Announced: Shad – Start Anew + ‘Bars & BBQs’

Canadian hip hop veteran Shad is set to start a bold new chapter with the announcement of his seventh studio album, Start Anew, and the release of its first single ‘Bars & BBQs’ out now. The album will be available across all platforms and in vinyl format on October 31.

The lead single ‘Bars & BBQs’ showcases Shad’s signature wit and lyrical dexterity serving up food for thought with clever pop culture alliteration and confident swagger. It perfectly encapsulates the album’s spirit simultaneously thoughtful and fun.

At the heart of Start Anew lies the deeply human challenge of letting go of the past to embrace fresh beginnings. Shad explains “I decided against calling the album Fear of Death a phrase that appears throughout the record because it wasn’t very approachable. But Start Anew captures the same idea the difficulty we have embracing endings even though that’s often the only way to arrive at something new.” He adds “The new start that positive fresh new life is right there but it is often on the other side of risk or even loss.”

Musically Shad took a more straightforward approach on this album drawing on playful soulfulness reminiscent of his early work while incorporating experimental sounds sampled from his own unreleased archives ranging from house to psychedelic pop. This melding of vintage vibes and studio experimentation creates a sound that is both familiar and refreshingly accessible. As Shad puts it “I wanted to make something kind of simple and easy on the ears and very listenable.”

Lyrically Start Anew balances incisive social commentary with optimism and personal reflection. Tracks like ‘Slanted’ address systemic inequality with sobering candor (“The land is slick and slippery and slanted Few fully notice how a few takes advantage”) while the album’s centrepiece the two part ‘Look’ encourages listeners to celebrate small victories and chart their own path forward.

The new album includes many collaborations including Jon Kabongo, Raz Fresco, Phoenix Pagliacci and more highlighting a collective spirit throughout the record. Guest appearances also feature Queens underground stalwart Homeboy Sandman and Atlanta’s Chantae Cann This year marks 20 years of Shad in music a milestone celebrating two decades of artistic growth impact and innovation. Known for his sharp wit socially conscious lyricism and versatile sound Shad (Shadrach Kabango) continues to redefine himself with Start Anew a project about embracing change challenging comfort zones and seeking renewal amidst uncertainty. This album follows a trilogy of socially conscious works including 2018’s A Short Story About a War and 2021’s TAO furthering Shad’s commitment to thoughtful storytelling and musical exploration.

Start Anew is released on Friday October 31, marking another milestone in Shad’s ongoing journey of evolution and renewal.

Stream / download ‘Bars & BBQs’ here.
Pre-save / pre-order Start Anew here.