Shane Cooley

Shane Cooley’s nuanced lyrics stand at the forefront of his hauntingly minimalist alternative folk music. “He’s one hit away from radio stardom,” wrote Billboard critic Jeff Miller. Deemed “exquisite” by Songwriting Magazine editor Duncan Haskell (U.K.), Cooley’s newest album, "Forest" (released April 2022), continues to receive airplay and acclaim, both in the U.S. and internationally. "('Forest') stands out for its peculiar production and lyrical beauty, which is highly remarkable considering that Cooley himself played all the instruments and produced this work in its entirety,” wrote Javier Rodriquez of Right Chord Music. Throughout the album release, Cooley raised awareness for the benefits of nature on mental health. Following "Forest," Cooley released his summer single, "Stella Ray," described by Alejandra Ramirez of Austin Chronicle as "a pure fun, off-kilter folk-pop miniature." Cooley, age 35, has been writing, recording and performing music for over 20 years. He has shared the stage with Grammy-nominated artists Wood & Wire, along with Adia Victoria, The Deer, Wild Child, and more. “I’ve worked in radio since 1963, and over the years I have learned how to recognize talent. There was something in (Shane's) sound that made me want to listen,” wrote the late KUTX Austin radio legend John Aeilli. He has been releasing music ever since. Shane returned to his hometown of Mollusk, VA during the pandemic, where he now has his home studio.. He spent the greater part of a decade in the music hub of Austin, TX, where he still often hangs his hat and performs with his band, Shane Cooley & the Midnight Girls. Cooley's new EP, "The Circus Rolls On," releases October 28 on all streaming services.