After their version of “The Prayer” unexpectedly went viral, Mat and Savanna Shaw have continued to share their passion for music amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over the past five months, Utah’s daddy-daughter singing duo has posted several duets on social media, hoping to uplift during a time of isolation. The songs were recorded in their closet — what they’ve called their “quarantine recording studio.”
“We really don’t know what we’re doing,” Mat Shaw previously told the Deseret News. “Maybe that’s the draw, is that it’s really just a simple offering from a dad and his daughter trying to spread some hope and some joy.”
On Thursday, the Shaws announced that they want to take their music to the next level, possibly going full-time.
“We’ve been thinking a lot about the direction that we want to take our music, and we are really excited to take this music maybe from like more of a hobby to something more of a career,” Mat Shaw told fans in a video Thursday night. “And it’s because of you guys that we’re able to even be having this discussion.”
As the Shaws move forward, possibly making music a full-time project, they’re turning to their fans for help. The duo has created a new platform powered by Patreon called theshawfam.com. On this site, fans have the option to pay a monthly subscription to join one of three membership levels — “fan” ($3/month), “collaborator” ($15/month) or “producer” ($50/month).
Each level comes with different perks, including offering feedback on what songs the Shaws perform, early access to new releases, and free downloads.
“We don’t want this to break anyone’s budget. So really, if you just want to be a fan and you want to listen to the music and watch the videos, thank you so much. That’s really all we could ever ask for or hope for,” Mat Shaw said. “But if you feel like you want to be more involved … then this is an opportunity for us to work together with you to make more music.
“We’re so excited to make you a big part of this journey with us.”
In the video, the duo also gave an update on their debut album — one they’ve recently been working on in a professional recording studio. Mat Shaw said the album is slated for a fall release and will include an original song that tells the Shaws’ story.
On Friday, Mat Shaw reiterated that he and Savanna will continue to release their covers for free on YouTube and other sites.
“Our mission to share hope and spread joy (for free), will never change,” he wrote on the Shaws’ YouTube channel. “We are so excited to involve our fans in bringing our music to the next level by producing albums and live shows. That takes a team, and we would love your help.”