Alongside their now decade-plus-long tenure as Young Gun Silver Fox, both have already received plaudits for their individual creative excursions, American born, UK-based musician Shawn Lee through his own extensive catalog of recordings with the likes of Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra and his well-received solo albums, as well as a go-to award-winning producer and multi-instrumentalist for the likes of Hannah Williams and Joel Culpepper, and multi-talented Andy Platts as chief songwriter and leader of much loved Brit-soul sensations Mamas Gun. He’s also clocked up a plethora of songwriting collaborations with legends such as Rod Temperton and Brian Jackson.
Taking their name from Andy’s standing as youngest band member and Shawn’s resplendent silver locks, and sensing they were kindred musical spirits, the duo set about crafting their 2015 debut West End Coast, bonding over a shared love of the smooth sounds of ’70s pop-soul and artist’s such as Ned Doheny, Hall & Oates, Steely Dan and the breezy, west coast stylings that had been in Shawn’s musical DNA since his youth. "I remember at one point thinking Steely Dan was the ultimate group because they had hit singles and were on the radio and I’m like ‘man they’re accessible and they’re in the mainstream but their music is so sophisticated and so musical and they have the best playing and the best arrangements.’ I just thought if you could do that then you’ve won, that’s the ultimate thing musically for me if I could do something like that, that had all those qualities but was still accessible then you’re killing it. Music like that and bands like that are rare, it’s a really special thing. And there’s something about Young Gun Silver Fox that’s winning on those two fronts."
Their dedication to their art form and years of hard-earned experience mean that they’ve delivered a record that touches you in the head, heart, and feet, whether it’s starting the dance with the funky ‘Tip Of The Flame’, transporting you to magical sunsets on the stunning ‘Sierra Nights’ or packing some lyrical heft on ‘Starting Wars’, this is a band at the absolute top of their game, relishing the creative sparks they ignite in each other and play to their strengths. Throw in the album’s wonderful cover photograph (taken in 2020, pre-pandemic in Jakarta, Indonesia) and you have the perfect package, a wonderful next step in the bands continuing natural evolution.
Young Gun Silver Fox FAQ
Who are Young Gun Silver Fox?
Young Gun Silver Fox is a UK duo consisting of Andy Platts and Shawn Lee.
What type of music does Young Gun Silver Fox play?
Young Gun Silver Fox plays smooth, soothing pop music with West Coast-flavored sounds reminiscent of bands like the Doobie Brothers and Fleetwood Mac.
What was the name of their first album, and when was it released?
Their first album was named West End Coast and was released in 2015.
What is the inspiration behind the name Young Gun Silver Fox?
The name Young Gun Silver Fox references Platts' role in the UK band Mamas Gun as the "Young Gun" and Lee's long silver hair as the "Silver Fox."