(September 17, 2020) It’s been more than a decade since vocal powerhouse Ryan Shaw simply blew us away with his debut album, This Is Ryan Shaw. With one foot in classic soul and another into today, he delivered one of the year’s best albums and was nominated for multiple Grammy Awards.
Ryan can never record often enough for us, so it was with great anticipation that we learned about his upcoming album, Imagining Marvin, due on November 27 on his own FORM (Fans of Real Music) label, distributed by Broadway Records. The disc will feature a combination of original tunes mixed in with covers of Marvin Gaye classics.
And to lead off the album, Ryan teams with iconic Motown songwriter and SoulTracks Lifetime Achievement Award winner Valerie Simpson for a stunning first single that challenges how we view what a real man is. “Strong Men Can” tells of the breadth of emotion that a man experiences.
Ryan tells us: “When I decided the concept for this new record, IMAGINING MARVIN, I immediately thought to reach out to Valerie Simpson and see if she would be willing to co-write a new song with me for the project. She said, 'anything you need.' We live in a society where men have always been told to be a certain way. And nowadays we're seeing that develop into some serious social and mental issues. This song is about us as men living the full spectrum of life. As much as we take time to show our strength, we should also take time to be vulnerable and to acknowledge our weaknesses and nourish growth. That’s really what it’s all about – balance…finding that balance.”
The song is another auspicious introduction to the talent of Ryan Shaw, and we’re proud to present its World Premiere. Check out “Strong Men Can” below, and welcome Ryan back to SoulTracks.
World Premiere!
Ryan Shaw – “Strong Men Can”
