February Spotlight of the Month: Amanda Shaw
- Louisiana Country Music
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Our Louisiana Country Music February Spotlight of the Month honors Amanda Shaw, a Louisiana artist whose career reflects years of steady growth, cultural grounding, and creative intention.
Amanda Shaw / Photos Courtesy Lady Savage Management, Photos by Libby Danforth
Rooted in New Orleans — Shaped by Sound
Amanda Shaw was raised in New Orleans, a city where music is not separated by genre lines or industry labels. It’s something that exists everywhere — in neighborhoods, family gatherings, and community celebrations — and that environment shaped her musicianship early.
Her formative years were spent absorbing a wide spectrum of Louisiana sound: Cajun traditions alongside jazz, blues, funk, and rock ’n’ roll. Those influences weren’t theoretical. They were learned in real rooms, among working musicians, and carried forward through repetition and experience.
Fiddle First
The fiddle has been central to Amanda Shaw’s musical identity since childhood. It was the instrument that introduced her to Cajun tradition and remains the anchor of her sound today.
Shaw has long resisted limiting ideas of what fiddle music can be. “I want people to feel like they've never seen anyone play fiddle the way I play it,” she says. “I’ve always felt like it’s such a versatile instrument. I aim to fuse different genres and make my own unique brand of Cajun country music.”
That versatility is intentional. Her playing moves easily between styles, shaped as much by New Orleans rock and funk as by traditional dance music. “Most people have an idea of what ‘fiddle music’ is,” Shaw explains, “but the notes are the notes and the energy you bring really defines who you are as an artist, not the instrumentation.”
Learning From Community
Shaw was the only musician in her immediate family, and much of her education came directly from the local music community. After seeing a violin on television, she began lessons, and her parents soon started taking her to Cajun dances known as fais do-dos.
There, musicians would teach her songs while others were sound-checking — songs she still plays in her sets today. “When I was young, my parents would take me to fais do-dos, an old tradition in Cajun music,” Shaw says.
“They were dedicated to the community coming together. Life is also joyful, and it's meant to be celebrated. I hope my music continues to share the same ideas.”
That sense of music as shared experience — not performance alone — continues to shape her approach.
A Career Built With Intention
By the time she was 15, Shaw had signed a record deal with Rounder Records, appeared in two Disney films, and filmed the documentary Hurricane on the Bayou. Her early momentum came quickly, but what followed was something more lasting.
Over the years, Shaw has continued to build steadily — releasing nine EPs and albums, touring internationally, and remaining deeply connected to Louisiana music culture. She has received numerous honors, including the Big Easy Award for Best Female Entertainer and induction into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
She’s also quick to acknowledge how those early years shaped her. Reflecting on that time, Shaw jokes, “That’s probably why I’m still so short. I was too busy — I didn’t get enough sleep or growth hormones during those years!”
Louisiana on a National Stage
Shaw’s body of work has placed her on some of the country’s most visible platforms, including Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, the Today Show’s Roker-thon, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
She has also shared stages with artists like Cyndi Lauper, expanding her reach while remaining rooted in her sound.
Even in national moments, Shaw’s music never loses its sense of place.
“I’m inspired by the place where I grew up and I really want to be part of continuing to put Louisiana’s musical influence on the map in a modern and forward-moving way.”
Representing Louisiana Beyond the Stage
Beyond touring and national television appearances, Amanda Shaw has become a visible representative of Louisiana’s music and culture. She has been featured in official tourism campaigns and serves as a Louisiana Tourism Ambassador, sharing New Orleans through her own experience rather than a curated narrative.
That role reflects the arc of her career. Shaw’s work consistently positions Louisiana not as a backdrop, but as an active influence — one that informs her sound, her storytelling, and the way she approaches music as a shared cultural language. Whether performing nationally or working at home, her connection to place remains central.
The Current Chapter
Amanda Shaw continues to build forward with intention. Recent releases and collaborations reflect an artist expanding her sound while staying rooted in the traditions that shaped her.
She is currently working toward a new project slated for 2026, collaborating with producer Kent Wells, longtime bandleader for Dolly Parton. The partnership marks a focused creative chapter — one that draws together multiple strands of her musical identity.
As Shaw explains, “While writing and working on these new songs, I wanted to blend the authenticity of my Louisiana roots with rock and pop energy. It’s modern life mixed with some of the traditional sounds that raised me.”
Why Amanda Shaw
At Louisiana Country Music, we spotlight artists whose careers reflect depth, endurance, and cultural significance. Amanda Shaw exemplifies that standard.
Her work shows what happens when an artist stays connected to community, commits to craft, and allows a career to grow naturally over time. “I want to exude that joy in my music,” Shaw says — a sentiment that continues to define her path.
How to Support
Explore Amanda Shaw’s catalog and recent releases
Follow her official channels for upcoming performances
Support Louisiana artists who continue investing in the craft
About Amanda Shaw
Cajun influence is integral to understanding Amanda Shaw’s music, but her sound is all her own. A fiddle player since childhood, she grew up in New Orleans with early years steeped in both fais do-dos and a vibrant mélange of jazz, blues, funk and rock ‘n’ roll. By the time she was 15, Shaw had a record deal with Rounder Records, and in the years since, she has appeared as part of a number of notable pop culture touchstones, including Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, the Today Show's Roker-thon, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. She is the recipient of prestigious honors including the Big Easy Award for Best Female Entertainer and is a Louisiana Music Hall of Famer.
Shaw has released an impressive nine EPs and albums to date, and she is gearing up to release a new project in 2026. This time, she is mixing in a new accolade: working with producer Kent Wells, a longtime collaborator and bandleader for Dolly Parton. The result links traditional Cajun music with modern elements for something that’s decidedly Americana and distinctly Amanda Shaw.
Follow Amanda’s Journey
Listen to Amanda Shaw on Spotify:
Follow Amanda Shaw on Socials:
Love Stories Like This?
Subscribe to the Louisiana Country Music Newsletter for more artist spotlights, local stories, new releases, and updates from Louisiana’s rising country stars.
Follow your favorite Louisiana artists HERE.
This article is for informational and editorial purposes only. Details such as release dates, event information, and artist updates are subject to change. Featuring an artist does not imply any endorsement, partnership, representation, or business relationship unless explicitly stated. All trademarks, images, and music referenced remain the property of their respective owners.
Comments