?

Awesome to be with you guys! It’s funny, the older I get, the bigger and louder my music seems to be getting. That might have something to do with the state of things in the world right now, too. It’s tough to say for sure. I’ve really been trying to channel my discomfort and anger into constructive channels, which can be tricky, especially when things like vulnerability, curiosity, and truth seem so undervalued. I do think some of the aggression in the song comes from that place. At the same time, the sing-along choruses feel more like the balance you mentioned. There’s some hope in there somewhere. A bunch of voices singing together can only lead to good things.

After stepping away from music for nearly a decade, how has your perspective as both a songwriter and performer changed compared to when you first started?

That’s a great question. I could probably talk for two weeks straight about all the shifts I’ve noticed since coming back. One of the main things has been the intention to just enjoy the act of making stuff. I think before, I was always chasing the next thing — the next gig, the next placement, whatever. A little further down the road, for me anyway, there is no finish line. I just like making songs and playing shows, and I can’t control how many people are listening at any one time, so I might as well lean into the things about it that I love. So really, it’s more of a focus shift than anything else. If you’re too busy chasing, you miss all the chances to be excited about what you’re doing while it’s actually happening.

Working with Grecco Buratto brought a new level of sonic ambition to this release. What did he encourage you to explore that you may not have discovered on your own?

Grecco and I have done a lot of work together over the last few years, so our process feels pretty dialed in at this point. He’s a really even-keeled guy, so he never gets too high or too low about anything. Collaborating with that kind of energy has worked really well for me, I think. That said, I can definitely tell when he doesn’t like something or doesn’t fully buy into something I’m doing, which is also super helpful. There’s a lot of trust there. This time around, we were both pushing each other to move into some different sonic spaces, and that’s always fun.

Your music comfortably blends soul, roots rock, Americana, and guitar-driven pop without feeling confined to one genre. How important is that creative freedom to your identity as an artist?

I used to be super attached to the idea that I needed space to follow my creative whims. These days, I don’t feel as much energy around any of those constructs. I’m really just following wherever the song goes and trying to have as much fun as I can with wherever it ends up. The creative stakes just don’t feel that high anymore, and I’ve found that any barriers you put up — even in defense of your own preferences — are still likely to disrupt your ability to get into something new and cool.

With a new single, hometown release shows, and a vinyl release all arriving together, does "What a Way to Go" represent the beginning of a larger creative chapter, and what can listeners expect next?

We’ll have to see about that. I’ve written some new songs that I’m itching to get back into the studio to cut, so that should be super fun. I’m just hoping folks will be fired up about “What a Way to Go” and jam it this summer. It’s definitely that kind of “sing loudly with your windows rolled down” type of tune. Summer BBQ playlist-type stuff!