Shane Simpson
Pianist/Composer/Teaching Artist
Latest Track: green$leeves (released December 14, 2023) - a fresh take on a classic english ditty we associate with christmas.
Shane’s solo debut EP My Digital Wife (2021) features what he calls his “cyborg piano music.” Find it here.
His piano playing can also be heard on thesoundtrack to popular VR game I Expect You to Die 2 from Schell Games.
In 2020, Shane was commissioned by Chatterbox. Watch their performance of I feel so sad, but it’s as if i have no more tears left to cry, but then when i finally do cry i feel so sick of crying. You know what i mean?here.
Shows:
2024
November 13th in Brooklyn, NY @ Public Records with Ryan Power
October 28th in Brooklyn, NY @ Littlefield with Geoffrey James
October 3rd in Brooklyn, NY @ Owl Music Parlor with Ryan Power
August 9th in Brooklyn, NY @ Sleepwalk with Ryan Power
June 7th in Brooklyn, NY @ Owl Music Parlor with Ryan Power
May 21st in Brooklyn, NY @ Sultan Room with Ryan Power
May 20th in Brooklyn, NY @ Filthy Diamond with Pfeete
April 23rd in Queens, NY @ Sundown with Ryan Power
February 24th in Brooklyn, NY @ Mudhouse with Carrie’s Fantasy
2023
December 20th in Brooklyn, NY @ Filthy Diamond with Nora Stanley
December 15th in Queens, NY @ Stone Circle Theatre with TAVIS
October 27th in Brooklyn, NY with TAVIS
October 3rd in Brooklyn, NY @ Scholes Street Studio
August 4th in Brooklyn, NY @ Gold Sounds with Carrie’s Fantasy
August 3rd in Philadelphia, PA @ Launderette Records with Carrie’s Fantasy
July 13th in Farmington, ME @ Emery Community Arts Center with Matt Pavolka
July 12th in Farmington, ME @ Emery Community Arts Center with Priya Carlberg
July 11th in Farmington, ME @ Emery Community Arts Center with Alex Ridout, Rahul Carlberg & Mwanzi Harriott
July 10th in Farmington, ME @ Emery Community Arts Center with Jeremy Udden
July 9th in Farmington, ME @ Emery Community Arts Center with Christine Correa & Michael Sarin
June 19th in New York, NY @ Forsyth Plaza with Biophony Pop-Up NYC
May 22nd in Queens, NY @ The Keep with Ryan Weisheit
May 11th in Brooklyn, NY @ Bar Lunatico with Tucci Swing
March 31st in Queens, NY @ Windjammer with Carrie’s Fantasy
March 25th in Queens, NY @ Ridgewood
March 18th in Brooklyn, NY @ Young Ethel’s with Petite Feet
February 8th in Queens, NY @ Sundownstairs with Carrie’s Fantasy & Petite Feet
January 21st in Brooklyn, NY @ Young Ethel’s with Petite Feet
Recordings:
green$leeves - 2023
next to of course god - 2022
Fig Leaf Rag - 2022
My Digital Wife - 2021
I Expect You to Die 2 (Official Soundtrack) - 2021
The Big Flattening: Volume Two - 2020
Radio Broadcast by Petite Feet - 2020
Nude Piano by Petite Feet - 2019
Fusion by Yasmine Azaiez - 2016
Bio
Shane Simpson is a multi-faceted pianist, keyboardist, and composer. Hailing from the North Shore of Chicago, Shane has taken his musical talents to cities across the US, Canada, Panama, and Spain. With over two decades of piano study, he honed his skills at the New England Conservatory, where he was mentored by renowned musicians like Fred Hersch, Jason Moran, Ran Blake, Anthony Coleman, and Bruce Brubaker, and developed a deep understanding of music theory and the teachings of Nadia Boulanger.
Constantly seeking new musical experiences, Shane values creativity, exploring everything from ragtime to early music to synth pop. Despite his diverse interests, he remains dedicated to keeping the jazz tradition alive and examining the intersection of technology and the piano. His music explores themes of brokenness, dystopia, and futurism, often drawing connections between disparate influences from throughout history and today.
His latest release is green$leeves (2023), a fresh take on the classic English ditty associated with Christmas. Upon releasing the single, he shared a personal statement about his connection to the song through a memory with his late father.
As the keyboardist for songwriter Ryan Power, Shane contributes to music that blends elements of pop, jazz, and experimental styles. Power's thoughtful, boundary-pushing compositions are a fitting complement to Shane's versatile musicianship.
Additionally, Shane is a founding member of the trio Pfeete (fka Petite Feet), a unique musical outfit that reimagines the ragtime genre for the 21st century. Their single Fig Leaf Rag (2022) and debut album Nude Piano (2019) have received praise for their playful and imaginative approach to the music.
In 2021, Shane released his eccentric solo EP My Digital Wife, which showcases his unusual brand of "cyborg piano music" alongside traditional acoustic piano performances. His pianism can also be heard on the soundtrack of the popular virtual reality game I Expect You to Die 2.
Shane’s passion for the piano has been a defining element of his life for as long as he can remember. He began piano lessons at the age of 8, influenced by a family that deeply valued music. His mother, who studied piano, saxophone, and bassoon during her formative years, and his father, an amateur folk and bluegrass musician, fostered a musical environment that naturally nurtured Shane's talents. By the age of 15, Shane had committed to the path of a professional musician. He pursued music with great seriousness throughout his early life, excelling academically and socially through his musical endeavors. His unwavering dedication and love for music ensure that he will continue to inspire and be inspired in his lifelong musical journey.
When not performing, composing, or recording, Shane is a devoted educator. He has served as a music theory faculty member at the New England Conservatory and Massachusetts Institute of Technology and as a teaching artist for the New York Philharmonic Very Young Composers. Today, he is a sought-after piano instructor in Brooklyn, NY, where he teaches through Soyulla Artists and maintains a thriving private teaching practice.
Teaching Philosophy
Shane believes it is his duty to help people of any age tap into their inner artist. He believes that learning in the arts transfers to all other areas of life. It changes the way one perceives the world, and it is a gateway to developing abstract thinking and creative problem solving, vital skills in a burgeoning society. Shane is a passionate, dedicated teacher. He makes learning music fun, and he offers a diverse wealth of musical knowledge, providing his students with a well-rounded education. Shane teaches lessons in piano, composition, improvisation, music theory, ear training, and sight-singing. He teaches all ages, levels, and styles.
Pfeete (fka Petite Feet)
Though self-described as “just your neighborhood ragtime band,” the trio comprising saxophone, piano, and drums draws inspiration from such diverse influences as EDM, glitch art, minimalism, free jazz, and memes. Jazz pianist Ethan Iverson calls the trio’s debut record Nude Piano: Iconic Rags of Scott Joplin, “an engaging surprise.” Pfeete combines a traditional employment of acoustic instruments with contemporary electronic post-production. In the liner notes for the album, Ted Reichman describes Nude Piano as “approach[ing] some kind of an ideal where the music of the mechanical past and the techniques of the digital present can exist in harmony.”
Contact
For private lessons or bookings, contact Shane directly at ssimpsonmusic@gmail.com.